Sam Burns (University of Queensland).

Kula Bhullar (United).

BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE - ROUND 18


Commercial 2 (Cale Cramer, Jacob Burns) defeated Redcliffe Leagues 1 (Andrew Newman) at Mary Nairn Fields, Redcliffe.

It was a match that would have no bearing on the makeup of the finals, but somebody forgot to tell Commercial and Redcliffe Leagues, as two of the competition heavyweights fought out a fiery top-of-the-table encounter.  Redcliffe Leagues might have won the minor premiership, but it was the second-placed Cobras who prevailed to take a psychological advantage into the finals, having also beaten the baysiders earlier in the season.  The game began at a cracking pace, with both sides showing plenty of confidence and playing aggressive, attacking hockey.  Commercial struck first after just eight minutes when striker Cale Cramer produced a pinpoint drag flick to beat Redcliffe Leagues goalkeeper Daniel Pink.  Yet the lead lasted only ten minutes, as Redcliffe Leagues striker Andrew Newman found a gap between Commercial goalkeeper David Reid and the post to score from the back line.  For 45 minutes scores remained tied, due to excellent keeping from Pink and Reid.  A short corner deflection to striker Jacob Burns proved the match winner, with the post denying Redcliffe Leagues an after-the-siren equaliser.  The Cobras continue to be a thorn in the side of Redcliffe Leagues, having won of 15 their past 17 matches against the Redmen – Nicholas Bolton.


Easts 6 (Jacob Webber 2, Tim Bates, Michael Bates, Jarrod Black, Treva Mills) defeated United 1 (Adam McClelland) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

The score-line may look convincing but Easts were not as they struggled to take control of the game against United until late in the second half. Ball possession was evenly spread with both sides having a number of scoring opportunities. Thanks to some great saves by goalkeepers Mark Limbrick (United) and Casey Lee (Easts), a drag flick from Tiger Tim Bates, 27 minutes in, was the only goal shot to reach its target in the first half. At 1-0 down the young United side fought back hard in the second half, squaring up the game in the 45th minute with a bullet-like drag flick from Adam McClelland during the side’s only penalty corner of the game. United’s revival was short lived though with Easts forward Jacob Webber opening the flood gates soon after, scoring from two penalty corners in just three minutes. Michael Bates and Treva Mills also bagged goals late in the second half before an unlucky United were disallowed an impressive breakaway goal four minutes before the end.  Easts striker Jarrod Black finished off the game for the Tigers scoring a field goal seconds before the final buzzer. Despite United finishing the year second from bottom, McClelland was the competition’s highest goal scorer with 28 strikes – Rebecca Kirchner.


Labrador 4 (Mark Harris 2, Andrew Ward, Tommy Kavanagh) defeated Bulimba 0 at Keith Hunt Park, Labrador.

Bulimba will miss the finals for the first time in 11 years after they fell to Labrador in their season defining fixture at the Gold Coast.  Bulimba needed to beat the home side to claim a playoffs berth, after Easts won earlier in the day to move ahead of the Bulls into the top five, and the do-or-die nature of the match produced a fiercely contested battle.  After Bulimba was unable to make the most of several scoring chances early in the match, Labrador’s Mark Harris opened the scoring with a well struck penalty corner hit.  The Tigerstix extended to a 2-0 lead when Andrew Ward found himself in the right spot to pounce on a rebound.  With Olympians Dean Butler (Bulimba) and Brent Livermore (Labrador) showing their class in the midfield, the contest remained tight until Harris scored again with 15 minutes left.  Tommy Kavanagh rounded out the scoring at Keith Hunt Park, which continues to be an unhappy hunting ground for Bulimba.  The Bulls lost their last fixture of the 2007 season to the Tigerstix there to surrender top spot on the ladder, and the minor premiership, to Commercial.  Bulimba will be hoping history repeats itself in a positive way next year. After they last missed the finals in 1998, the Bulls rebounded to win four straight titles from 1999-2002 – Lee Oliver.


Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 7 (Ryan Gibbs 3, Ryan Kilpatrick 2, Matt Bradley, Craig Smith) defeated QUT 0 at Mary Nairn Fields, Redcliffe.

It took them until the final fixture of the year, but Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths can finally celebrate their return to the finals arena following a confidence boosting defeat of QUT.  Having been absent from the finals since 2000, the Saints were determined to overcome a desperate students’ outfit seeking to capitalise on the last chance to register their first points for the year.  The Ibis kept the Saints at bay during the opening exchanges, but striker Ryan Kilpatrick had his first goal after 13 minutes.  Ryan Gibbs then made it two goals in four minutes, advancing into the circle unchallenged from a self-hit and roofing a tomahawk shot.  A second goal to Gibbs gave Saints a comfortable 3-0 halftime lead, before QUT denied them a fourth score for 27 minutes.  Kilpatrick’s second strike broke the shackles as Saints finished with a flourish, netting four goals in 13 minutes.  Matthew Bradley and Craig Smith added singles, courtesy of a deflection and a penalty stroke, whilst another classy Gibbs finish earned him a well-deserved hat-trick.  The Saints now face Easts, the club they beat in the corresponding elimination final nine years ago. QUT’s loss means they are the third side in the last 20 seasons, and the first since 1999, to not score a competition point during a season – Nicholas Bolton.


Valley 6 (Pretesh Morar 2, Dean Jeffrey 2, Tobias Figura, Mark Pocock) defeated University of Queensland 0 at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Valley proved once again why they are called the Diehards by producing a stunning 19-goal turnaround to crush University’s hopes of finishing the season in seventh spot on the ladder.  A week after being demolished 14-1 by Easts, Valley produced a five-goal second half to inflict their second big win over the students this season.  Valley striker Pretesh Morar was the only player to score in the first half, picking up the scraps off a Tobias Figura shot in the 19th minute. University missed a number of chances in the first half which could have seen them take the lead, a part of their game which unfortunately continued throughout the match. Morar was also the first to score in the second half, left with an easy tap-in just ten minutes after the break. A controversial call allowed Figura to weave his magic in the 48th minute, before Mark Pocock nailed one from the top of the circle minutes later. With just over ten minutes to play, a poor turnover by the Redmen gave Valley a breakaway chance which saw Dean Jeffery drag University goalkeeper Adam Dinsdale before firing a tomahawk shot into the box. Jeffery then secured his double just before full-time, again putting away another reverse stick shot.  Valley’s victory means they have won six games in a season for just the fifth time in the past 15 years, while University’s 2009 campaign was their most successful this decade – Rebecca Kirchner.

FINAL POINTS:

Redcliffe Leagues 46, Commercial 44, Labrador 32, Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 31, Easts 29, Bulimba 28, Valley 20, University of Queensland 16, United 14, QUT 0.


LEADING GOAL SCORERS:

28  -  Adam McClelland (United)
23  -  Cale Cramer (Commercial)
22  -  Mark Harris (Labrador)
21  -  Chris Beale (Commercial)
19  -  Jarrod Black (Easts)
15  -  Shane Kenny (Redcliffe Leagues)
14  -  Andrew Newman (Redcliffe Leagues)
12  -  Dale Gohdes (Easts)
      -  Craig Smith (Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths)
      -  Jacob Webber (Easts)
11  -  Ryan Gibbs (Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths)
      -  James McAlpine (Redcliffe Leagues)
10  -  Tobias Figura (Valley)
      -  Brent Garske (Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths)
      -  David Halliday (Redcliffe Leagues)
      -  Kye Hawgood (Commercial)
      -  Jacob Whetton (Easts)


LEADING GOAL SCORERS (BY CLUB):

Bulimba

9  -  Kyle Richardson
8  -  Luke Paine
6  -  Duncan Mahony

Commercial

23  -  Cale Cramer
21  -  Chris Beale
10  -  Kye Hawgood

Easts

19  -  Jarrod Black
12  -  Dale Gohdes
12  -  Jacob Webber

Labrador

22  -  Mark Harris
  8  -  Craig Bigham
  8  -  Grant Smith

Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths

12  -  Craig Smith
11  -  Ryan Gibbs
10  -  Brent Garske

QUT

2  -  Ashley Burns
2  -  Brenton Smalley
1  -  Simon Ford
1  -  Chris Gilmore
1 -   Adam Rankin

Redcliffe Leagues

15  -  Shane Kenny
14  -  Andrew Newman
11  -  James McAlpine

United

28  -  Adam McClelland
  5  -  Dave Carlson
  5  -  Miebaka Dede

University of Queensland

5  -  Hamish Baron
5  -  Damien Queisser
4  -  Ashley Hennegan
4  -  Timbi Poon

Valley

10  -  Tobias Figura
  5  -  Dean Jeffery
  5  -  Andrew McGuckin

Blake Wallis (Bulimba).

Mark Agnew (QUT).

Andrew McGuckin (Valley).

Compiled by Lee Oliver.