Preparations are underway at Pontypridd RFC for the club's big day out at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday 7th May, competing in the final tie of the Konica Minolta Welsh Cup against Llanelli, the game scheduled for a 2.00pm kick off.

An allocation of tickets for the final is expected from the WRU early in the coming week, and will go on sale in the office and clubhouse from 9.00am to 11.00am and from 6.00pm to 9.00pm daily. Ticket prices are set at the same rate as the semi final round.

£10.00 for adults
£5.00 for under 16s
£1.00 for under 8s (There are no concessions for senior citizens or students)
The middle tier of the east stand of the stadium will be utilised for the cup final with all seats numbered as per ticket.

The Pontypridd team will make use of the away changing room at the Millennium Stadium during their preparations for the game, and will have some familiar faces about them in the build up to kick off, with Daniel John, son of Paul John, and Logan McIntosh, son of Dale McIntosh, as team mascots, and hopefully with the RSD Action cheerleaders also in attendance. The final tie will be refereed by WRU official Nigel Williams.

The club have produced a limited edition set of polo and t-shirts especially to commemorate the big day, bearing the Pontypridd RFC shield and the words Konica Minolta Welsh Cup Final 2005. The shirts will be on sale next week from the club shop, office and from Dennis Morgan's sportswear retail outlet on Market Square, priced at £15.00 for polos and £10.00 for t-shirts. Supporters are advised to place their orders early for these shirts, by calling the club office, weekday mornings on 01443 405006.

For businesses or supporters who wish to turn the Cup Final into a corporate occasion, there are Millennium Stadium hospitality suites available for hire for the day. Further details can be obtained from the WRU by calling 02920 822413

15. Morgan Stoddart. 14.Darren Berry. 13.Tom Riley. 12.Dafydd Lockyer. 11.Richard Fussell. 10.Dai Flanagan. 9.Gareth Jones.

1.Stuart Williams. 2.Duane Goodfield . 3.Ryan Harford . 4.Dale McIntosh – cpt. 5.Grant Harrington. 6.Wayne O’Connor. 7.Rhys Shellard. 8.Dan Godfrey.

L Byrne; D Rogers, E Williams, J Lewis, D GRavell; C Thomas, C Macdonald; D Maddocks, C Hawkins, K Jones, C Rowe, B Griffiths, I Cunningham (capt), M Evans, G Quinnell.

The final tie of the Konica Minolta Welsh Cup, to be played on Saturday 7^th May at the Millennium Stadium, with a revised kick off time of 1 pm, should provide an intriguing contest between two clubs who have experienced differing fortunes during the restructuring of the professional game in Wales.

Pontypridd take on Llanelli in the showpiece final of the domestic club structure, pitching together two teams who, arguably more than any other, have committed themselves to a policy of free running rugby and the development of exciting young talent. Two high scoring encounters between the teams in the league this season, with honours so far evenly shared, indicate that the Cup Final could be a feast of open rugby.

The similarities between the two teams on the field of play stand in stark contrast to the opposing club’s varied fortunes off the field. The introduction of regional rugby gave Llanelli the luxury of stand alone status, whilst Pontypridd have largely found themselves excluded from the new set up.

Followers of the Scarlets will have a choice of events on the week-end, with their regional elite challenging the Ospreys in a Celtic Cup semi final tie at Stradey Park on Saturday evening – a game which precluded a late request from the WRU for a change in kick off time for the Konica Minolta Cup Final itself. Ponty supporters meanwhile are left with only one option – to try to raise the retractable roof of the Millennium Stadium in a plea for Valleys Rugby to be recognised by the powers that be in our national sport.

Whilst the players have their own motivation in proving their ability in the cauldron of the national stadium, and to claim the silverware on offer, supporters from Pontypridd and the Valleys will no doubt themselves have some points to prove on the big day. The traditionally vocal and highly passionate Ponty crowd will be out in force to get behind a new generation of Sardis heroes come Saturday afternoon, and eager to spur on to victory a team that will be, on the day, no less an entity than "Valleys United".

PONTYPRIDD are planning to 'Do it for Dale' on Saturday when they take on Llanelli in the final of the Konica-Minolta Cup at the Millennium Stadium.

Dale McIntosh, who has been the inspirational figurehead in Ponty's drive towards the final, is set to miss the domestic season's potentially thrilling climax after losing his elder brother Chris to illness.

McIntosh flew back to his home country, New Zealand, last weekend after hearing the news that Chris had lost his fight against leaukeamia.

But last night Pontypridd No 8 Dan Godfrey said the players were now desperate to lift the trophy this weekend for their respected captain.

"Our thoughts have been with Dale ever since we heard the news last week," said Godfrey. "First and foremost, I think it puts things into perspective and makes you realise that rugby is not the be all and end all of life. Secondly, the feeling is so strong for Dale in the club and the town for that matter, that we would love to win the cup for him.

"I have texted him a couple of times to pass on my thoughts and I understand it has hit him really hard."

McIntosh has led from the front for a Pontypridd side which has endured a topsy-turvy league campaign. However, even in his absence, the Valley Commandos appear strong enough to make this a special final for the fans.

Between 5,000 and 10,000 are expected on the day for a game that has certainly taken on new meaning - for both sides.

Llanelli captain Ioan Cunningham, one of the rising stars of the game in Wales, said, "It's desperate news for Dale and I'm sure their boys will be even more fired up for the game.

"But we will be too. The news make this a special final and, if the weather stays like this and both teams play like we have all season, it will be a final to remember."

Llanelli's chances have certainly not been helped by the news that centre Emyr Williams suffered a broken leg last weekend, but their squad is otherwise at full-strength with Cunningham hopeful that the side can keep the Scarlet tradition going.

"I have had loads of text messages wishing me good luck this week and the town is buzzing once again. I think we will have a few coming up, and I'm sure Ponty will too."

Godfrey said, "It would be great to be able to give something back to the town. They have had it hard in recent months with the club struggling."

Cup fever is set to grip Pontypridd and its outlying Valley communities this week, with the club's big day out at the Millennium Stadium fast approaching.

Tickets for the Konica Minolta Welsh Cup final tie against Llanelli on Saturday 7th May are now on sale at the Ponty clubhouse, available during office hours, 9:00am to 12 noon, and from the club bar in the evenings, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. The tickets are priced at £10.00 for adults, £5.00 for under 16s and £1.00 for under 8s. All tickets will be numbered for their relevant seats, with the middle tier of the Millennium Stadium's East Stand being utilised for the final.

Seats on the big yellow double deckers will need to be booked prior to travelling, by calling Supporters Club chairman Phil Lycett on 01443 662561.

Orders are currently being taken at the club office and shop for a limited edition Cup Final polo shirt and t-shirt, priced at £15.00 and £10.00 respectively, and which can also be purchased from Dennis Morgan's sportswear shop on Market Square.

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