Bulimba's Chris Martin battles with University's Craig Mackintosh.
Bulimba's Kyle Richardson on the ball.
University's Warwick Shillito wrongfoots Bulimba defenders Allen Dale and Matt Legge.
BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE - ROUND 1
Valley 3 (Tobias Figura 2, Duncan Stewart) defeated Redcliffe Leagues 2 (Matthew Swann, Kent Harle) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.
Valley spoiled the celebrations for Kent Harle by twice coming from behind to beat Redcliffe Leagues. With Harle playing his 350th first-grade game, Redcliffe Leagues led 1-0 in the first half, and then 2-1 in the second period. Matthew Swann opened the scoring for Redcliffe Leagues in the 10th minute, before Valley equalised in the 24th minute thanks to Duncan Stewart. Valley was set back when Joran Bennett suffered a hamstring injury a few minutes later and had to exit the match. The score remained 1-1 at the break, and Redcliffe Leagues dominated territorially early in the second half. Valley goalkeeper David Watts superbly saved two goals in quick succession, but Redcliffe Leagues regained the lead when Harle scored after a scramble for the ball. Redcliffe Leagues looked to have the game in its grasp before Valley’s Tobias Figura scored two runaway goals in the space of two minutes late in the game to snatch a 3-2 win.
- Liam Hauser
Bulimba 5 (Dean Butler 2, Luke Paine, Liam Brown, Ben Flemming) defeated University of Queensland 3 (Anthony Kirk, Timbi Poon, Greg Collins) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.
Despite missing a pair of big name players, Bulimba started their season with a win, downing a determined University side by two goals. Bulls midfielder Dean Butler put the disappointment of missing out on Olympic selection behind him, scoring two goals for the Bulls, who led 2-0 after 14 minutes. University’s Anthony Kirk reduced the margin 10 minutes later, but two goals in four minutes after halftime – to Butler and Ben Flemming – looked to kill off University’s chances. However, the resilient students kept the pressure on by twice scoring just two minutes after Bulimba had found the net. Bulimba went into the match without two of their best performers from 2007. Australian goalkeeper Stephen Lambert has relocated to Perth to prepare for the Beijing Olympic Games, while striker Jason Hale, the BHL’s highest goal scorer last season, also did not play and is considering his hockey future.
- Lee Oliver
Commercial 4 (David Brain 3, Cale Kramer) defeated Labrador 2 (Mark Harris, Brad Puleosi) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.
Striker David Brain’s hot form in front of goal gave Commercial a winning start to their Brisbane Hockey League premiership defence. Brain, who was the Cobras’ top goal scorer last season, hit the back of the net three times as the reigning champions beat Labrador - coached by former Commercial striker Grant Smith. A defensive mix-up presented Brain with his opening goal within the first minute of the game, before a diving Mark Harris scored a spectacular equaliser for Labrador. Commercial gained from further Labrador defensive lapses to lead 3-1 at halftime. Brain, who has now notched five goals from his past four games, was joined on Commercial’s scoring sheet by new signing Cale Kramer, from Bundaberg. Midfielder Tom Brough and striker Jacob Burns also played well for the Cobras, while Labrador were best served by goal scorers Harris and Brad Puleosi and Tommy Kavanagh.
- Alex Kessaram and Lee Oliver
Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 5 (Luke Reddiex 2, Craig Smith, Craig Richards, Ryan Kilpatrick) defeated QUT 0 at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.
A rare defensive clean sheet has helped Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths to their biggest BHL victory in recent memory. Goalkeeper Nathan Panetta, who joined the Saints from Ipswich this year, helped the Brendale-based club keep their opponents scoreless for the first time in 71 matches, dating back to March 2004. Luke Reddiex scored twice for the Saints, whose four-goal second half also helped his side win their opening match of the season for first time in four years. New signings Craig Smith and Ryan Kilpatrick also scored for the winners, who could have easily notched a double-digit score against last season’s wooden spoon side, if not for missed scoring chances. After restricting their opponents to a single goal in the first half, QUT faltered in the second period, failing to score a goal for the fifth time in their past eight games.
- Lee Oliver
Easts 7 (Tim Bates 2, Jarrod Black, Jason Wilson, Jacob Webber, Darran Bisley, Matt Gohdes) defeated United 3 (Troy Elder 2, Matt Freeman) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.
Last year’s grand final runner-up Easts stamped themselves as a strong premiership contender as they comfortably downed United. Jacob Webber opened the scoring for Easts in the 17th minute, and the Tigers went on to lead 2-0 at halftime. United opened its account just after the break through Troy Elder and were back in the game trailing 2-1. But Easts went on a rampage, taking advantage of several short corners to score four goals in quick succession to all but seal the match. Elder scored his second goal to bridge the gap to 5-2, but Easts scored again to ensure the comeback was short-lived. The two sides exchanged goals in the final three minutes to chalk up a total of 10 scores for the match. The game marked a six-goal improvement by United against Easts, after being trounced by the Tigers 10-0 and 12-2 last season.
- Liam Hauser
POINTS:
Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 3, Easts 3, Bulimba 3, Commercial 3, Valley 3, Redcliffe Leagues 0, Labrador 0, University of Queensland 0, United 0, QUT 0.
LEADING GOAL SCORERS:
3 - David Brain (Commercial)
2 - Tim Bates (Easts)
- Dean Butler (Bulimba)
- Troy Elder (United)
- Tobias Figura (Valley)
- Luke Reddiex (Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths)
Bulimba goalkeeper Rob Mudie watches the ball rebound out of the net after being
beaten by a backstick shot from University's Greg Collins.
Midfielder Dean Butler makes a run upfield for Bulimba as Timbi Poon gives chase.
Queensland Blades representative Mitch Baker gives a pass to a
Bulimba team mate.
Compiled by Lee Oliver
