Match Reports

Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths' Ryan Gibbs shows his skills against Labrador
(Photo by Manfreds Photography - www.manfredphoto.com.au).

Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths' Andrew Richards takes on Labrador's Tom Kavanagh
(Photo by Manfreds Photography - www.manfredphoto.com.au).

Saints goal scorer Craig Smith hounded by Labrador's Tom Kavanagh and Julian Wright
(Photo by Manfreds Photography - www.manfredphoto.com.au).

BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE - ROUND 16

Bulimba 5 (Luke Paine 2, Duncan Mahony, Dean Butler, Jarrod Cutler) defeated United 3 (Allan Dickson, Ryan Schulte, Matt Freeman) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Bulimba's hopes of an all important top three finish remain on track after the Bulls downed United in an often intense clash.  After Duncan Mahony opened the scoring for Bulimba, fullback Luke Paine scored from a penalty corner to give the Bulls a handy 2-0 lead inside the opening 10 minutes of the match.  United hit back in the 20th minute when Allan Dickson beat Bulls goalkeeper Robin Mudie with a neat shot after being set up by Mia Dede.  But two Bulls goals in as many minutes late in the first half, to Paine and Jarrod Cutler, gave the green machine a three-goal break at halftime.  But United, fighting to keep their slim finals hopes alive, made the perfect start to the second period when Ryan Schulte scored a minute after the break, before Cutler received their first of his two yellow cards for different offences.  However Bulimba scored the next goal, through Dean Butler.  Matt Freeman netting a consolation goal for United, whose playoff hopes officially ended with their defeat.

University of Queensland almost pulled off the biggest upset of the Brisbane Hockey League season when they pushed undefeated competition leaders and premiership favourites Easts all the way, before being eventually pipped 4-3.  The unfancied students ignored their low ranking on the competition ladder to really trouble the Tigers, who were without Queensland Blades stars George Clutton and Darran Bisley, as well as Simon Mills and Jason Whetton, who is touring South Africa with the Australian under-16 schoolboys side.  After the sides were tied 2-2 at halftime, the match looked headed for a draw until Jason Wilson scored from the penalty spot with 15 minutes remaining.  The successful stroke saw Wilson continue his excellence in front of goal for the Tigers, to take his season tally to a massive 23 strikes - four clear of Labrador's Brad Puleosi.  The first of Wilson's two goals against University saw Easts reach the 100 goal mark for the season.  Hamish Baron was one of three University goal scorers.  The kiwi has now scored exactly one-third of his side's goals in 2008.

Commercial 11 (Kye Hawgood 2, Cale Kramer 2, David Brain 2, Adam Barry, Chris Beale, Jacob Burns, Jason Greene) defeated Valley 1 (Tobias Figura) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Commercial continues to fine tune its proficiency in front of goal ahead of the finals series, knocking in 10 goals for the second time in as many weeks against Valley.  Valley's horror afternoon commenced almost from the hit-off, with Kye Hawgood scoring the first of his two goals within three minutes.  Just as they had done in their 14-0 thumping of bottom placed QUT in their previous match, in which they led 9-0 at halftime, the Cobras were unstoppable in the opening 35 minutes against Valley, who were placed second from bottom going into the clash against the defending premiers.  Commercial led 6-0 at halftime, with Valley's only joy coming when Tobias Figura scored his 14th goal of the season.  Commercial finished the match with six different goal scorers, all of whom scored in the win against QUT.  Fullback Adam Barry has scored four goals from his past two games, while Hawgood, Jacob Burns, Cale Kramer and Chris Beale have each scored three times over the past fortnight.  David Brain has scored seven goals from his past four games against Valley.

Labrador 5 (Brad Puleosi 3, Mark Harris 2) defeated Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 3 (Craig Smith 2, Andrew Richards) at Keith Hunt Park, Labrador.

A demonstration of the potency of a good penalty corner drill has helped Labrador maintain third position on the ladder - and forced Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths to lose its grip on fifth place and a finals spot.  All five of the Tigerstix' goals against the Saints - three from Brad Puleosi and two from Mark Harris - came from short corners.  A steady flow of goals in the first half saw Labrador lead 4-0 at the break as the Saints looked off the pace early.  But the Saints, realising their premiership aspirations could hinge on the result of their trip to the Gold Coast, came out after the break revitalised.  Goals to Craig Smith and Andrew Richards gave them a sniff of victory, but ultimately their poor first half proved costly.  Filling a void left by the retirement of Baeden Choppy, Labrador's highest goal scorer in 2007, Puleosi and Harris have scored 31 times between them in 2008 - contributing more than half of their team's total goals.  Last year the pair provided 24 goals between them.  Only twice this season has Harris or Puleosi not appeared on a Tigerstix scorers sheet.

Redcliffe Leagues 11 (Nick Budd 2, Matthew Swann 2, Ian Schultz 2, James McAlpine, Kent Harle, David Halliday, Marcus McKinnon, Ethan Holmes) defeated QUT 2 (Kieran Dunning, Justin Truscott) at Mary Nairn Fields, Redcliffe.

Redcliffe Leagues registered its highest goal tally in recent memory when they clinically disposed of QUT by nine goals.  Not only that, Redcliffe Leagues' big win, and Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths' loss to Labrador, propelled the baysiders back into the all important top five three weeks out from the finals.  Redcliffe Leagues fullback Nick Budd scored a rare double against QUT, Matthew Swann and Ian Schultz also found the back of the net two times, while 15-year-old Ethan Holmes scored in his first grade debut.  QUT's most regular scorers this season, Kieran Dunning and Justin Truscott, found the back of the net for the Ibis, ending their side's frustrating run in the scoring circle.  The Redcliffe Leagues game was the first time since Round 9 that QUT had scored more than one goal in a match.  Since that time the Ibis had scored only two goals from their next seven matches.  Prior to this year Redcliffe Leagues had trouble overcoming the Ibis, winning 3-0 in two meetings last season.  But in 2008 the Redmen have beaten QUT by an aggregate score of 19-2. 

POINTS:

Easts 48, Commercial 40, Labrador 29, Bulimba 28, Redcliffe Leagues 25, Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 24, United 18, University of Queensland 11, Valley 9, QUT 2.

LEADING GOAL SCORERS:

23  -  Jason Wilson (Easts)
19  -  Brad Puleosi (Labrador)
18  -  David Brain (Commercial)
16  -  James McAlpine (Redcliffe Leagues)
14  -  Cale Cramer (Commercial)
      -  Tobias Figura (Valley)
13  -  Luke Paine (Bulimba)
12  -  Hamish Baron (University of Queensland)
      -  Mark Harris (Labrador)
      -  Adam McClelland (United)
11  -  Adam Barry (Commercial)
      -  Jarrod Black (Easts)
      -  Jacob Burns (Commercial)
      -  Matt Freeman (United)
      -  Duncan Mahony (Bulimba)
      -  Ian Schultz (Redcliffe Leagues)

Bulimba's Jason Hale moves in on United's Ryan Schulte.

Bulimba's Liam Brown takes on United's Shane Cowling.

Compiled by Lee Oliver.