Long-awaited return home for Pontypridd

PONTYPRIDD return to the home comforts of Sardis Road on Friday night for their first league match at the ‘House of Pain’ since the turn of the year.

And head coach Dale McIntosh is eager to give the Pontypridd fans something to cheer about, even more so as the valleys club has slipped to seventh in the Premiership.

With matches running out, McIntosh’s men, who lost in the grand final last season, know they have to up their game if they want to cement a top three finish this time around.

Only 11 points separate Pontypridd and leaders Neath but the former must win their matches in hand if they are to challenge for the big prize this season.

“There’s no need for an immediate panic but there is an immediate need to focus on winning games,” said McIntosh. “We need to start closing games down when we are ahead and playing well, to seal the coffin lid on our opponents.

“We haven’t been doing that and only have ourselves to blame.

“A lot of effort went into the performance at Newport (when they lost 24-15) but we made poor decisions in key positions at crucial times.

“We are a good side, we showed that in abundance on the night with some phenomenal statistics in our favour, but we lost the game and that should not happen.”

The Pontypridd supporters will expect their side to get back to winning ways after the disappointment of Rodney Parade and McIntosh is looking for his players to turn on the style.

“We are training really well and there is a self-belief amongst the squad, a feel-good factor that we need to transfer into our match days,” he added.

“We do have games in hand over all teams above us in the league but those games are there to be won. A home tie against Bridgend on Friday will be an ideal opportunity to start putting things right.

“We need to find consistency in that game, to win in style in front of our own supporters.”

*It’s understood that all 12 clubs in next season’s Welsh Premiership will take part in the 2012/13 British & Irish Cup.

A new-look competition will also feature 12 English sides as well as four Scottish and four Irish clubs although whether it reverts to a straight knockout format isn’t yet known.