First off is a Premiership tie at Sardis Road on Saturday (KO 2:30pm) – a match that will have a huge bearing on the title race as Ponty defend a precarious three point lead at the top of the table against fourth placed Swansea.
Just a week later the two clubs meet again in the semi final round of the SWALEC Cup.
Ponty will be going for a league double against the All Whites as they won their away fixture at St Helens by 28-39 back in November. If any game of rugby can be predicted, an entertaining encounter should be in store as both clubs have a philosophy of playing in an open and attacking style, giving youth the opportunity to flourish.
Swansea’s positive mode of thinking is reflected in their status as the division’s bonus point kings harvesting 18 from their 22 games played.
Currently sidelined for Pontypridd are No8 and skipper Chris Dicomidis with leg ligament damage, flanker Jake Thomas with a shoulder injury, and wing Owen Williams recovering from a calf strain.
Drafted in to the team are Blues Academy youngsters, lock Cory Hill and no8 Owen Sheppeard. Centres Gavin Dacey and Dafydd Lockyer are set to make a fiftieth start together for the club, in a team captained by experienced full back Gareth Wyatt.
Pontypridd: 15.Gareth Wyatt (Capt) 14.Lewis Williams. 13.Gavin Dacey. 12.Dafydd Lockyer. 11.Chris Clayton. 10.Simon Humberstone. 9.Lewis Jones; 1.Ken Knaggs. 2.Huw Dowden. 3.Ryan Harford. 4.Cory Hill. 5.Ryan Savage. 6.Ed Siggery. 7.Darren Waters. 8.Owen Sheppeard.
Replacements: Rhys Downes; Dean Gunter; Matthew Nuthall; Tom Hetherington; Calum Thomas; Craig Locke; Lewis Smout.
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