WRU Championship leaders Neath visit Ystrad Rhondda on Saturday (kick off 2.30pm) for what is normally a full-blooded encounter at Gelli Galed Park.

Ystrad have been in good form recently and have won four of their last five games at Ystalyfera (25-8) and Tata Steel (57-7) and against Cross Keys (15-12) and Trebanos (43-13) at home, their only defeat being at Pontypool (25-28).

Neath did the hard graft and played some excellent rugby football to beat Cardiff Metropolitan by 60-17 in their last league outing and the Blacks make three starting changes with Jon Bayliss earning a place on the wing and Nicky Griffiths resuming at scrum-half. Up front, lock Jon Barley returns with Jacob Blackmore reverting to the back row with one replacement spot to be determined.

Neath v Ystrad Rhondda (Away)

15 Lewis Evans; 14 Ryan Griffiths, 13 Ryan Evans (captain), 12 Ben Atkins, 11 Jon Bayliss; 10 Steff Williams, 9 Nicky Griffiths; 1 Jack Powell, 2 Sion Crocker, 3 Tim Ryan; 4 Matthew Davies, 5 Jon Barley; 6 Jacob Blackmore, 8 David Griggs, 7 Owain Morgan

Replacements (From) :- 16 Evan Kneath, 17 Gareth Lloyd, 18 Elis Hopkins, 19 Macauley Griffiths, 20 A.N.Other

Referee – Mr. Stephen Allsopp (Monmouthshire)

Forthcoming Fixtures :-

Sat.    Dec.   10     Maesteg Harlequins                  Home           2.30pm

Sat.    Dec.   17     Glamorgan Wanderers              Home           2.30pm