Pontypridd v Merthyr – Mid District Cup Final Match Preview
On Saturday 17th May Pontypridd RFC play valley rivals Merthyr RFC in the inaugural Mid District Premiership Cup Final. The match takes place at Sardis Road and kicks off at 2:30pm.
Saturday’s contest pits the National Cup winners against the Premiership champions in what will be the last match of the 2024/25 campaign, with both clubs looking to double their season’s trophy haul. Merthyr achieved a league-double over Ponty earning wins in March and last November, so the Valley Commandos will be looking to finish the season having wrestled back the local bragging rights in what will be the third Valleys Derby of the campaign.
Pontypridd will once again need their 16th player – you #PontyFans, to get behind the team like you have all season and carry them home once again this Saturday.
The Cup Final Team News…
The Mid District’s regulations state that teams are prohibited from permitting players from any other clubs, regardless of the level they compete at. However, teams are allowed to include a limited number of players from regional academies. So with all that in mind, all the individuals who have been playing on permit for Ponty recently are ineligible for Saturday’s final.
Pontypridd have made four personnel changes and two positional switches to the XV that started at Bargoed last Saturday, and there’s also an additional five new faces on the bench including a potential Club debut.
In the backline it’s all change in the half backs with returns to the starting line-up for Joel Raikes and Jacob Symes. Jude Williams is recalled to the left wing and his inclusion sees Louis Rochefort-Shugar move to the right wing.
In the pack Niall Moore is brought in to start at lock, his selection sees Kristian Parker move from second-row to the blindside flank.
On the bench the five new faces in the matchday squad are Dylan Kelly, Garyn Daniel, Joey Williams, Aled Evans and Charlie Manship. Charlie is a hooker on permit from the Cardiff Rugby academy and will make his debut if he makes an appearance from the bench.
All the following players are either injured or unavailable for the final – Cai James, Ioan Evans, Jaydan Pugh, Lucus Welch, Lloyd Riley, Jeff Young, Oli Shepherd, Joe Davies, Sam Talbot and Kian Mattravers.
Finally, a big shout out to hooker Rob Jones who will make his 100th Ponty appearance when he runs out at Sardis on Saturday – Llongyfarchiadau Bobby!
The Pontypridd team selected to play Merthyr is as follows:
15. Dale Stuckey. 14. Louis Rochefort-Shugar. 13. Stuart Floyd-Ellis. 12. Garyn Smith. 11. Jude Williams. 10. Jacob Symes. 9. Joel Raikes.
1. Ben Stephens. 2. Rob Jones. 3. Morgan Bosanko. 4. Mitch Barnard. 5. Niall Moore. 6. Kristian Parker. 7. Cally James (c). 8. Joe Miles
Subs: 16. Dylan Kelly. 17. Ben Drew. 18. Garyn Daniel. 19. Ethan Evans. 20. Charlie Manship. 21. Joey Williams. 22. Dan Cotterell 23. Aled Evans.
SUPPORTER INFORMATION:
Tickets – Ticketing costs are set by the Mid District Rugby Union with entry to the match being priced at £10 per adult, £5 for a concession and U18s free if accompanied by an adult.
Supporter access is via the Clubhouse end of the ground only. Please note that neither Pontypridd RFC or Merthyr RFC season tickets are valid for this game – it is all pay.
End Of Season Merchandise Clearance Sale – Once again there will be a pop-up stall situated inside the ground near the burger van/can bar selling lots of Club Merch items – Adult and children Rugby shirts, T-shirts, shorts, rugby balls, rucksacks plus much much more. The stall will be open both prior to and during half time of Saturday’s match – everything must go so come and grab yourself a bargain or two – this is your last chance for this season!
Live Sport In The Clubhouse – Our Clubhouse will be from midday onwards and we will be showing live rugby and football on our screens throughout the afternoon – Northampton v Saracens (3:05pm) and Bath v Leicester (5:30pm) in the Gallagher Premiership, and with the spherical ball Crystal Palace v Manchester City (4:30pm) in the F.A. Cup Final.
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