Pontypridd v Narberth – Match Preview

On Saturday 13th September Pontypridd RFC welcome Narberth RFC to Sardis Road in the Admiral Premiership, Ponty’s first home league match of the new season kicks off at 2:30pm.

Ponty did the ‘league double’ over The Otters last season winning by 52 points to 23 at home on Saturday 12th October 2024, but it was a much tighter affair at Narberth’s Lewis Lloyd Ground on the 1st February earlier this year when the Valley Commandos headed home with a 16-13 win.

Both teams head into Saturday’s match having won their league openers last weekend, Ponty earned a 34-17 bonus-point win away at Brecon whilst Narberth triumphed 28-26 at home against Bargoed.

Confidence will be high in both squads, but only one team will have a 100% record come 4:30pm Saturday afternoon, come on the Pont!

TEAM NEWS –

Ponty have made four changes to the XV that won away at Brecon last week, two each in the forwards and backs, and there’s also two new faces on the bench.

In the forwards Ben Stephens has recovered from the illness that kept him out of last week’s match and returns at loosehead prop. Cai James is drated in to start on the flank having made his return from injury last week off the bench.

In the backline Dale Stuckey starts at fullback having appeared off the bench last week, and Joe Davies makes his first competitive appearance of the new season on the wing.

Amongst the replacements there’s a first competitive matchday involvement for summer signing Joe Buckle and hooker Grant Jones is on permit from neighbours Cilfynydd – both could make their Pontypridd debuts if they get in amongst the action Saturday afternoon.

Unavailable for selection through injury are Garyn Daniel, Dylan Kelly and Joey Williams, whilst Mitch Barnard is still away on leave.

The Pontypridd team selected to play Narberth is as follows:

15. Dale Stuckey. 14. Jude Williams. 13. Stuart Floyd-Ellis. 12. Garyn Smith. 11. Joe Davies. 10. Jorge Lucey. 9. Joel Raikes.

1. Ben Stephens. 2. Connah Hughes. 3. Kian Mattravers. 4. Joe Miles. 5. Kristian Parker. 6. Cai James. 7. Cally James (c). 8. Jordan Coxley.

Subs: 16. Grant Jones. 17. Ben Drew. 18. Dan Cotterell. 19. Joe Buckle. 20. Iestyn Harris. 21. Lloyd Dennett. 22. Jaydan Pugh. 23. Iwan Griffith.

PONTYPRIDD RFC MINI & JUNIOR DAY –

Saturday is one of the Club’s designated Mini & Junior Days – a day when everyone connected to Pontypridd RFC can celebrate our fantastic Mini & Junior Section. The make-up of the day will be as follows:

• Pre-match parade around the pitch by the whole M&J section
• Fundraising bucket collection
• Guard of Honour (U9s, U10s and U11s)
• U7s and U8s to play tag matches against Llantwit Fardre at half time
• U12s to play Nelson after the seniors
• U15s to parade the Blues Cup around the pitch at half time of Ponty v Narberth
• And the section will be showcasing their brand new reversable kit

 

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 Narberth e-Tickets

Supporter access is via the Clubhouse end of the ground only.

Season Ticket Collection – Supporters who ordered physical/plastic card season tickets can collect these from 1:00pm onwards at the Clubhouse on Saturday. Any additional physical season ticket requests can be made at Ponty’s next home match. But please note, digital season tickets are still available – please click the e-Ticketing link on this website.

Club Merchandise Collection – For supporters who have recently ordered any club merchandise and clothing such as T-shirts, shorts, hats, scarves, sweatshirts, replica home and away playing shirts plus much more, all the stock has now arrived and your orders can be collected from the Can Bar next to the Grandstand from 1:30pm onwards: Club Merchandise Collection

Live Sport In The Clubhouse – Our Clubhouse will be from midday onwards and we will be showing live coverage of Arsenal v Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, kick-off at 12:30pm.

 

 

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