Pembroke County Hockey Club is a small club based in Haverfordwest (writes club chairman Andrew Major). There are only two men's teams in Pembrokeshire. We are currently playing in The Davies Wood Hockey League and play in the South Wales Division One.

We travel all over South Wales to play our games. Our closest game this season is Neath and our furthest is Cardiff. However, three seasons ago we did fulfil a very big milestone for a Pembrokeshire club. We were promoted from South Wales Division One to play in the Severn League, where we were the first Pembrokeshire-based hockey club to play competitive league hockey against English opposition.

Our club currently has around 16 senior members and a number of under 18 at the club. Over the years, we have had as many as 40 senior members and a number of under 18s in the club. We have qualified coaches and in the past have produced competitive youth teams that have either gone on to play international hockey, hockey at university or have completed the natural progression into the senior squad. It is our hope that with support from the local schools to be able to achieve similar success with the Pembrokeshire hockey players of the future

Over the last 12 years we have fluctuated between having one and two teams. Also we have had good numbers to enter youth teams in competitions and these younger players made up our second team and now the majority of our squad have come through the youth system.

Our players come from various areas in Pembrokeshire and some from west Carmarthenshire. Our players are a mix of skill levels. Training takes place on Wednesday night at Sir Thomas Picton School Astro Turf. The juniors/youth train from 6 pm until 7 pm and the seniors from 7 pm to 8.30 pm.

All training is geared towards skill levels and simple enjoyment of the sport. Training starts from the basics of passing, stopping, shooting and tackling and will build up to the more tactical parts of the game, including positional awareness, short corners and other set plays. Pembroke County try and play a slick passing game of hockey, and this style of play is taught throughout the club, from the junior level to the senior level.

Many of the club's senior members are involved with training the junior/youth section of the club, improving the relationship amongst the club members.

As a club we have always encouraged members to take on roles within the club as it is their club.

We feel that if someone takes a role, then they are then part of the club.

Due to costs of hiring the pitch, both for training and matches, travelling long distances for matches and affiliations costs/insurance etc, the sport is costly.

At present our club subs are: seniors £80, game £8; youth/unemployed - £50, game £6; junior - £40, game £4.

The season subs cover all training fees, affiliations with the Welsh Hockey Union, Davies Wood League and insurance.

The club have managed to secure some sponsorship from South Hook LNG to help with some costs of running the club and getting the youth section fully up and running.

The club are trying to rebuild the youth section of the club and hopefully by next season we will be able to enter a new second team in South Wales Division Three. Our current team is looking to move up to the Severn League and hopefully to build to a higher level again.

Pembroke County Men's Hockey Club want to promote and advertise hockey as a fun and exciting game, played at a fast pace and should be up there with football and rugby in the area. Pembroke County HC are trying to get local schools like Sir Thomas Picton, Tasker Millwood in Haverfordwest, Milford Haven School and Ysgol Dyfryn Taf in Whitland involved, as these schools are where a number of Pembroke County members learnt to play the sport.

As a club, we would like to welcome anyone who is interested in the game or just wants to know more to come along to either a training session on a Wednesday night or there is Welsh Hockey Road Show being put on at Sir Thomas Picton Astro Turf in association with Pembroke County Hockey Club on October 26.

Cardiff University C 3 Pembroke County 4

The second game of the season saw County, led by vice-captain Danny Pryke, away against Cardiff University C.

County got off to a bad start, 1-0 down after five minutes, the students taking the lead after a shot from the top of the D; the rebound was initially saved, but the third shot crossed the line.

County equalised, with Danny Pryke gaining a short corner, from which Paul Tough scored with a drag flick shot off the deflection of his initial shot.

Solid build-up play between County's defenders contributed to County going 2-1 ahead. The ball was moved up the pitch to Scott Lewis, who, driving into the D, was able to find Sam Young, who at the post swept the ball on his reverse stick into the bottom corner.

Ten minutes before half-time saw County at 3-1. An aerial ball by Paul Tough, with pressure from Dylan Williams, caused problems for Cardiff's backline, allowing Scott Lewis to pick up the ball and shoot between the goalie's legs to score.

In the second half, County were pegged back to 3-2, with Cardiff scoring from a short corner. A pass from the by-line from Paul Tough to Dylan Williams, unmarked at the back post, gave Dylan his first goal for the club and put County ahead 4-2.

A goal by Cardiff to make it 4-3 meant an anxious last five minutes, but County held on to win the game.

Team: Danny Pryke (capt), Andrew Major (GK), Nicholas Brookes, Paul Jewell, Sam Young, Paul Thomas, Paul Tough, Darren Cole, Scott Lewis, Alex Alderwick, Gavin Bernard, Dylan Williams.

Rooks run riot in second half

Carew Hockey Club

Carew 7 Neath 1

Just like their first league game against Swansea Uni last week, Carew went 1-0 down after five minutes of dominating this game.

Carew were taken apart from a through ball, which the centre forward, running into space, deflected past 'keeper Will Harding, giving him no chance.

However, Carew continued to dominate the game, but Neath simply packed the defence, which frustrated the home forwards as attack after attack was repelled, rather like Rorkes Drift!

The breakthrough came when the Neath 'keeper lay on the ball inf ront of goal and captain Jamie Smith stepped up to convert the awarded penalty stroke.

Whilst Carew continued to press, the game turned around still at 1-1.

Half-time gave the Rooks time to compose themselves and it was just two minutes into the second half that saw new-signing Martin Passmore slot in the second to give them the lead.

The Rooks now had their tails up and further goals came from Passmore, Smith, Ned Lewis, Mat Clements and Tom Ferguson, giving a well-deserved win to the home side.

Will Harding, playing his first league game in goal for the 1st XI, was dominant throughout the game. Emlyn Williams and Joel Meredith ran riot down the right and the left was dominated by Tom Ferguson, Ned Lewis and Grant Cole, while Mosely, Clements, Wheeler, Passmore and Smith dominated down the spine and in attack.

Next week will see a more challenging game as Carew travel to Cardiff and UWIC, who are currently top of the table.

Team: J. Smith (capt.), W. Harding (GK), S. Moseley, J. Pullen, J. Meredith, T. Ferguson, M. Clements, E. Williams, N. Lewis, M. Passmore, G. Cole, B. Wheeler.

Umpires: Jane Wheeler and Sarah Lunn.

Carew Hockey Club welcomes all new players. Training takes place at Greenhill School on Tuesday nights for seniors and early Friday evening for juniors. Please contact Bernie Wheeler on 01834 891218 or go to http://www.carewhockeyclub.moonfruit.co.uk">www.carewhockeyclub.moonfruit.co.uk