The Sardis Road showdown between the two unbeaten teams at the top of the Principality Premiership and the SWALEC Championship is set to be the game of the day in the first round. Ponty made it 11/11 with their home win over Carmarthen Quins in the league last weekend, while Bargoed made in 14/14 with a five try drubbing of Pontypool.
“We have watched Bargoed and know how complete a unit they are, with a big abrasive pack and dangerous backs,” said Wyatt.
“They will no doubt come to us confident that they can take our scalp and we dare not underestimate the threat they will pose. But our players won’t shirk that challenge.
“They are in a similar position to that of Ebbw Vale last season, runaway leaders of the Championship, and we have all seen how well Ebbw are doing after being promoted to the Premiership.
“This cup tie will be crucial to us – we are reigning champions and the outing at the Millennium Stadium on Finals Day means so much to everyone at the club. After our recent involvement in the British & Irish Cup and the Premiership, the SSE SWALEC Cup offers us the chance to take on new opposition.
“We look forward to a great occasion at the ‘House of Pain’, where our own support will have to contend with a big travelling support from Bargoed. It should be a cracking cup encounter, a day to remember, hopefully for all the right reasons for Pontypridd.”
Ponty have lost only one of their last 19 SSE SWALEC Cup ties and have won the title three times in the past four seasons. If they could make it three wins in a row they would become only the second club to achieve that goal after Llanelli’s four wins in succession in 1973-76 and three in a row in 1991-93.
Pontypridd’s recent SSE SWALEC Cup record is:
2014 – beat Cross Keys (21-8 in final), Aberavon, Llanelli, Newport
2013 – beat Neath (34-13 in final), Carmarthen Quins, Ebbw Vale, Tata Steel, Llanelli
2012 – lost to Cross Keys (32-19 in final), Newbridge, Neath, Tonmawr, Llandovery
2011 – beat Aberavon (35-24 in final), Swansea, Merthyr, Neath, Bridgend Athletic
