Carew HC 5 Bridgend HC 0 Carew Rooks took on the third-placed Bridgend Ravens, who were determined to make amends for their early season 6-3 home defeat. The Carew home ground has become known as a 'fortress', with an impeccable home record in the league this season, and the Rooks were in no mood for letting the fans down.
From the start, right half Emlyn Williams made headway down the flank and the midfield pairing of captain Steve Kendrick and veteran Wheeler showed promise, but not with end results.
Carew welcomed back centre-forward James Mason for this game after an extended Christmas break in the hope that his partnership with strike partner Jamie Smith would reignite a goal bonanza. Left- half Lewis made a slow start to the game compared with the high standards he set the previous week, but his confidence grew as the game wore on. With Cole unavailable, Carew had to reshuffle the defence and it took Ferguson, Head, Mosely and Pritchard some time to settle into their pre-match game plan.
Despite Carew having much of the game, they were unable to convert any of the chances that that they created. Bridgend hit Carew several times on the break, but were denied by the hard-working Carew defence and with goalie Leigh Thomas making a superb save just before half-time, the battle of wits led to a first-half stalemate.
'What a difference a half makes!' Wheeler got the ball rolling, or should we say 'bouncing', from a midfield free hit which Smith latched onto to strike into the goal to open the Carew account and extend his personal phenomenal goal-scoring tally to 39 for the season.
With the defence now functioning well, half-backs Lewis and Williams began to enjoy the freedom of both flanks as they took the game to Bridgend. Mason and Smith were now starting to gel and from one of the many short corners awarded to Carew, Mason struck the backboard to make it 2-0. Carew's third came from a move that started in their defensive quarter and which passed through no fewer than nine 'sticks', before Mason put it away from a Smith cross.
It was Williams, who Bridgend had no answer to, who deservedly got Carew's fourth from one of his darting runs and a well-struck hit from the top of the 'D'. Fieldhouse substituted for Kendrick and immediately found himself in the action, as he made sure of another Williams shot at goal by slotting the ball past the 'keeper.
The Bridgend side did not roll over, with attacks still coming down both flanks and getting in to the Carew 'D', only to be denied by a defence that was on top of its game. Further substitutions were made, with Ian Baker replacing Smith up front and Matt Clements replacing Pritchard at right-back. Just before the final whistle, a mazy run from left- half Lewis saw Baker's neat pass almost generate a sixth. Carew remain on top of the league and next week are away to Swansea University. Team: L. Thomas, S. Kendrick (capt), J. Smith, J. Mason, N. Lewis, E. Williams, B. Wheeler, S. Moseley, D. Head, T. Pritchard, D. Ferguson, M. Fieldhouse, M. Clements, I. Baker.