Commercial's Cale Cramer battles with Bulimba's Dean Butler. Photo by John Beale.

Bulimba's Jaryd Cutler evades Commercial's Kye Hawgood. Photo by John Beale.

BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE - ROUND 10

Bulimba 3 (Dean Butler, Liam Brown, Mitchell Grant) defeated Commercial 2 (Cale Cramer, Adam Barry) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Commercial’s undefeated record of 19 straight games, stretching back to last July, came to an end after Bulimba proved why they are still contenders for this year’s premiership. Both teams started strong creating a stalemate for the first 30 minutes of the game. Dean Butler gave Bulimba the early lead with a sneaky deflection in the 31st minute, but good teamwork by the Cobras saw striker Cale Cramer put in an equaliser seconds before halftime. The Cobras maintained their momentum in the second half, gaining a penalty corner seven minutes in which allowed fullback Adam Barry to slot one past Bulls goalkeeper Michael Harris. The Bulls kept their composure and a Liam Brown tomahawk shot squared up the game with ten minutes to go. The tension was building fast as the ball travelled from end to end. With three minutes on the clock the Bulls got a breakaway which allowed Brown to draw Cobras goalkeeper David Reid and find youngster Mitchell Grant, who dived to score the winning goal. It is the first time Bulimba have beaten the defending champions since Round 8 in 2007.

- Rebecca Kirchner

United 2 (Adam McClelland, Dave Carlson) defeated University of Queensland 1 (Hamish Baron) at Mary Nairn Fields, Redcliffe.

The musical chairs at the bottom end of the ladder continued as United narrowly toppled University, continuing one of the closest rivalries in the competition.  United made the students pay for squandering several early scoring chances, taking a 2-0 lead into the halftime break.  First Adam McClelland scored for the seventh straight match, weaving through several dumbfounded University defenders.  Soon after McClelland's strike partner Dave Carlson skillfully buried a rebound from the pads of University goalkeeper Adam Dinsdale to double United’s lead.  University played themselves back into the game midway through the second half. Clever play, followed by a classy reverse stick shot, from the Redmen's Hamish Baron gave his side their first goal.  But United held on to snap a losing run of three games and move up to eighth on the ladder.  University has now lost five straight matches, with the students falling two spots to ninth.  From the six occasions United has met University since the joint venture outfit entered the competition in 2007, each side has won two games, with both teams having scored 17 goals.

- Lee Oliver

Labrador 4 (Craig Bigham, Adam Byrne, James Boyce, Joe Reardon) defeated Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 3 (Ryan Gibbs 2, Craig Smith) at Keith Hunt Park, Labrador.

Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths failed in their attempt to break a hoodoo, which sees them winless from six encounters against Labrador.  Bolstered by the return of Kookaburras star Brent Livermore, the Gold Coast side continued their domination of the Saints, edging out their Brisbane rivals in an enthralling contest.  Needing a win to stay in touch with the top five, a Joe Reardon corner strike gave Labrador a dream start after just four minutes.  Pressing hard Labrador forced a turnover, before a baseline run gifted Adam Byrne their second goal.  Down 2-0 Saints went up a gear, managing a quick reply through striker Ryan Gibbs. Gibbs then tied the game, scoring from the back line following a perfectly weighted overhead pass from defender Michael Stokes.  The Brendale-based club then held out six corners after the halftime siren, in what appeared to be the turning point of the match.  However, a renewed onslaught from the Tigerstix hurt the Saints, as a deceptive Craig Bigham drag flick and a James Boyce field goal restored their advantage.  Saints rallied but couldn’t add a third until Craig Smith roofed a drag flick with a minute remaining.

- Nicholas Bolton

Valley 5 (Andrew McGuckin, Dean Jeffery, Tobias Figura, Greg Wilson, Braden O’Callaghan) defeated QUT 0 at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Valley are hoping to continue their steady climb up the ladder after clinching their second win on the trot.  The Diehards have never lost to QUT since the students entered the competition back in 2007 and this season has been no exception. Andrew McGuckin gave Valley the lead early in the first half, outsmarting QUT goalkeeper Anders Kinsella to convert a penalty stroke in the seventh minute. Ten minutes later a penalty corner set play left Dean Jeffery with an easy tap-in to take the score to 2-0. QUT produced some clever play late in the first half to give themselves a few penalty corner opportunities which they were unable to convert. Both teams lacked consistency in the second half and struggled to string their passes together. With ten minutes left to play the Diehards lifted and a cracking penalty corner shot by Tobias Figura opened the floodgates. Loose marking in the circle by the students allowed Valley to put away two more goals in as many minutes, taking the winning margin to five goals. QUT’s loss marks the second time in their brief history in the top grade that the Ibis have lost ten games in a row.

- Rebecca Kirchner

Redcliffe Leagues 5 (James McAlpine 2, Corey Kreis 2, Andrew Newman) defeated Easts 1 (Jarrod Black) at Mary Nairn Fields, Redcliffe.

Redcliffe Leagues strengthened their premiership claims, while Easts eagerly await the return of their Australian Under-21 stars, after the baysiders recorded their biggest win against the Tigers in recent memory.  The peninsula side got the ball rolling towards victory in the fifth minute when winger Corey Kreis scored.  Easts equalised through a goal to Jarrod Black but were unable to bother the score takers again, despite having the majority of ball possession and having Jason Wilson return from his maiden national team duties.  Redcliffe Leagues stretched out to a 3-1 lead by halftime, with James McAlpine and Kreis scoring again for the home side.  Easts pressed to peg back the deficit but the two-goal margin extended to three goals eight minutes after the break when McAlpine converted a penalty corner, before Andrew Newman sealed victory with 15 minutes to go. The match marked the comeback of Redcliffe Leagues’ Alex Swann, who hadn’t played for two years due to consecutive knee reconstructions.  Meanwhile, the return of forwards Tim Bates, Michael Bates, Jacob Whetton and Matt Gohdes from the Junior World Cup should see the Tigers rediscover their potency in front of goal.

- Lee Oliver

POINTS:

Commercial 25, Redcliffe Leagues 25, Bulimba 19, Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 17, Easts 15, Labrador 14, Valley 11, United 10, University of Queensland 9, QUT 0.

LEADING GOAL SCORERS:

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

Commercial's top goal scorer Chris Beale on the run. Photo by John Beale.

Cobras goalkeeper David Reid slides to stop young Bull Blake Wallis. Photo by John Beale.

Compiled by Lee Oliver.