Bulimba's Allan Dale moves in on Labrador's Joe Reardon.

Duncan Mahony tackles Craig Bigham, one of many great tussles between the pair
during the Bulimba-Labrador match.

Bulimba fullback Mitch Baker set to pounce on runaway Labrador's Mark Harris.

Bulls young gun Michael Elmer takes on experienced Tigerstix ace Mark Harris.

BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE - ROUND 9

Commercial 2 (Chris Beale, Cale Cramer) defeated Redcliffe Leagues 1 (James McAlpine) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Commercial won the game - and the Memorial Cup - but they may have lost Matt Lagerroth for an extended period due to a knee injury. The young defender fell awkwardly six minutes into the exciting top-of-the-table clash, which lived up to expectations of two undefeated sides playing off for a trophy.  Redcliffe Leagues lost midfielder Peter Dillon in the first half, also to a leg injury. Several top class saves by Redcliffe Leagues goalkeeper Daniel Pink were highlights of a scoreless yet highly entertaining first half.  Pink was finally beaten six minutes after halftime when Commercial’s Chris Beale sent the ball into the net. James McAlpine scored Redcliffe Leagues’ equalising goal from a penalty corner with 20 minutes left, before a frantic final ten minutes had spectators in full voice.  Cale Cramer and Tom Brough both squandered great chances for Commercial to seal victory late in the contest, before the match took a controversial twist when Redcliffe Leagues’ David Halliday was sent off with four minutes left for bumping over Beale.  Moments later Cramer scored to earn the Cobras their 13th trophy this decade.

- Lee Oliver

Valley 6 (Tobias Figura 2, Lachlan Brownhalls, Andrew McGuckin, Braden O’Callaghan, Brendan Lindsay) defeated University of Queensland 1 (Ashley Hennegan) at Burringbah Park, Chermside.

What promised to be a close match proved to be true - for the first half at least - before Valley scored five unanswered goals in the second period to trounce University.  Both teams showcased enterprising attacking play in the first half, resulting in one goal for each side. Valley halfback Lachlan Brownhalls was rewarded for a determined run down the right sideline when he deflected in a pass from Tobias Figura in the 13th minute, before University fullback Ashley Hennegan flicked the ball past diving Valley goalkeeper David Watts four minutes later.  With University fashioning several good chances to take the lead, there was little indication of the students’ pending capitulation. The determined Diehards blew the students off the park after the break, scoring five times in 19 minutes.  First Figura scored from a penalty corner, before Braden O’Callaghan found himself unmarked in the circle.  Two goals in as many minutes soon after, to Andrew McGuckin and Figura, sealed Valley’s win. Despite consistently sitting near each other on the ladder in recent years, Valley has now beaten University 11 times from their past 14 meetings.

- Lee Oliver

Easts 5 (Dale Gohdes 3, Jacob Webber, Jarrod Black) defeated United 2 (Adam McClelland, Dave Carlson) at Burringbah Park, Chermside.

Easts produced arguably their best performance of the season without the side’s representative stars, disposing of United 5-2.  The Tigers flew out of the blocks and led 2-0 inside ten minutes, after two identical goals from drag flicks from fullback Dale Gohdes.  Forced to play catch-up, the Chermside-based club began to warm to the task, but an impressive Easts defence snuffed out any half chances.  United were left to rue these wasted chances, as further goals to the Tigers’ Jarrod Black and Jacob Webber handed Easts an unassailable 4-0 lead at the break.  United started the second half urgently in need of early goals, but their hard work wasn’t rewarded until prolific scorer Adam McClelland struck in the 57th minute to join Redcliffe Leagues’ Shane Kenny on top of the goal scorers list.  However, Gohdes continued to torment the hosts, again beating United keeper Mark Limbrick to complete his hat-trick, before new United striker Dave Carlson scored a consolation goal for his side.  

- Nicholas Bolton

Bulimba 4 (Allan Dale 2, Duncan Mahony, Kyle Richardson) defeated Labrador 3 (Mark Harris 2, Andrew Ward) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Bulimba continue to fly under the radar yet hold down a top five position after edging past Labrador in a dramatic clash.  Four goals inside ten minutes provided an action packed start to the match, with Labrador twice equalising one minute after the Bulls had scored.  First Andrew Ward found the back of the net to cancel out Allan Dale’s opening goal of the match, then Mark Harris hit the target straight after Duncan Mahony got his name on the scorecard.  Kyle Richardson re-established Bulimba’s lead soon after halftime after winning a cat and mouse battle at the top of the circle with roving Labrador goalkeeper Tyrone Melrose, before Dale gave the Bulls a two-goal buffer with 20 minutes left.  The Tigerstix then played with 10 men for 10 minutes after Harris was yellow carded for dissent, followed by James Royce being controversially marched for a high stick.  Labrador had a glimmer of hope when Harris returned to score with three minutes to go, but Bulimba goalkeeper Michel Harris saved Grant Smith’s shot with 30 seconds left to give the Bulls their third straight win.

- Lee Oliver

Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 6 (Joel Farrell, Brent Garske, Ryan Kilpatrick, Luke Reddiex, Cameron Richards, Justin Truscott) defeated QUT 0 at Burringbah Park, Chermside.

Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths extended their winning streak to three matches and consolidated third position at the halfway mark of the season with a patchy six-goal victory over winless QUT.  The students kept the Saints at bay for extended periods, as they have done against Bulimba, Labrador, and Commercial in recent weeks, but were unable to sustain this pressure for 70 minutes.  Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths defender Luke Reddiex converted a penalty stroke to open the scoring after 21 minutes, before Saints captain Cameron Richards then made it 2-0 at half time when he tapped in a Ryan Gibbs shot.  Saints returned from the interval displaying renewed intensity, and with two quick goals to Joel Farrell and former QUT player Justin Truscott, a blowout was on the cards.  However, poor finishing meant the Saints failed to turn their dominance into further goals.  However, two goals in three minutes late in the match, to Brent Garske and Ryan Kilpatrick, were evidence of Saints potential potency in front of goal.

- Nicholas Bolton

POINTS:

Commercial 25, Redcliffe Leagues 22, Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 17, Bulimba 16, Easts 15, Labrador 11, University of Queensland 9, Valley 8, United 7, QUT 0.

LEADING GOAL SCORERS:

12  -  Shane Kenny (Redcliffe Leagues)
      -  Adam McClelland (United)
11  -  Chris Beale (Commercial)
      -  Mark Harris (Labrador)
10  -  Dale Gohdes (Easts)
  9  -  Cale Cramer (Commercial)
  8  -  David Halliday (Redcliffe Leagues)
  7  -  Jarrod Black (Easts)
      -  Kye Hawgood (Commercial)
  6  -  Wayne Barry (Commercial)
      -  Craig Bigham (Labrador)
      -  Brent Garske (Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths)
      -  James McAlpine (Redcliffe Leagues)
      -  Andrew Newman (Redcliffe Leagues)
      -  Luke Paine (Bulimba)

Commercial's Kye Haywood confronted by Redcliffe Leagues' Matthew Curran during
their teams' top-of-the-table clash (photo by John Beale).

Brent Garske sets up a scoring chance for Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths against QUT.

Luke Reddiex runs away from former Saints teammate Lyndon Evans.

Compiled by Lee Oliver.