The two teams met in the Premiership final, which the Steelmen won so handsomely at Sardis Road, but it was Dafydd Lockyer’s team that came out on top in the Challenge Cup final with a win over Bedwas at Bridgend.
All games will be played on Wednesday night’s and Ponty find themselves in a tough pool with Bargoed and Merthyr as well as Ebbw Vale. Runners-up Bedwas are drawn with Newport and Cross Keys in Pool A, Swansea meet Llanelli, Llandovery and Carmarthen Quins in Pool B and Cardiff, Aberavon, Neath and Bridgend will do battle in Pool D.
Pontypridd assistant coach Gareth Wyatt intends to use the tournament to develop young, local talent with players from neighbouring clubs being given their chance to shine
“The aim of the Challenge Cup is to nurture new talent, and we can call upon some players from our own youth squad as well as from other clubs. Our selection will be a bit of mix and match as we go into the competition,” said Wyatt.
“We will also need to give game time to senior squad members like Lewis K Williams, Connor Lewis and Sean Moore, and to players returning from injury, such as Gary Williams. It will be important to rest some of our senior players, who have been heavily utilised of late.
“It has been difficult to field a team for the Premiership because of injuries. That pressure will be lifted for a while, but we still aim to field competitive squads in the Challenge Cup.”
FOSTER’S CHALLENGE CUP ROUND 1 – WEDNESDAY, 12 OCTOBER
Pool A
Bedwas v Newport
Pool B
Llandovery v Swansea
Llanelli v Carmarthen Quins
Pool C
Bargoed v Merthyr
Ebbw Vale v Pontypridd
Pool D
Cardiff v Aberavon
Neath v Bridgend
