Cross Keys v Pontypridd – Match Preview
On Saturday 28th February Pontypridd RFC travel to Pandy Park for an Admiral Premiership match against Cross Keys RFC, kick off is the usual time of 2:30pm.
Last season on Saturday 12th April Ponty secured a bonus-point win by 27 points to 15 at Pandy Park. A brace of tries each from Stuart Floyd-Ellis and Dale Stuckey helped seal the win. More recently the two clubs met at Sardis on Saturday 18th October this season, tries from Connah Hughes, Joe Davies (2) and Jordan Coxley earned a hard-fought 26-19 win.
The close scorelines are pretty customary when the two clubs have met in the Premiership over the years, and tomorrow’s match has all the hallmarks of being another tight affair. It’s 6th versus 2nd and the Valley Commandos know that they simply just have to keep winning to keep their Admiral Premiership title dreams alive as we prepare to head into March, pob lwc bois!
TEAM NEWS –
Ponty have made three changes to the starting XV that won up the road at Keys’ neighbours Newbridge a fortnight ago – all of these come in the pack to go with the four new faces that are included amongst the replacements. Within those four replacements there’s a potential club debutant as well.
The three changes in the pack sees a return to the starting line-up for Jordan Coxley at no.8 and a first start in Ponty colours for tighthead prop Finian Murray. The other new face is an old one – second row Callum Bradbury who is on permit from Newport. Callum will make his fifth Pontypridd appearance, nearly eight and half years since his last one which came in September 2017.
The four new faces on the bench sees welcome returns following injury for Ben Stephens and Mitch Barnard. There’s a recall for George Thorrington and a potential debut for backrower Ioan Davies. Like Callum, Ioan is also on permit from the Black & Ambers.
The Pontypridd team selected to play Cross Keys is as follows:
15. Jorge Lucey. 14. Louis Rochefort-Shugar. 13. Stuart Floyd-Ellis. 12. Callum Coxley. 11. Rhodri Smith. 10. Logan Jones. 9. Lloyd Dennett.
1. Ben Drew. 2. Connah Hughes. 3. Finian Murray. 4. Joe Miles. 5. Callum Bradbury. 6. Cai James. 7. Cally James (c). 8. Jordan Coxley.
Subs: 16. Louis Tovey. 17. Ben Stephens. 18. Kian Mattravers. 19. Mitch Barnard. 20. Lloyd Riley. 21. Ioan Davies. 22. Joel Raikes. 23. George Thorrington.
SUPPORTERS TRAVEL –
There are literally just a few available seats remaining on the Pontypridd Supporters Club bus for tomorrow’s match. The bus will be departing Sardis Road at 1:00pm – please phone Phil Lycett on 01443 662561 to book.
GROUND ADDRESS –
The postcode for Pandy Park is NP11 7BS.
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