Newport head for Sardis Road on the back of a great semi-final win against our hosts, Pontypridd. The coaches will have been very satisfied with the performance at Bridgend where the attack, the defence and the set piece all worked well. Pontypridd are not having the success they are used to, but they never gave up and carried hard, testing the Black & Amber defence throughout the game.
Thursday’s televised game could be very different as both sides are likely to make changes as the short turnaround means some players will be rested to give them some recovery time. Newport are now into a ‘two games a week’ scenario and the squad strength will be tested. Having said that, Ty Morris’s men are in with a chance of making the league play-offs and will be aiming for a win.
Newport: Josh Reynolds, Ellis Shipp, Garin Harris, Elliot Ferriman, Craig Hudd, Josh Reid, Kyle Tayler, Lennon Greggains, Luke Crane, Matt O’Brien (Capt), Walker Price, Harri Ackerman, Joe Westwood, Ioan Davies, Geraint O’Driscoll.
Replacements: James Benjamin, Tom Workman, Dan Suter, Rhys Jenkins, George Young, Che Hope, Chay Foster-Smith, Lloyd Lewis.
Referee: Tom Spurrier
AR1: John Darcy
AR2: Ellis Poulden
AR3: Neil Perkins
TMO: Jon Mason
Kick-off: 7:30