It is the start of a new era in the Principality Premiership for Ponty, who have followed their valley rivals in installing a synthetic surface to prevent the infamous mud baths at Sardis Road. The hosts are undefeated in their two outings so far this season, but are locked on nine points with Merthyr having only played twice. The Ironmen enjoyed a flying start to their debut season in the Premiership with victories over Cardiff and Cross Keys, but they were brought back down to earth by Bedwas, who triumphed 37-19 at the Wern last week.
Merthyr coach Dale McInstosh said: “Pontypridd’s success is because of the family and community. They are not backed by Millionaires but they have a tradition which has helped win them win leagues and cups. We want to instil tradition into the jersey at Merthyr, we are at the highest level now.”
Early pace setters Aberavon will be out to maintain their 100 percent record when Bargoed travel to the Talbot Athletic Ground. But Bargoed will be out to build on last week’s victory, when they beat fellow Principality Premiership newcomers Swansea 29-9.
RGC 1404 have made a splash in the Premiership after winning promotion from the Championship on the final day of last season. They travel south to Carmarthen Quins on Saturday having already beaten Bridgend and Cross Keys on the road. Full-back Afon Bagshaw has been key to their unbeaten start to the season, but the Quins, who are captained by North Walian Haydn Pugh, are just one point behind RGC.
Bedwas burst the Merthyr bubble last week and are out to keep the pace with the leading pack against struggling Neath. The Welsh All Blacks will be hoping to bounce back from a damaging 48-3 defeat to Cross Keys.
Cardiff should feel rested and refreshed after their Thursday night victory over Bridgend last time out. They welcome a Llandovery side clipping at their heels in the Premiership table on Saturday. They have called on Blues stars Jarrad Hoeata, Jarrod Evans and Wales Under-20 full-back Rhun Williams. Llandovery came close against RGC last week, but were beaten 28-25 late-on.
Champions Ebbw Vale got back to winning ways last weekend by beating Gwent rivals Newport. They face Bridgend at Eugene Cross Park on Saturday. The Steelemen have won four of the previous five clashes between the sides, including a league double last season.
Cross Keys hammered Neath to get back in the winning groove last weekend. They face Swansea who are still searching for their first win after returning to the Premiership Llanelli face Newport at Parc Y Scarlets on Sunday with both sides looking to kickstart their season.
Principality Premiership – Round 4 Saturday, 24 September Aberavon v Bargoed Bedwas v Neath Cardiff v Llandovery Carmarthen Quins v RGC 1404 Cross Keys v Swansea Ebbw Vale v Bridgend Pontypridd v Merthyr Sunday, 25 September Llanelli v Newport
Teams
Aberavon v Bargoed
Aberavon: Richard Carter; Morgan Williams, Joe Thomas, Will Price, Stef Andrews; James Garland, Jacob Flynn; Rowan Jenkins, Gareth Harvey, Alex Jeffries, Adam Beard, James Ratti, Luke Joseph, Chris Davies (capt), Joe Tomalin-Reeves.
Reps: Steffen Williams, David Pritchard, Matthew Jenkins, Luke Davies, Rob Dudley-Jones, Mike Burgess, Jon Thomas, Ben Jones.
Bargoed: Jordan Purcell; Lewis Hudd, Ashley Norton, Greg Callow, David Evans, Calum Jones, Matt Bancroft; Rhys Morgan, Leigh Meades (capt), Jack Williams, James Locke, Bryce Morgan, Adam Coupe, Grant Rogers, Lee Beach.
Reps: Ian Jenkins, Anthony Lott, Lewys Lippiett, Louis Blacker, Gavin McDonnell, James Pizey, Lewis Bowden, Luke Smalley.
Bedwas v Neath
Bedwas: Arron Bramwell, George Gasson, Connor Edwards, James S. Dixon, Pat Lewis, Richard Powell (capt), Crane; Brynley Toms, Alun Rees, Matthew Pettit, Joe Davies, Tom Bell, James Richards, George Lee, Robson Blake.
Reps: Dan Preece, Darren Harris, Rhys Hutcherson, Geraint Edmunds, Dan Crimmins, Nicky Griffiths, James Dixon, Phillip Pariyo.
Neath: Ed Howley; Aaron Grabham, Gavin Evans, Keiran Williams, Kristian Corbisiero; Luke Price, Chris Morgans; Ben Uphill, Ifan Phillips, Ryan Thomas; Lyndon Bateman, Jon Barley; Leon Ward, Calum Davies, Jordan Collier (capt)
Reps: 16 Callum Jones, 17 Aled Morris, 18 Geraint James, 19 Tom Hayward, 20 Charlie Davies, 21 Dan Guarneri, 22 Matthew Pearce, 23 Rory Morgan-Williams
Cardiff v Llandovery
Cardiff: Rhun Williams, Olli Smyth, Paul King, Luke Ford (Capt), Ceri Young, Jarrad Evans; Lewis Jones, Corey Domachowski, Joe Tomlinson, Kieron Assarratti, Jarrad Hoeata, Seb Davies, Cam Dolan, Morgan Sienaiwski, James Sheeky
Reps: Rob Lewis, Joe Page, Ben Leung, Jonathan Edwards, Ben Thomas, Tom Slater, Diggy Bird, Lewys Montague
Llandovery: Lee Rees; Lex Botha, Rhodri Jones, Craig Woodall, Aaron Warren, Jack Maynard, Rhodri Davies; Dean Howells, Emyr Phillips, Greg Cunniffe, Bryn Griffiths, Tadhg Beirne, Phil Day (capt), Shaun Miles, Richard Brookes.
Reps:Berian Watkins, Jamie Kaijaks, Jake Baker, Stuart Worrall, Dafydd Hughes, Duane Eager, Rhodri Wall, Shaun Pearce.
Carmarthen Quins v RGC 1404
Carmarthen Quins: Gavin Thomas; Tom Williams, Iolo Evans, Rhys Williams, Lee Williams, Dan Jones, Connor Lloyd; Gethin Robinson, Torin Myhill, Javan Sebastian, Josh Helps, Haydn Pugh (capt), Roy Osborn, Ellis Lloyd, Lee Taylor.
Reps: Nathan Williams, Rhodri Clancy, Steffan Thomas, Ben Thompson, Lewis Millin, Gareth George, Steffan Marshall, Dylan Morgans.
RGC 1404: Afon Bagshaw; Carwyn App Myrddin, Thomas Hughes, Tiann Loots, Rhys Williams, Jacob Botica, Alex Schwarz; Thomas Hughes, Rhys Williams, Ross Davies, Maredydd Francis (capt), Andrew Williams, Mei Parry, Tim Grey.
Reps: Jed Kerkin, Evan Yardley , Shaun O’Rourke, Josh Leach, Richard Hopkins, Aron Wyn Evans.
Cross Keys v Swansea
Cross Keys: Ethan Davies, Mathew Powell, Leon Andrews, Nathan Williams, Jacob Unwin; Josh Prosser, Owain Leonard; Lewis Smout, Ellis Shipp, Richard Cornock, Danny Hodge, Tom Lampard, Josh Skinner, Scott Matthews (capt), Ieuan Jones.
Reps: Darren Hughes, Gwesyn Price-Jones, Gary Carpenter, Simon Williams, Adam Powell, Dorian Jones, James Leadbeater, Polu Uhi.
Swansea: Josh Jones; Richard Williams, Ryan Evans,Josh Martin, Richard Thomas; Phil Jones, Martin Luckwell; Tom Sloan, Paul John, Sam Martin, Gavin Ronan, Jay Williams, Jon Vaughan (capt), Jack Perkins, Jon Fox.
Reps: Ricky Guest, Mitchell Walsh, Richard Murphy, Ross Barnes, Will Jones, Rhodri Wells, Julian Mogg, Jedd Evans.
Ebbw Vale v Bridgend
Ebbw Vale: TBC
Bridgend: Marc Bennett; Ryan Griffiths, Ryan Evans, Jamie Murphy, Tom O’Flaherty, Joseph Scrivens, Chris Williams; Nicky Boyce, Jordan Liney, Cai Lewis, Jonny Kenny, Jack Pope, Zac O’Driscoll (capt), Adam O’Driscoll, Ashton Evans.
Reps: Lewis Francis, Dale Rogers, Ollie Evans, Kyle Evans, Matthew John, Will Baird, Joseph Gatt, Ryan Davies.
Pontypridd v Merthyr
Pontypridd: Callum Hall, Lewis I Williams, Cameron Lewis, Dafydd Lockyer (capt), Alex Webber, Ceri Sweeney, Tavis Knoyle; Mitch Auger, Liam Belcher, Aled Rees, Josh Novell, Chris Dicomidis, Jake Thomas, Rhys Shellard, Dan Godfrey.
Reps: Dane Blacker, Declan Williams, Dale Stuckey, Ashleigh James, Hemi Barnes, Owen Sheppeard, Liam Bodman, Connor Lewis.
Merthyr: Mathew Jarvis; Kyle Evans, Gavin Dacey, Arran Pinches, Terri Gee; Gareth Davies, Rhys Downes; James Howe, Rhys Williams, Gary Powell, Ben Murphy, Craig Locke, Edward Siggery, Osian Davies, Tom Daley.
Reps: Mathew Dwyer, Lewis Jones, Nathan Buck, Ben Sier, Owen Jones, Tom James Owen Howe, Mathew Trowbridge.
Llanelli v Newport
Llanelli: Dion Jones; Ashley Evans, Ioan Nicholas, Nathan Edwards, Ryan Conbeer; Ioan Hughes, Jonathon Evans; Tom Kaijaks, Taylor Davies, Simon Gardiner, Adam Powell (captain), Christian Long, Trystan Lloyd, Nathan Hart, Josh Macleod Reps: Rhys Fawcett, Matthew Moore, Will Taylor, Ben Davies, Lloyd Pike, Rhodri Cole, Leon Randell, Matthew Owen
Newport: Llywarch Ap Myrddin; Wes Cunliffe, Tom Pascoe, Chay Smith, Elliot Frewen; Matt O’Brien, Ryan James; Keagan Bale; Henry Palmer, Chris Coleman, Adam Brown (captain), Dan Partridge; Rhodri Jones, Kyle Taylor; Brendan Lampitt Reps: Evan Whitson, John Lavender, Garin Harris, Reuben Tucker, Craig Attwell, Owen Davies, Arwel Robson, Owen Williams.
