Commercial's Daniel Beale on the attack. Photo by John Beale.

Commercial goal scorer Wayne Barry advancing towards the circle.

Commercial's Paul Nichols beats outstretched Bulimba defender Kyle Richardson.

Bulimba fullback Mitch Baker runs the ball out of defence. Photo by John Beale.

BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE - ROUND 1

Valley 4 (Tobias Figura, Pat Gledhill, Anthony Woodward, Lachlan Brownhalls) defeated QUT 1 (Simon Ford) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

Despite her QUT side having led 1-0 at halftime, there was to be no fairytale beginning for Kym Ireland, Brisbane’s first female A-grade men’s coach since Redcliffe stalwart Mary Nairn, around 50 years ago. The Ibis established their early advantage courtesy of a penalty corner goal to Simon Ford in the seventh minute.  Valley then threatened to tie the game up, but were unable to capitalise on their chances in front of goal prior to halftime.  Upon returning from the break Valley’s persistence was soon rewarded, quickly erasing the deficit through new signing Anthony Woodward, from Ipswich.  The Diehards continued to build momentum, placing increased pressure on the students’ back line.  Eventually the QUT resistance tired, resulting in a further three field goals to regular scorer Tobias Figura, Pat Gledhill and Toowoomba import Lachlan Brownhalls, sealing the 4-1 victory.  The win marks the Diehards’ third victory in a row, having recorded successes against QUT and United to finish last season.  It also gives incoming Valley coach Mick Evans, a fellow BHL division 1 newcomer, the perfect start to his tenure at the club. 

- Nick Bolton

 
Bulimba 4 (Allen Dale, Mitchell Grant, Kyle Richardson, Luke Paine) drew with Commercial 4 (Chris Beale 3, Wayne Barry) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

A hat-trick of goals from Commercial’s Chris Beale wasn’t enough to get the Cobras over the line in their season opener against Bulimba, who were boosted by the unexpected inclusion of Queensland fullback Mitch Baker.  Bulls fullback Luke Paine scored from a penalty corner with 20 seconds remaining in the game to secure a deserved draw against the defending premiers in a tight match.  The sides went goal for goal throughout the match after Beale opened the scoring in the third minute, before Bulimba’s Duncan Mahony set up Mitchell Grant to score his first top-grade goal to tie the game 2-2 by halftime.  Mahony was again the provider when he set up an unmarked Kyle Richardson to find the net nine minutes after Wayne Barry scored a go-ahead goal for Commercial.  Beale thought he secured a win for the Cobras when he flicked the ball over Bulimba goalkeeper Michael Harris and into the top of the net with two minutes left to play, but Paine found the net with Bulimba’s final scoring chance. 

- Lee Oliver

 
Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 3 (Brent Garske 2, Craig Smith) drew with Labrador 3 (Chris Gilmore 2, Grant Smith) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths was left with mixed emotions following a pulsating draw with fierce rival Labrador.  Missing four Queensland Blades representatives, Saints were looking for their first victory against the Gold Coast outfit, who were missing key man Mark Harris.  Both sides enjoyed some early opportunities in what was a tense opening.  It wasn’t until Labrador’s Sam Barker felled Craig Richards, reducing his team to ten men, that the Saints gained the upper hand.  From the ensuing penalty corner a Brent Garske drag flick gave Saints the lead.  Minutes later he had his second goal, this time pouncing on a saved flick.  Labrador’s Chris Gilmore completed a well-executed corner before his side’s resurgence continued in a frenetic second half.  The Tigerstix equalised through Grant Smith, before Gilmore’s double handed them the lead.  When Saint Lachlan Elliott’s shot was saved on the line it seemed Labrador would hang on, but a Craig Smith tomahawk caught replacement keeper Thomas Rendell-Woodley napping, levelling the scores. 

- Nick Bolton

 
Redcliffe Leagues 3 (Shane Kenny 3) defeated Easts 0 at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Shane Kenny’s transformation from a midfielder to an out-and-out striker appears complete, after he scored three goals as Redcliffe Leagues kept a severely depleted Easts outfit scoreless for the first time in five years.  Kenny scored twice in five minutes late in the first half to give Redcliffe Leagues a 2-0 halftime lead against the Tigers, who were missing six players to Australian Hockey League duties.  New signing Andrew Newman was dynamic in attack for Redcliffe Leagues, who dominated ball possession and field position despite the valiant efforts of Easts trio Ben McCarthy, Treva Mills and livewire striker Zaan Togo.  Kenny completed his hat-trick midway through the second half, with the final result the first time in 91 matches that Easts have been held scoreless.  The last occasion was the Tigers’ 2-0 semi final loss against Commercial in 2004.  Redcliffe Leagues’ 3-0 win was their second in many matches against Easts, after the peninsula side was the only team to beats the Tigers during the 2008 regular season. 

- Lee Oliver

University of Queensland 4 (Damien Queisser, Ashley Hennegan, Hamish Baron, Nick Poon) defeated United 3 (Shane Cowling 2, Ash Randall) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

University took competition points from their opening match of the season for the first time in four years when they pipped United in a sometimes scrappy night match.  The two sides, who had both scored a dozen goals over their previous four meetings, served up another tight clash, going goal for goal until University opened up a two-goal lead in the second half.  Shane Cowling scored the first of his two goals for United from a penalty stroke, before Damien Quiesser equalised for a 1-1 halftime score.  Goals to University’s new defender Ashley Hennegan and United’s Ash Randall followed, before the Redmen took a 4-2 lead with goals to Nick Poon and Hamish Baron.  Baron’s strike is an early contender for goal of the season, with the New Zealander producing a stunning first-time backstick shot from a penalty corner rebound.  While University will hope emulate their great start to the 2008 season, when they lost only two of their first six matches, they will be wary of how they fell away by losing 11 of their next 12 games to finish second last. 

- Lee Oliver

POINTS: 

Redcliffe Leagues 3, Valley 3, University of Queensland 3, Bulimba 1, Commercial 1, Labrador 1, Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 1, United 0, QUT 0, Easts 0.

LEADING GOAL SCORERS: 

3  -  Chris Beale (Commercial)
    -  Shane Kenny (Redcliffe Leagues)
2  -  Shane Cowling (United)
    -  Brent Garske (Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths)
    -  Chris Gilmore (Labrador)

Redcliffe Leagues goalkeeper Daniel Pink denies Easts' Zaan Togo a chance to score.

New Redcliffe Leagues striker Andrew Newman confronted by Easts midfielder Todd Watson.

Nick Budd (Redcliffe Leagues) and Dale Gohdes (Easts) battle it out.

Peter Dillon on the run for Redcliffe Leagues.

Compiled by Lee Oliver.