University translated dominance into goal scoring as the students beat Valley 6-3.  The game was scoreless until the 18th minute, when University scored the first of four goals in the space of 15 minutes.  Timbi Poon, Murray Wenzel, Anthony Kirk and Greg Collins all scored as their side raced to a commanding 4-0 lead at the break. Valley hit back and had halved the deficit midway through the second half.  Tobias Figura scored Valley’s first goal from a penalty shot, before he intercepted when University was in possession.  From an ensuing short corner Braydon O’Callaghan scored, but University regained a three-goal lead when Hamish Baron capitalised from a short corner.  Cameron Dunning scored Valley’s third goal to close the margin to two goals with 10 minutes remaining, but that was as close as his side would get, as Baron scored again with two minutes left.  University’s 6-3 win, only the students’ second victory against Valley in their past 10 clashes, also reversed the score from their last meeting.

- Liam Hauser

Labrador 2 (Mark Harris, Andrew Ward) defeated Bulimba 1 (Mitch Baker) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Labrador proved their 3-1 win against Bulimba in Round 18 last year was no fluke by again downing the Bulls in a frantic encounter.  Labrador had more scoring chances in a scoreless first half, while Adam Byrnes leading the team’s defense.  Labrador took a deserved lead 10 minutes after halftime when Mark Harris deflected the ball past Bulimba goalkeeper Rob Mudie.  Bulimba came close to scoring with a number of chances in front of goal, with Luke Paine just missing with a penalty corner flick and Kyle Richardson pushing the ball just wide of the goal.  Fullback Mitch Baker, who played a brilliant game for the Bulls, did find the net with a corner flick, but Labrador regained the lead five minutes later.  After threatening to capitalise on Bulimba defensive errors throughout the match, Labrador’s Andrew Ward took his chance after Paine mistrapped a free hit into the circle.  Bulimba had the chance to score from a short corner after the fulltime siren but Labrador’s Andrew Taylor saved a shot off the line.

- Lee Oliver

Commercial 2 (Adam Barry, David Brain) defeated Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 1 (Luke Reddiex) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Commercial maintained their undefeated start to the season but had to fight all the way to beat Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths in an intense contest.  The Cobras led the Saints 2-0 midway through the first half after Adam Barry and David Brain scored within six minutes.  A goal line save by Nick Bolton prevented Commercial from extending their lead, before Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths got back into the game when a diving Luke Reddiex scored, finishing off an impressive long range attacking movement by his side.  The Saints’ defense then stood up to be counted early in the second half, after Doug Bransgrove (bad tackle) and Reddiex (professional foul) both received yellow cards, leaving their team with nine players.  Saints goalkeeper Nathan Panetta pulled off a series of great saves to deny Commercial the decisive knock-out goal.  Bransgrove had the chance to earn a draw for the Saints, but his backstick shot - with 45 seconds left - went just wide of the right post.

- Lee Oliver

Redcliffe Leagues 5 (James McAlpine 3, Kent Harle, Ashley Zanetti) defeated United 1 (Ashton Randell) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

Redcliffe Leagues overcame an uncertain start to score four second half goals to down an injury plagued United.  Redcliffe failed to take advantage of three short corners in the first 10 minutes, before United’s Ashton Randell scored from his team’s first short corner after 16 minutes. Six minutes from the break, United’s Shane Cowling was controversially yellow-carded for not retiring the required five metres in defence. Cowling could only watch helplessly as Redcliffe Leagues levelled the scores in the shadows of half-time thanks to Kent Harle. United’s playing stocks were severely depleted soon after half-time as Troy Elder (concussion) and Brendan Merry (torn hamstring) were forced from the field.  Redcliffe Leagues assumed control when James McAlpine and Ashley Zanetti scored, before McAlpine netted two further goals to ensure his team won convincingly.  McAlpine finished with three goals for the match, following his two goal haul against Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths the previous weekend.

- Liam Hauser

Easts 12 (George Clutton 3, Darren Bisley 3, Treva Mills 2, Todd Watson, Tim Bates, Jarrod Black, Brad Mathers) defeated QUT 3 (Andre Pohl, Justin Truscott, Kieran Dunning) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Easts topped the 10-goal mark in game for the ninth time in the past five seasons as they scored a comfortable win against QUT.  The Tigers scored their first goal after just three minutes through Treva Mils and led 4-0 at halftime as they preyed on QUT defensive turnovers.  Eleven goals were scored in the second half, including 10 goals - seven to Easts and three to QUT - in 20 minutes.  Easts’ George Clutton notched a hat-trick by the 53rd minute, while teammate Darran Bisley also had three goals within an hour.  Todd Watson, Tim Bates, Jarrod Black and Brad Mathers also scored for Easts.  The Tigers have now scored 25 goals from their opening three games of the season, with 17 of those goals coming in the second half.  However, all but one of the seven goals Easts have conceded this year have been scored after the halftime break. QUT can take some consolation out of their heavy defeat, given they are only the fourth team to score three goals in a match against Easts in the past two seasons.

- Lee Oliver

POINTS:

Easts 9, Commercial 9, Redcliffe Leagues 6, Bulimba 6, Labrador 6, Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 3, University of Queensland 3, Valley 3, United 0, QUT 0.

LEADING GOAL SCORERS:

6  -  Darran Bisley (Easts)
    -  David Brain (Commercial)
5  -  James McAlpine (Redcliffe Leagues)
3  -  Tim Bates (Easts)
    -  George Clutton (Easts)
    -  Greg Collins (University of Queensland)
    -  Tobias Figura (Valley)
    -  Luke Paine (Bulimba)
    -  Luke Reddiex (Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths)

Easts' George Clutton looks to hit the ball through the QUT defence.

Easts striker Darran Bisley shoots for goal despite being pressured by QUT defenders
Andrew Penhaligon and Thomas Mills.

Labrador's Andrew Ward works the ball between Bulimba duo Duncan Mahoney and Allen
Dale.

Midfielder Tommy Kavanagh on the run for Labrador.

Compiled by Lee Oliver