Match PreviewMatch Report

Cardiff Met RFC Pontypool RFC Cardiff Met RFC v Pontypool RFC

Saturday 13th May 2023 / 2:30pm Kick Off
WRU Admiral National Championship

Pontypool RFC Lineup

Previous Matches

Overall

37Games
  • 29Wins
  • 7Losses
  • 1Draws

Home

19Games
  • 17Wins
  • 2Losses
  • 0Draws

Away

18Games
  • 12Wins
  • 5Losses
  • 1Draws
 

Pontypool travel to the capital on the penultimate weekend of the season knowing a bonus-point victory will see them crowned WRU Admiral National Championship winners.

The Welsh All Blacks are now the only team left that can catch Pooler and they currently sit 10 points behind. That means their maximum points tally is 119 – a total Pooler can reach if they secure maximum points at the Cyncoed Campus.

However, that would push Pooler onto 24 wins for the season and that is a tally that Neath can not match with the league placings being based on number of victories if teams are tied for points at the end of the season.

It’s never an easy trip to Cardiff Met and they welcome Pontypool while they are in a rich vein of form with three wins from their last four games.

They will want to sign off the season in style in front of what is sure to be an engaging crowd while also spoiling the party for Pooler in the process.

This game against Cardiff Met was originally scheduled as the final game of the season but the harsh winter has left many teams playing catch up with Pooler still with two outstanding fixtures after this game.

In contrast, the Archers have managed to catch up with their fixture list and this will represent the final game for them – the same as last season.

The hosts also have the benefit of a full week of rest while Pooler will have focused on recovery in the last few days following the difficult fixture at Beddau on Wednesday evening.

Cardiff Met currently sit fifth, unlikely to leapfrog Ystrad Rhondda above them who are one point better off but having played five games fewer while a strong end to the season from Narberth, Bedwas, Cross Keys or Beddau could see the Students slide down the table.

The boys are firmly focused on maintaining their impressive unbeaten record, which no team has managed to secure in a 14-team Championship season, although Pooler had won all 16 of their games before the 2019/20 season was called off due to COVID-19.

Not only would a victory push them closer to the title, with a bonus-point win securing it, but it would also edge them closer to Bargoed’s record points tally of 124 set back in 2015. Pooler need 11 points from their final three games to claim that record for themselves.

Leighton Jones and his coaching team have opted to make full use of their squad to help with the fixture congestion by making seven changes.

Kelvyn Williams, who bagged his first try for the club on Wednesday, comes back into the front row while Ashley Sweet returns at lock.

Mike Herbert and Adam Stratton both bolster the back row.

Among the backs, Morgan Lloyd, Duan Thomas and Pat Lewis are recalled.

 

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