Ponty ready for the off

Although having beaten the Drovers twice, home and away last season, Ponty found them to be uncompromising opponents with a hard physical edge, and can expect more of the same on Saturday in a difficult beginning to the new campaign.

The Pontypridd team for the first game of the season will be a mix of last year’s regulars, some new faces, and a couple of senior regional players, which can hopefully gel into a potent attacking force. Club icon Dale McIntosh will lead the side from no 8, with newcomer Justin Benfield making a senior debut alongside him at openside flanker. Other newcomers making their first competitive starts for Ponty will be winger Gareth John and prop Rhys James.

Allocated to the Ponty team for the Llandovery game from the Blues senior squad are centre Tom Riley, who will resume last year’s potent midfield partnership with Dafydd Lockyer, and hooker Duane Goodfield, whilst regional academy outside half Dai Flanagan will also figure.

The Pontypridd team selected to face Llandovery on Saturday reads as follows:
15.Jason Pocock  14.Dan Hitchings  13.Tom Riley  12.Dafydd Lockyer  11.Gareth John  10.Dai Flanagan  9.Tom Dickens
1.Stuart Williams  2.Duane Goodfield  3.Rhys James  4.Chris Dicomidis  5.Grant Harrington  6.Lee Evans  7.Justin Benfield  8.Dale McIntosh – cpt
Subs: Gareth Jones; Dylan Jones; Nicky Eaves; Leighton Davies; Sam Hobbs; Damien Welch; Nathan Strong.
 
Meanwhile Ebbw Vale has named their team to face Bridgend on Saturday.

Team 15. Andrew MacLaughlan 14. Craig Jones 13  Kristian Owen 12. Dan Phillips 11. Andrew Bevan 10. Sam Mills 9. Bryan Shelbourne
1. Lyn Williams 2. Mathew Williams 3. Ioan Ohlsson 4. Craig Blunsdo  5. Neil Edwards 6. John Bowd 7. Dan Lydiate 8 Craig Cleaver (Capt.)
Reps.16. Darryl Williams 17. Ian George 18. Matthew Griffin 19. Jack Lydiate 20. Patrick Horgan 21. Matthew Griffiths 22. James Quirk.

And the Glamorgan Wanderers lineup for their match against current champions Neath will be.

Team 15. Mark Roper 14. Luke Ford 13. Jamie Jones 12. Dai Willey  11. Simon Rosser 10. Gareth McCarthy 9.   Andrew Cawley
1.  Matthew Bolton (c) 2.  Mark Sheppard 3.  Mark O’Leary 4.  Alex Luff 5.  Keith Stewart 6.  Richard Thomas 7.  Peter De Snyder
8.  Marcus Leach
Replacements 16. Rhys Hewitt 17. Paul Douglas 18. Keiron Jenkins 19. Gareth Knight 20. Sam Warbuton 21. Gareth Williams 22. Gareth Morris