Pontypridd v Cross Keys – Match Preview
On Saturday 7th December Pontypridd RFC play Cross Keys RFC at Sardis Road in the Admiral Premiership, the match kicks off at 2:30pm.
The Keys will visit Sardis for the first time since Saturday 27th October 2018, Ponty ran out 73-12 winners that afternoon. The last time the two clubs met was six months after the aforementioned match, at Pandy Park, and the Valley Commandos earned a 24-7 win that particular evening on Wednesday 8th May 2019. To the here and now, and Pontypridd extended their lead at the top of the Premiership standings after victory at Neath last Saturday. Cross Keys currently occupy 10th place but a bonus-point win could see the men from Gwent move up to as high as 4th, so it’s all to play for on Saturday between two clubs that have enjoyed some ferocious battles in the semi-pro era.
The Team News…
Despite a hugely physical encounter at Neath last weekend, the Ponty squad left the Gnoll reasonably unscathed. However, Kristian Parker and his coaching team have made three changes to the XV for this week’s visit of The Keys, with a further fresh face coming into the squad on the bench.
In the pack the Bens rotate at loosehead prop with Drew replacing Stephens, whilst Lloyd Riley comes into the starting line-up at no.8.
The sole change in in the backs is Lucus Welch earning a start at scrum-half, with the only change to last week’s matchday squad being the return of Ioan Evans who takes his place amongst the replacements.
Unavailable for selection are Morgan Bosanko who is injured, but making good progress ahead of a return, Garyn Daniel who is still away on leave and Joe Davies due to work commitments.
The Pontypridd team selected to play Cross Keys is as follows:
15. Oli Shepherd. 14. Louis Rochefort-Shugar. 13. Stuart Floyd-Ellis. 12. Garyn Smith. 11. Dale Stuckey. 10. Jaydan Pugh. 9. Lucus Welch.
1. Ben Drew. 2. Rob Jones. 3. Kian Mattravers. 4. Mitch Barnard. 5. Kristian Parker. 6. Cai James. 7. Cally James (c). 8. Lloyd Riley.
Subs: 16. Jeff Young. 17. Ben Stephens. 18. Dan Cotterell. 19. Will Jameson. 20. Joe Miles. 21. Joel Raikes. 22. Jacob Symes. 23. Ioan Evans.
SUPPORTER INFORMATION:
Tickets – Admission on Saturday will be £12 full, £10 concession access-all-areas and under 16’s free if accompanied by a paying adult. You can purchase tickets on the day or to save time (which is recommended to miss the queues) you can use our online e-Ticket system, here’s the link which includes all our different packages – Pontypridd v Cross Keys – 7/12/2024
Supporter access is via the Clubhouse end of the ground only.
Sponsors Day – This Saturday is one of the Club’s designated Sponsors Days when we celebrate and thank all the businesses that are onboard supporting Pontypridd RFC.
Live Sport In The Clubhouse – Our Clubhouse will be open from midday onwards and we will be showing a selection of live sport on the screens throughout the day, starting with the Merseyside derby Everton versus Liverpool in the Premier League – kick-off at 12:30pm.
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