Still lying in seventh position in the table, but now trailing by only one point behind sixth placed Glamorgan Wanderers, and with a game or games in hand on all clubs above them, Ponty will need to carry the momentum of a hard fought home win over Newport midweek into their next engagement at Bridgend. The Ravens lie in ninth position, having had a mixed campaign so far, but on their day capable of beating any potential opponents with their traditional open style of play.
An extensive injury list at Pontypridd has been added to this week by a bicep strain suffered by influential flanker Wayne O’Connor. The versatile Rhys Lloyd moves to the openside position, Geraint Lewis to blindside, and skipper Nathan Strong returning against his former club at no 8. In the front row, Huw Dowden completes his recovery from a shoulder injury by starting in the hooker’s berth.
Andrew Jenkins takes over from Rhys Downes at scrum half, in an otherwise unchanged back division, with centre Gavin Dacey returning from Wales Sevens duties to take a place on the bench
The Pontypridd team selected to face Bridgend is as follows:
15.Kristian Baller. 14.Owen Williams. 13.Adam Thomas. 12.Mike Davies. 11.Lewis Williams. 10.Gareth McCarthy. 9.Andrew Jenkins.
1.Sam Hobbs. 2.Huw Dowden. 3.Pat Palmer. 4.Grant Harrington. 5.Chris Dicomidis. 6.Geraint Lewis. 7.Rhys Lloyd. 8.Nathan Strong – cpt.
Subs: Rhys Downes; Gavin Dacey; Chris Clayton; Leighton Davies; Ryan Savage; Chris Martenko; Stuart Williams.
