After eight long months battling out a highly successful campaign in the Principality Premiership, Pontypridd have just one fixture remaining, and on that fixture rest the hopes and aspirations of the entire season.
The Premiership Play-Off Final will see Ponty play host to Llanelli this evening with the winner claiming the league crown as their own. (KO 7.35pm)
Pontypridd have already secured the SWALEC Cup following a hard fought win over Aberavon just over two weeks ago, and now challenge for an unprecedented league and cup double, with the possibility of history in the making at the ‘House of Pain’.
Having finished third in the league table, Llanelli might well be pretenders to the throne, but come into the Play-Off Final as a team very much in form, as their total demolition of second placed Neath in the semi final tie at the Gnoll last week proved.
Ponty have built up steadily to the crunch tie, training hard with no match practice since that SWALEC Cup win back on the 2nd of May. They can also select from a position of strength, having given late fitness tests to flanker Darren Waters (knee) and winger Owen Williams (back), both given the all clear and into the starting line up.
Coaches Dale McIntosh and Paul John have largely kept faith with the team that took to the field in the Cup final, making only one change, with Craig Locke coming into the second row and Cory Hill reverting to the bench. Blues senior squad members, scrum half Rhys Downes and prop Sam Hobbs are drafted on to the bench.
Pontypridd: 15.Adam Thomas. 14.Gareth Wyatt. 13.Gavin Dacey. 12.Dafydd Lockyer. 11.Owen Williams. 10.Simon Humberstone. 9.Lewis Jones; 1.Stuart Williams. 2.Kristian Dacey. 3.Ryan Harford. 4.Craig Locke. 5.Ryan Savage. 6.Darren Waters. 7.Wayne O’Connor. 8.Chris Dicomidis (Capt)
Replacements: Rhys Downes; Dean Gunter; Lewis Williams; Huw Dowden; Ed Siggery; Cory Hill; Sam Hobbs.
