Bedwas RFC v Pontypool RFC

Leighton Jones feels the recent break was time well spent as his squad gears up for the return of the WRU Admiral National Championship for the run up to Christmas.

After playing just one game in the last month – November’s thrilling victory over Bargoed RFC – Pontypool RFC now face three games in the next three weeks before another two-week break for the festive celebrations.

That run of games starts with a trip to The Bridgefield to take on Bedwas RFC in tomorrow’s Gwent derby.

Having taken maximum points from their league games so far – along with a WRU Championship Cup victory over Narberth RFC – a break in play to halt momentum was the last thing Jones would have wanted but he has been pleased with how the break has been used.

“It’s been a bit different this year,” admitted head coach Jones.

“Normally when we get to this point we’ve had a few injuries and the boys need a rest but this year our injury list isn’t that big.

“It’s been good though because [Gareth] Betts has taken them down to the gym at Torfaen Leisure Trust and the boys have done good work in the new facility we have available to us.

“We took a night off but the other nights we’ve worked them hard off the field before coming back to rugby this week and they are itching to go for the next three games.

“We would have preferred to just carry on playing rugby but at the start of the season you know you are having a break in November.

“We had a good win against Bargoed and it would have been lovely to keep the games going but that’s not the case.

“We’ll look to start again on Saturday and build again for the next three games before Christmas.”

Pooler make six changes for tomorrow’s fixture with Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths and Peter Lloyd coming into the front row.

Mike Herbert returns to the starting line-up with Garin Price lining up at number eight.

Winger Mathew Powell will provide threat from out wide while Geraint Walsh will add his experience at full-back.

Skipper Scott Matthews will make his 50^th club appearance while there is a new face on the bench in the form of new scrum-half Dai Jones.

And it could be a memorable debut for new boy Jones with the unpredictability of a Gwent derby.

“It’s a Gwent derby and those games are full of everything,” continued Leighton Jones.

“They are on their own patch, they are a decent team, are coached well and I’m sure it’s going to be a difficult task for the boys but one that we’re fully prepared for.

“Over the last couple of years in the Championship Bedwas are a decent team. They are always ending up around the top end of the league.

“It’s their home game, everyone targets winning their home games so we’ve got to go there and put that performance in, which we know we can, and come away with the win.”