Such is Ponty’s tough playing itinerary over the next few weeks; fixtures against Ebbw Vale and Neath lay in waiting, but first up this coming Saturday is an away trip to Llanelli.
Pontypridd will be keen to follow up on a home win over Newport last time out as they travel to Stradey Park to face third placed Llanelli. With hooker Rhys Williams (groin strain) the only new casualty to report, coaches Paul John and Dale McIntosh can approach this game from a position of relative strength, and once more have fine tuned their selection in view of the talent at their disposal.
The Ponty backs remain unchanged from the line up which faced Newport, with just three changes made amongst the forwards. Grant Harrington claims a place in the second row, with Rhys Shellard and Nathan Strong starting in the back row.
There is still a theme of continuity amongst the twenty-two as lock Ryan Savage and back rower Wayne O’Connor take their place on the bench, joined by prop Stuart Williams, newly returned from holiday.
Meanwhile, a number of Ponty senior squad members will this weekend gain valuable match practice with local clubs in the Asda Leagues. Centre Paul Matthews and outside half Dylan Jones play for Ystrad Rhondda, centre Trystan Lazarus for Treorchy, winger Dan Hitchings for Abercynon, flanker Justin Jones for Llanharan and hooker Lee Pearce and lock Anthony Mead for Caerphilly.
Pontypridd:
15. Matthew Hutchings
14. Kristian Baller
13. Tom Riley
12. Adam Thomas
11. Chris Clayton
10. Dai Flanagan
9. Andrew Jenkins
1. Ian Poley
2. Duane Goodfield
3. Ryan Harford
4. Grant Harrington
5. Chris Dicomidis
6. Lee Evans
7. Rhys Shellard
8. Nathan Strong (Capt)
Replacements:
Gavin Dacey
Rhys Downes
Sam Hobbs
Stuart Williams
Leighton Davies
Ryan Savage
Wayne O’Connor
