Cross Keys RFC v Pontypool RFC

Gareth Betts is looking forward to travelling to his old stomping ground when Pontypool RFC go to Pandy Park to take on Cross Keys RFC on Saturday afternoon.

Pooler enjoyed their last trip to Keys, picking up a resounding 48-0 victory and have won 119 of the 196 encounters against their regional rivals.

However, strength and conditioning coach Betts spent a few years in the black and white jersey and knows Pooler will have to be at their best if they stand any chance of getting a positive result in the Gwent derby.

“I had a couple of seasons at Cross Keys. It’s a good club and it’s lovely to play against another Gwent club,” he said.

“As a player and coach it’s a game that you are always going to be up for.

“There’s no better place to go than Pandy Park.

“They’ll be up for it, they’ll want a turn at a scalp. I think everyone wants to beat Pontypool so it will be good for us to get back out playing.

“It’s only the second game in so I think it will be even for the first 20 minutes, they’ll certainly come with a lot of desire.

“Derbies are always won upfront, hopefully we can grind them out and the boys can put a big shift in and get on top in the scrum and contact area and get some ball and score some nice tries.

“There are a lot of players here that used to play for Cross Keys and they’ll want to prove a point and get the bragging rights.

“That’s what gives you that little bit of want in your stomach, to go out and prove a point.”

This will be Betts’ second game in the dugout and he was very impressed with his first outing, which saw Pooler secure a 50-3 win at Maesteg Harlequins RFC.

“There’s a lot of tenacity and energy about the players and one thing that is really good at the minute is the competition,” continued Betts.

“You could pick two teams and they would both be really efficient and they are all putting a big shift in.

“We’re not just looking at how they play but also how they train, which is something that perhaps has been missing.

“The session on Thursday was the best I’ve seen, it was really intense and everyone was hungry for that jersey.

“Let’s hope we see that Saturday and get another big win against Cross Keys in a Gwent derby.”

There are four changes from the opening victory at South Parade a fortnight ago. Tom Piper replaces Sam Cochrane in the front row while Mike Herbert comes in for Ieuan Jones and takes the armband.

Dan Babos is handed his first competitive start for the club with wing Mathew Powell involved for the first time this season.

Also named in the squad for the first time this campaign is Peter Lloyd and former Keys captain, and current Pooler skipper, Scott Matthews, who both take their place among the replacements.