With their cup dreams over, the Ponty squad are committed to the remainder of their league campaign, aiming to climb from their current mid table ranking to challenge for one of the top spots in the Premiership. The message from within the camp is that “the show must go on!”
League points are now a precious commodity that Ponty must accumulate, beginning with a fixture against the club who lie one position ahead of them in the table – six points clear but having played two games more – Glamorgan Wanderers.
Ponty make eight changes, positional or in personnel, from the team which started the cup game against Cross Keys.
Kristian Baller reverts to full back, Lewis Williams returns on the wing, with Dai Flanagan and Andrew Jenkins resuming as half backs. There is a new front row combination of Hobbs, Davies and Harford, with Ryan Savage in at lock.
Out injured are winger Chris Clayton, still recovering from an abdominal strain, outside half Gareth McCarthy with a hamstring twinge, lock Chris Martenko with neck problems and prop Stuart Williams resting a sore back. Hooker Rhys Williams is away on international duty with Wales under 20s.
The Wanderers make four changes to their starting line-up. With James Loxton and Josh Navidi away with the Wales under 20’s Jason Pocock comes into full back, against his old club and Mike Grimes comes in at Number 8.
Gareth Morris replaces James Thomas in the centre and Luke Evans comes into scrum half in place of Glenn Holloway.
In the pack Richard Thomas moves to blindside to accommodate Mike Grimes.
On the bench Carl Kimber is rewarded with a place after impressing against London Welsh on Wednesday.
Pontypridd: 15.Kristian Baller. 14.Owen Williams. 13.Gavin Dacey. 12.Adam Thomas. 11.Lewis Williams. 10.Dai Flanagan. 9.Andrew Jenkins. 1.Sam Hobbs. 2.Leighton Davies. 3.Ryan Harford. 4.Ryan Savage. 5.Chris Dicomidis. 6.Geraint Lewis. 7.Wayne O’Connor. 8.Nathan Strong – cpt
Subs: Rhys Downes; Matt Hutchings; Pat Palmer; Huw Dowden; Grant Harrington; Kristian Dacey; Rhys Lloyd.
Glamorgan Wanderers: 15. Jason Pocock 14. Robin Lock 13. Simon Rosser 12. Gareth Morris 11. Jamie Jones 10. Scott Sneddon 9. Luke Evans; 1. Nathan Trevett 2. Ryan Price 3. Mark O’Leary 4. Gareth Knight 5. Alex Luff 6. Richard Thomas
7. Ben Rose (capt) 8. Mike Grimes
Subs: 16. Richard Emms 17. Matthew Bolton 18. Tom Evans19. Nio Aiono 20. Carl Kimber
21. Glenn Holloway 22. Mark Roper
