Bulimba's Sean Quinn tries to stop Adam McClelland from making a break down the
sideline for United.

Commercial fullback Adam Barry evades University's Nick Poon (photo by John Beale).

Commercial's Leighton Stock battles with University's Timbi Poon (photo by John Beale).

BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE - ROUND 13

University of Queensland 2 (Damien Queisser, Luke Emerson) defeated Commercial 0 at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

University ended a seven-game losing streak by keeping competition heavyweights and three-time defending champions Commercial scoreless for the first time in 62 matches. With both sides missing key personnel the match had shaped as an opportunity for the Redmen to challenge the Cobras and produce one of the biggest upset results this decade.  The match was an open contest from the outset, as the two teams looked to attack at every chance.  University shocked Commercial after just six minutes, when Damien Queisser got a faint touch on a penetrating ball to beat Cobras goalkeeper David Reid.  The students would have known that one goal was not enough, given the attacking potency of Commercial.  The Cobras threatened to draw level but University’s defence, led by goalkeeper Adam Dinsdale, refused to crack.  The students’ second goal came midway through the second half, courtesy of Luke Emerson.  Commercial tried desperately to salvage the game, but any comeback was thwarted by four yellow cards, which meant they played the majority of the second period with 10 men.  The result marks the first time Commercial has failed to score since Round 14, 2006.

- Nicholas Bolton

Valley 3 (Lee Rendell, Braden O’Callaghan, Alecz Day) defeated Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 2 (Justin Truscott, Ryan Kilpatrick) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Valley kept alive their slim hopes of a first finals appearance in 15 years, while dealing a hit to Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths’ push towards their own long-awaited finals berth, with a 3-2 victory.  The Saints had the better of the game, yet were unable to capitalise and turn their advantage into goals.  Valley opened the scoring as they did in the last clash between the northside rivals, this time through Braden O’Callaghan.  However, a weight of possession saw a penalty corner deflection to Saints striker Ryan Kilpatrick level the scores ten minutes later.  Saints appeared to have seized the initiative until an unmarked Lee Rendell gave the Diehards their second goal.  After the halftime break the Saints continued to pressure Valley, yet a Diehards counter attack, orchestrated by Tobias Figura, proved pivotal.  Having defused multiple corners, an Alecz Day drag flick finally saw Valley trump Saints’ defensive battery.  Saints were camped in deep attack for the remaining quarter of the match, creating several chances, but stifling Valley defence, and goalkeeper David Watts, restricted the Saints to a single goal to Justin Truscott.

- Nicholas Bolton

United 2 (Dave Carlson, Jacob Jennison) drew with Bulimba 2 (Allan Dale, Ben Flemming) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

Speedy forwards tormenting rival defenders were highlights of an entertaining match that saw United take competition points off Bulimba for the first time.  Bulimba got off to a dream start with Allan Dale finding the back of the net within five minutes.  A powerful penalty corner shot from Dave Carlson that sped under the stick of Bulls goalkeeper Michael Harris brought the game level after 22 minutes, with the rest of the first half void of genuine scoring chances.  That was until United goalkeeper Justin Morris miscued a clearing kick just before halftime, allowing Ben Flemming to dribble the ball into the net unchallenged.  After United made several penetrations into Bulimba’s circle, striker Adam McClelland outwitted the Bulls’ right side defenders on a great solo run to set up an equalising goal to Jacob Jennison.  Five minutes later Bulimba fullback Mitch Baker received a yellow card for disputing a penalty corner decision.  Despite being a man down the Bulls’ forwards terrorised their opponents during ultimately fruitless attacking raids, which saw Liam Brown hit the side netting and Flemming twice denied by Morris.

- Lee Oliver

Easts 14 (Jacob Whetton 6, Jacob Webber 3, Jarrod Black 2, Tim Bates, Zaan Togo, Todd Watson) defeated QUT 0 at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

It was the two Jakes show as Easts showcased their devastating attacking prowess against QUT by knocking in 14 unanswered goals.  Australian Under-21 star Jacob Whetton and fellow Tigers youngster Jacob Webber proved too hot to handle for the under strength Ibis defence.  Whetton became the third player to hit six goals in a match this season, while Webber registered a hat-trick of scores and gave the last pass for several goals.  After QUT showed good composure early, Easts opened the scoring in the seventh minute, with the Tigers scoring a further six times in a 10-minute period en route to a 9-0 halftime lead.  The replacement of starting goalkeeper Anders Kinsella with Luke Gurieff stemmed for the scoring flow for QUT, who only conceded one goal in a half hour period - to Jarrod Black - before Easts went on another scoring frenzy late in the contest.  The Tigers scored four goals in the final seven minutes, to Todd Watson, Webber and two to Whetton, with Treva Mills providing two good goal assists, to further blow out the scoreline. 

- Lee Oliver

Redcliffe Leagues 2 (Peter Dillon, Andrew Newman) defeated Labrador 1 (Joe Reardon) at Keith Hunt Park, Labrador.

Redcliffe Leagues moved five points clear at the head of the ladder, and all but sealed a finals berth for the 13th straight year, by pipping Labrador at the Gold Coast in another trademark close contest between the sides.  Redcliffe Leagues entered the clash looking to maintain an unbeaten record against Labrador in regular season matches and had goalkeeper Daniel Pink to thank for maintaining that impressive statistic.  Labrador peppered the peninsula side’s goal with no fewer than 15 scoring shots, as well as earning 11 penalty corners.  But the Redmen’s defence held firm and the visiting side took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break through a goal to midfielder Peter Dillon.  Joe Reardon equalised for Labrador from his side’s only successful penalty corner but the Tigerstix couldn’t beat Pink to find a match-winning score.  With three minutes left striker Andrew Newman scored his 11th goal of the season to continue Redcliffe Leagues’ unbeaten record at Labrador.  The match was the fifth time from their seven meetings that a single goal has separated the teams.

- Lee Oliver

POINTS:

Redcliffe Leagues 34, Commercial 29, Bulimba 23, Easts 21, Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 21, Labrador 20, United 14, Valley 14, University of Queensland 12, QUT 0.

LEADING GOAL SCORERS:

20  -  Adam McClelland (United)
15  -  Mark Harris (Labrador)
13  -  Cale Cramer (Commercial)
      -  Shane Kenny (Redcliffe Leagues)
12  -  Chris Beale (Commercial)
11  -  Dale Gohdes (Easts)
      -  Andrew Newman (Redcliffe Leagues)
10  -  Jarrod Black (Easts)
      -  Kye Hawgood (Commercial)
  9  -  David Halliday (Redcliffe Leagues)
      -  Jacob Whetton (Easts)
  8  -  Brent Garske (Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths)
      -  James McAlpine (Redcliffe Leagues)
      -  Jason Wilson (Easts)

Easts' six-goal hero Jacob Whetton takes on QUT fullback Brendan Edwards.

Easts forward Jarrod Black is cornered by QUT goalkeeper Anders Kinsella and
fullback Mark Agnew.

QUT's Scott Barton tackles Easts opponent Zaan Togo.

Goal scorer Justin Truscott on the run for Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths against Valley
(photo by John Beale).

Valley goalkeeper David Watts denies Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths a goal from a
penalty corner play (photo by John Beale).

Compiled by Lee Oliver.