Ponty go into the new year holding on to top spot in the Premiership table, the only team so far to maintain a 100% record in the division. Trailing eight points behind in third place are the Quins, who have lost only two of 10 games played, and who showed their intent with an impressive 29-7 home win over Llandovery last time out.
This will be the first encounter of the current campaign between the two clubs, with Pontypridd having achieved a league double over Carmarthen last season. The Quins finished off a close second in the Premiership trailing champions Ponty by one point only.
Pontypridd follow a policy of squad rotation, making nine changes to the line-up that started in a hard fought away win at Cardiff last weekend. There are welcome returns from injury for scrum half Joel Raikes and prop James Howe, both taking a place on the bench.
Following a ‘blip’ against Aberavon and a far better statement of intent against Llandovery, the Quins face the best team in the Premiership. There is no doubting Ponty’s class at this level as they are currently unbeaten in the Premiership this season, however, the Quins were very impressive against Llandovery and will not fear playing Pontypridd at the ‘house of pain’.
Quite the contrary this an opportunity for the Quins to assess just how far they have come in the last two seasons and they should relish the opportunity to test themselves against the ‘Valley Commando’s’.
The Quins have picked a strong side with the only changes to the starting 15 at half-back where the experienced Rhodri Wells and Craig Evans replace Dan Jones and Kieran Hardy who are both unavailable for selection this weekend due to training commitments with the Wales Under 20’s squad.
Pontypridd: 15 Aled Summerhill 14 Alex Webber 13 Gavin Dacey 12 Dafydd Lockyer (Capt) 11 Owen Jenkins 10 Simon Humberstone 9 Lloyd Williams; 1 Bradley Thyer 2 Huw Dowden 3 Keiron Jenkins 4 Craig Locke 5 Alex Jones 6 Luke Crocker 7 Jake Thomas 8 Dan Godfrey.
Subs: 16 Joel Raikes 17 Lewis K Williams 18 Chris Clayton 19 Aled Morris 20 Tom Hetherington 21 Rhys Shellard 22 James Howe 23 Pat Palmer.
Carmarthen Quins: 15 Lee Williams 14 Chris Banfield 13 Iolo Evans 12 Rhys Williams 11 Jason Harries 10 Craig Evans 9 Rhodri Wells 8 Sion Bennett 7 Ellis Lloyd 6 Shaun Jones 5 Haydn Pugh 4 Lee Taylor 3 Javan Sebastian 2 Rhodri Clancy 1 Ian Jones (c)
Replacements: 16. Steffan Phillips 17. Jack Haines 18. Gethin Wyn Jones 19. Aidan Laxton 20. Jonathan Williams 21. Gareth George 22. Dylan Morgans 23. Dion Jones
