Pontypridd will battle on with a squad depleted by injuries and regional and international call-ups, to fulfill their next fixture, a home league tie against Pontypool this evening (KO 7:15pm.)
Playing their second game of three crammed into a seven day period, Ponty will have little time to dwell on a disappointing away defeat at Rotherham in the British & Irish Cup last weekend, as they go all out to secure valuable league points against bottom placed club Pontypool.
Absent through injury for the Pooler match are centres Adam Thomas (leg) and Dafydd Lockyer (groin), outside half Matthew Hutchings (ankle), prop Sam Hobbs (head),lock Chris Martenko (back), and flankers Kristian Dacey (shoulder), Wayne O’Connor (ribs) and Darren Waters (toe).
On Magners League duty with the Blues senior squad this week are hooker Huw Dowden and outside half Dai Flanagan, whilst scrum half Rhys Downes, hooker Rhys Williams and lock McCauley Cook are with the Wales under 20s squad. Flanker Rhys Lloyd is away on work commitments.
Selection will be boosted however by the timely return from Wales Sevens duties of full back Aaron Bramwell and centre Gavin Dacey, with all the Williams’ – props Stuart and Jon and wing Owen making their comebacks from injury. Drafted in on permit for Ponty are second row Craig Locke from Mountain Ash and back rowers Alun Thomas from Ynysybwl and Matthew Rees from Merthyr.
Pontypridd: 15.Aaaron Bramwell. 14.Owen Williams. 13.Gavin Dacey. 12.Gary Williams. 11.Chris Clayton. 10.Dean Gunter. 9.Kristian Baller; 1.Ken Knaggs. 2.Tom Hetherington. 3.Ryan Harford. 4.Grant Harrington. 5.Ryan Savage. 6,Chris Dicomidis. 7.Matthew Rees. 8.Nathan Strong (capt)
Subs: Gavin Morris; Lee Thorne; Matthew Nuthall; Stuart Williams; Jon Williams; Craig Locke; Alun Thomas.
