Ponty name depleated team - Defeat on the cards

By Web Team
May 12 2003

Due to a whole number of problems with injuries, international call ups and the crazy fixture pile up which was created by the WRU's lack of planning at the start of the season it looks as though Ponty will lose thier match against Neath and they haven't even kicked off yet! For full story read on.

PONTY FACE ANOTHER DEFEAT?

After having already lost many first team players through injury, Ponty coach Lynn Howells now has to select a side to face Neath on Tuesday night which does not include any of the international players.

Sonny Parker, Shaun James, Emyr Lewis, Gethin Jenkins, Geraint Morris, Ashley Copic, Duncan Bell, Geraint Lewis, Michael Owen, and Richard Parks are already out through injury but now Ceri Sweeney, Robert Sidoli and Mefin Davies are also unavailable due to international training sessions.

And if you think this is bad enough, the crisis deepens with Dale Macintosh and Jason Lewis also sidelined through injury. This leaves Howells with only a few players left and so he has named the following starting fifteen to face Neath:

15.Brett Davey. 14.Gareth Wyatt. 13.Mathew Nuthall. 12.Jon Bryant. 11.Richard Fussell. 10.Neil Jenkins. 9.Paul John. 1.Neil Hennessy. 2.Matthew Rees. 3.A.N. Other. 4.Brent Cockbain. 5.A.N. Other. 6.Mark Lewis. 7.Wayne O’Connor. 8.Lee Beech.

Subs: Gareth Baber; Lee Thomas; Richard Johnston; and four others to be announced.

A second row and Prop are still to be found for the match - could Mike Griffiths come out of retirement for the second time in a week?

To make things worse for Ponty, Neath look set to name a near enough full strength team for this encounter as they look to close the gap on leaders Bridgend.

I imagine a crowd of less than 1000 to witness what will probably be a hammering by the Welsh All Blacks but who is to blame?

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