The game will be the first of 15 live matches from the Principality Premiership and the WRU National Cup competitions that will be made available on S4C. All the games will be available to watch on-demand at s4c.cymru, iPlayer and other platforms and English commentary and subtitles will be available.
The first game will be in the last round of the first phase of the Principality Premiership, with Ponty seeking to use home advantage at Sardis Road to try to knock reigning champions off the top of the East Division table a week before all 16 clubs come together in one league.
S4C will screen one of the opening games in the second phase of the Premiership on Saturday, 30 December when Llandovery entertain Aberavon at Church Bank (kick-off 5.00pm). There will be a first round match from the WRU National Cup shown on Sunday, 7 January.
“We are delighted to announce that we will broadcast a number of key matches from the Principality Premiership and the National Cup this season,” said S4C Sports Commissioner, Sue Butler.
“The two competitions have a significant rugby following in Wales and The National Finals day is one of the highlights of the club rugby season. The live coverage is great news for Welsh rugby supporters all over Wales and the UK.”
The Christmas rivalry between Pontypridd and Cardiff dates back to the 1882-83 season when the teams met in Pontypridd for the first time. The Black & Blacks won with a disputed try, 8-0.
FOOTBALL
CARDIFF v PONTYPRIDD
A match between the above clubs was played at Pontypridd on Saturday last. Pontypridd was well represented, and Cardiff “whipped” together a very fair team, notwithstanding the absence of so many of their first fifteen. After a well contested game the match resulted in a win for Cardiff by one goal and a try (disputed) to nil. The goal was kicked by W. Williams from a try by Simpson, and the other try was obtained by Hinton. In addition to the above mentioned, Clare, James, and Laybourne played well for Cardiff, as also did the brothers Treharne and Spickett for Pontypridd.
Cardiff: W. H. Morgan, back AV. Williams, J. Clare, and T G. Fitzgerald, three-quarter backs C. James and Buller, half-backs W. D. Phillips (captain), J. Simpson, J. Hinton, McConnochie, E. Evans, Laybourne, Cooper, and Holman.
Pontypridd: G. Williams, back J. Spickett (captain), D. Treharne, and Morris, three-quarter backs; E. Treharne and W. Spickett, half-backs; Lewis, Price, Thomas, Morgan, Lloyd, Griffiths, Williams, Matthews, and another, forwards.
With Cross Keys having gained revenge on Newport in their return fixture at Rodney Parade earlier in the week, winning 32-24, it means Cardiff cannot move up or down in the East Division and will be guaranteed to carry over five points in the second phase for finishing fourth. Ponty can still top the table, and earn eight points to carry forward, if they win and Merthyr lose or draw.
It took three second half tries from Mathew Powell, Barney Nightingale and Scott Matthews, along with 12 points from the boot of Josh Prosser, to earn Keys a bonus-point win after they had trailed 10-7 at the break in midweek. Leon Andrews crossed in the first half to set up the bonus point.
Newport had tries from Henry Palmer, Jonathan Morris and Tom Piper, two of which Matt O’Brien converted. Haydn Simons also converted one and added a penalty.
Principality Premiership East Division – Round 14
23 December
Ebbw Vale v Bedwas
Ebbw Vale: Dan Haymond; Stefan Thomas, Carl Meyer, Dai Langdon, Will Talbot-Davies; Dorian Jones, Dai Jones; Gerard Ellis, Rhys Francis, Rob Sevenoaks, Rhys Clarke, Lance Randall, Cameron Regan, Ronny Kynes (captain), Lewis Young
Reps: Joe Franchi, Ross Jones, Josh James, Mathew Williams, Kristian Parker, Carl Lewis, Elis-Wyn Benham, Callum Hall
Bedwas: Lewis Evans; Ceri Young, Connor Edwards, Mike Callow, Oli Halford; Steffan Jones, Nicky Griffiths (captain); Tom Devine, Dale Rogers, Jack Williams, Ben Thompson, Craig Hudd, James Richards, David McGuigan, Robson Blake
Reps: Dan Preece, Mike Dacey, Rhys Hutcherson, Geraint Edmunds, Andrew Waite, Tom Rowlands, Mike Hathaway, Adam Williams
Merthyr v Bargoed
Merthyr: Matthew Jarvis; Kyle Evans, Kristian Phillips, Josh Martin, Alex Howman; Gareth Davies, Rhys Downes; Nathan Trevett, Richard Wilkes, Szabolcs Pocskai, Ben Murphy, Craig Locke (captain), Lee Evans, Osian Davies, Phil Rees
Reps: Joe Rees, Sam Evans, Rhys James, Nick White, Jarryd-Lee Davies, Adam Hoskins, Richard Powell, Arron Pinches
Bargoed: Julian Mogg; David Evans, Jordan Howells, Lewis Bowden, Ashley Norton; Calum Jones, James Hallett; Phil Price, Lewys Lippiett, Alex Gardner-Key, James Locke, Matthew Thomas, Adam Coupe, Ieuan Jones
Reps: James Pizey, Darren Humphries, Chris Davies, Owain Cooper, Geraint Clarke, Dan Matthews, Keagan Bale, Kyle Griffiths
Pontypridd v Cardiff
Pontypridd: Gary Williams; Alex Webber, Cameron Lewis, Ceri Sweeney, Dale Stuckey; Diggy Bird, Wayne Evans; Huw Owen, Huw Dowden, Jon Elley, Josh Hawkins, Chris Dicomidis, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Rhys Shellard, Morgan Sieniawski
Reps: Jamie Hill, Jordan Rees, Lewis Williams, Iestyn Harris, Ross Morgan, Hemi Barnes, Joe Popple, Keelan Marney
Cardiff: Llwyarch Ap Myrddin; James Beal, Dafydd Smith, Will Rees-Hole, Pat Lewis; Ben Thomas, Rhodri Cole; Rhys Carre, Ian Jenkins, Dillon Lewis, James Murphy, Callum Bradbury, Ben White, Jim Botham, Sion Bennett
Reps: Fraser Young, Corrie Tarrant, Peter Lloyd, Corey Tucker, Owen Lloyd, Geraint Watkin, Gareth Thompson, Corey Howells
Principality Premiership West Division – Round 14
23 December
Bridgend v RGC 1404
Bridgend: Ed Doe; Aaron Grabham, Joe Gatt, Nathan Edwards, Mike Powell; Cai Evans, Connor Tantum; Rhodri Apsee, Owen Thomas, Garyn Daniel, Chris John, Kieran Martin, Owain Lloyd, Tom Morgan, Adam O’Driscoll (captain)
Reps: Dewi Lake, Ollie Evans, Owen Jordan, Jack Pope, Ashton Evans, Will Baird, Ryan Evans, Garin Lougher
RGC 1404: Dion Jones; Afon Bagshaw, Tom Hughes, Tiaan Loots, Harri Evans; Jacob Botica, Cameron Davies; Joe Simpson, Evan Yardley (captain), Sam Wainwright, Andrew Williams, Robin Williams, Tim Grey, Dan Owen, Alex Taylor
Reps: Rhys Williams, Curtis Reynolds, Jordan Scott, Calum Donnelly, Bryn Jones, Efan Jones, Danny Cross, Iolo Evans
Llandovery v Carmarthen Quins
Llandovery: Rhys Jones; Lee Williams, Ryan Evans, Rhodri Jones, Dafydd Pritchard; Jack Maynard, Lee Rees; Berian Watkins, Dafydd Hughes, Scott Jenkins, Bryn Griffiths, Joe Powell, Lewis Ellis-Jones, Shaun Miles, Richard Brooks (captain)
Reps: Llyr Green, Jamie Hughes, Emyr Price, Stuart Worrall, Ricky Guest, Morgan Jones, Kristian Jones, Scott Maynard
Carmarthen Quins: Gavin Thomas; Dale Ford, Nic Reynolds, Scott Lloyd, Dylan Morgans; Steff Marshall, Aron Hemmings; Steffan Phillips, Torin Myhill, Steff Thomas, Josh Helps, Lee Taylor, Elis Lloyd, Shaun Ervans (captain), Richard Bloomfield
Reps: Rhys Davies, Rhodri Clancy, Javan Sebastian, Lawrence Reynolds, Lewys Millin, Ifan Beynon-Thomas, Jac Wilson, Josh Batcup
Swansea v Llanelli
Swansea: Richard Fussell; Dan Howells, Rhys Williams, John Rhys Williams, Gareth Rees; James Davies, Matt Aubrey; Tom Sloane, Ashleigh James, Mitch Walsh, Sam Kiley, Matt Dodd, Morgan Morris , Will Jones, Jon Fox (captain)
Reps: Hugh Gustafson, Richard Murphy , Jack Powell, Tudor Hughes, Steff Jones, Rhodri Wells, Gareth Walters, Andrew Claypole
Llanelli: Kallum Evans; Matthew Jenkins, Ryan Davies, Ollie Reyland, Ryan Conbeer; Ioan Hughes, Gareth George; Dylan Evans, Craig Thomas, Ben Leung, Ashley Hyndman, Bryce Morgan, Chris Long (captain), Nathan Hart, Jack Condy
Reps: Callum Jenkins, Dylan Phillips, Richard Bassett, Ellis Thomas, Elliot Rees, Matthew Flanagan, Jake Newman, Ben Atkins
26 December
Neath v Aberavon
Teams: TBC
