Newbridge v Pontypridd – Match Preview

On Saturday 14th February Pontypridd RFC make the trip into Gwent for an Admiral Premiership match against Newbridge RFC, kick off at The Welfare Ground is 2:30pm.

Ponty’s last visit to Newbridge came just over a year ago on Saturday 25th January 2025, and on a typically tough away day it was the Valley Commandos who took a hard-fought 30-22 win back to Sardis Road. The scoreboard wasn’t as close when the two clubs met earlier this season at Sardis, when on Saturday 11th October, Ponty enjoyed a big win by 66 points to 17.

Pontypridd will be looking to remain on the winning trail this Saturday, but will be only too aware of the challenge this Newbridge side will bring – the Gwent outfit only lost by four points away Merthyr and suffered a narrow five point reverse at home against Beddau in their last two league outings – pob lwc Sadwrn Ponty!

The Team News…

Ponty have made five changes to the starting XV that played Bargoed a fortnight ago – four in the backs, one in the forwards and there’s a positional switch as well. In addition to the changes in the starting line-up, there are also three new faces amongst the replacements, two of which could make their debuts for the club.

In the backline Lloyd Dennett starts at scrum half, whilst returning from injury are Callum Coxley at inside centre, Jorge Lucey at fullback and Louis Rochefort-Shugar makes his first appearance of the season on the right wing. The positional reshuffle sees Rhodri Smith moving from fullback to the left wing.

The only change in the pack from last time out sees Connah Hughes start at hooker.

The three new faces in the matchday squad on the bench are Jude Williams, and potential debutants Ben Bora and Lucca Alexander-White. Ben featured for Ponty both in our pre-season schedule and our mid-season friendly against Bedwas, but is yet to make his competitive bow. Lucca is a young second row from the Cardiff Rugby Academy who we are very pleased to announce has signed for Pontypridd RFC.

The Pontypridd team selected to play Newbridge is as follows:

15. Jorge Lucey. 14. Louis Rochefort-Shugar. 13. Stuart Floyd-Ellis. 12. Callum Coxley. 11. Rhodri Smith. 10. Logan Jones. 9. Lloyd Dennett.

1. Ben Drew. 2. Connah Hughes. 3. Kian Mattravers. 4. Lloyd Riley. 5. Joe Miles. 6. Cai James. 7. Cally James (c). 8. Iestyn Harris.

Subs: 16. Louis Tovey. 17. Dan Cotterell. 18. Finian Murray. 19. Lucca Alexander-White. 20. Jordan Coxley. 21. Ben Bora. 22. Joel Raikes. 23. Jude Williams.

SUPPORTERS TRAVEL –

The Pontypridd Supporters Club are organising travel for fans to tomorrow’s match, and there’s still a few seats available on the bus – please phone Phil Lycett on 01443 662561 to book. Here’s our recent Supporters Bus article with all the key information – Supporters Coach to Newbridge

GROUND ADDRESS –

The postcode for Newbridge’s ground is NP11 5FR.

 

 

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