Carew 1st XI 4

Pembroke County 1st XI 2

This local derby has not taken place for three seasons since Carew reformed and worked their way back up the divisions to meet County who have been a first division team for many years.

With Tom Colley suffering from food poisoning, James Mason starting the game with a training ground injury and Carew only having a bare 11 players, the Rooks had to adapt their game to suit, with captain Steve Kendrick taking on a more defensive role than he would normally play.

Pembroke County instantly showed their class and pace, with Brimcombe opening the scoring within the first seven minutes, putting Carew on the backfoot.

However, the Rooks came back with a well-worked move that saw Mason's reverse stick sweep bring the teams level.

County's brisk passing and pacey midfield duo of Tough and Cole were always going to prove a threat to the Carew midfield duo of Kendrick and the veteran Wheeler, but it was the Rooks' direct approach that put them in the lead as Colley's shot was well saved by County 'keeper Andy Major, only to see Smith pounce on the rebound.

Carew went further into the lead as Wheeler picked out Williams's run, coming from wide behind the defence, with a peach of a pass, to see Williams deflect it into the goal and make it 3-1 at the half-time break.

This derby game was very open, with high skill levels and much passion, and showed why both these local teams are flying high at the top of South Wales Division One.

Both the County defence of Brawn, Brooks, Jewel and Cole and Carew's defensive line-up of Johnson, Bowles, Moseley and Head kept many of the attacks from their opposition at bay, with Andy Major pulling off some great saves in the County goal and Leigh Thomas, in the Carew goal, commanding his area.

It was not until the final quarter that a move down the County right wing was crossed well into the Carew circle to see Pike put away a neat move and bring his side within one goal.

After a series of short corners, Carew responded with another goal from Smith, sweeping Wheeler's pass into the 'D' onto the backboard to seal the game at 4-2.

Carew: L. Thomas, S. Kendrick (capt.), S. Moseley, D. Head, M. Bowles, O. Johnson, B. Wheeler, J. Mason, T. Colley, J. Smith, E. Williams.

Pembroke County: A. Major, B. Brauns, N. Brooks (capt.), P. Jewell, D. Cole, P. Tough, M. Webb, M. Brimcombe, D. Pike, S. Cristofaro, S. Cole, S. Kirkhouse, S. Bates, Sammy.

Umpires: J. Wheeler (FIH), S. Lunn.

Carew A 3 Bridgend 4

Both teams held their own during the first quarter, with Shane Lewis having very little to do in goal. It was a long ball through to Andrew Baker that saw him round the 'keeper and slot away Carew's first.

Bridgend came back at Carew to equalise with a penalty stroke, which brought about a yellow card for P. Baker, just before the interval.

With one defender down, 'keeper Lewis was now brought more and more into play, with I. Baker, Ferguson and Dooner working hard to keep the score level until half-time.

Fieldhouse came on for the second half and made an instant impact with a goal within minutes of the restart.

Zac Cole and Meredith drove Carew forward down the wings, while Clements, G. Cole, Hall and Pritchard held the middle together well.

The Bridgend pressure, however, was relentless and from two short corners they went 3-2 up with strikes from their veteran midfielder Steve Macintosh.

Zac Cole brought the Rooks back level, slotting in a fine goal, but it was Bridgend who had the last say with yet another strike from Macintosh late in the game.

Carew team: S. Lewis, M. Clements (capt.), I. Baker, D. Ferguson, P. Baker, A. Baker, M. Fieldhouse, C. Dooner, Z. Cole, J. Meredith, G. Cole, T. Pritchard, A. Hall.

Umpires: K. Hunter, M. Fieldhouse.