Ystrad Rhondda RFC v Pontypool RFC

Pontypool start the final week of the season with a tough trip to Ystrad Rhondda this evening.

Ystrad have been a surprise package this season and have pushed Pontypool close twice on both the occasions we have faced them so far this season.

A last-minute penalty try was needed to overcome them at Pontypool Park back in the early stages of the season while Pooler had to show character to come from behind to lift the WRU Championship Cup at the Principality Stadium.

History favours Pooler with a perfect winning record but captain Scott Matthews is expecting another tough encounter when the boys arrive at Gelligaled Park tonight.

However, he insists the squad is fully focused on the final fixtures despite securing promotion and the league title.

“It was a great result for the boys and obviously winning the league is a huge credit to the team and the coaching staff and everyone who is involved with the club,” explained Matthews, who claimed his 18^th try of the season on Saturday.

“As a group we haven’t really celebrated as we have two games left, one being Ystrad Rhondda away, which is a really big challenge and as tough as it gets in this league.

“It’ll be an emotional game for them as it’s their coach’s last couple of games.

“Dylan [Jones] has done a fantastic job and we’ll be paying our respects to him with the rest of the Ystrad Rhondda boys for what he has brought to them, it’s been a fantastic achievement for him.

“But for us we haven’t celebrated as a team yet and that is because the season isn’t over.

“It’s vitally important with the tight run of fixtures going back to back that we are fully focused on playing, we’re fully focused on making sure the aches and pains are managed.

“Particularly putting onus on ourselves to do the extra bits to make sure we are ready to go for the next game.

“There are no complaints from us, every team is in the same boat. We are looking forward to it.

“Ystrad Rhondda have pushed us all the way in the two games we have played with them so we know it’s going to be a massive, particularly physical, battle and a fast game.

“We always focus on ourselves and the next game so as soon as the final whistle went at Cardiff Met on Saturday, our focus turned to Ystrad Rhondda.”

“If we could go the season unbeaten it would be a massive achievement but we are under no illusions that it will be an easy task.

“We’re just going to give our all.”