Easts' Ben McCarthy streaks away, chased by University's David Brooks.

University's Warwick Shillito on the move as Jacob Whetton closes in for Easts.

University striker Timbi Poon gets the better of Easts defender Ben McCarthy.

BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE - ROUND 12

Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 2 (Craig Richards, Joel Farrell) drew with Commercial 2 (Cale Cramer 2) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths have underlined their finals credentials, holding reigning premiers Commercial to a 2-2 draw in one of the matches of the season thus far.  The Saints entered the clash with a point to prove, given they sat in third position on the ladder despite being embarrassed 6-0 by the Cobras in April.  Commercial had the better of the early exchanges, before Saints began to challenge their ascendancy.  Both sides’ attack threatened to break the deadlock, but their defences held firm.  Saints striker Ryan Gibbs came closest, his shot having beaten Cobras goalkeeper David Reid only to be denied by the post.  When Commercial’s top goal scorer Cale Cramer gave his side the lead it seemed the Cobras were on their way to another victory.  However, the Saints responded, stunning Commercial with two goals in three minutes to Craig Richards and Joel Farrell.  Yet the Saints were slow to refocus after taking the lead and were punished, as Cramer immediately bagged a second goal.  The final 20 minutes saw thrilling end-to-end action, but neither team could find a match winner.  The draw is the first time in recent memory that the Saints have taken competition points off the Cobras.

 - Nicholas Bolton

Redcliffe Leagues 2 (Andrew Newman 2) defeated QUT 0 at Mary Nairn Fields, Redcliffe.

Redcliffe Leagues won back the premiership lead, but only just, as a spirited QUT outfit produced their best effort of the season to push the peninsula men all the way.  Two close range goals from Andrew Newman was the difference between the winless students and a side that had scored 24 goals from their previous two games against the Ibis. Led by Simon Ford, Adam Rankin, new fullback Jordie Stewart and goalkeeper Luke Gurieff, who saved a stroke from Nick Budd, QUT belied their position on the ladder to produce an eight-goal turnaround from their previous match. After the sides battled through a scoreless first half Redcliffe Leagues finally broke QUT’s defensive resistance four minutes after the break when Newman deflected the ball into the net from a shot from a penalty corner. However, unlike the typical QUT side the Ibis refused to let the floodgates open.  It took the home side further 20 minutes to find a second score, a Newman tap-in from a David Halliday pass, with both sides utilising plenty of holes in their opponents’ midfield to initiate exciting attacking raids.  QUT thought they had drawn level at 1-1 when Chris Gilmore, working from good lead-up work by Alex Krzensk, stormed into the circle only to see his shot drift just wide of the far post.

 - Lee Oliver

Labrador 4 (Joe Reardon, Andrew Ward, Tommy Kavanagh, Mark Harris) defeated United 1 (Adam McClelland) at Keith Hunt Park, Labrador.

Labrador are still hanging on to fifth spot on the ladder after a gutsy second half comeback against United. The game was kept scoreless for the majority of the first half until the visitors found the net ten minutes out from the break. Adam McClelland added another penalty corner conversion to his scoring tally, which has now hit 20 goals for the season. United goalkeeper Mark Limbrick pulled off an outstanding performance with an array of great saves to keep his team in the game but it wasn’t enough to stop Labrador’s second half fightback. Just seven minutes after the break Joe Reardon scored from a penalty corner to give the Tigerstix their first goal of the game. Four minutes later the home side stole the lead with a great field goal by Andrew Ward. Three minutes later United struggled to get out of defence allowing Tommy Kavanagh to push the score line to 3-1. Labrador missed a number of opportunities, including a penalty stroke from ex-Australian player Grant Smith, but they sealed the victory minutes before full time via their top goal scorer for the season, Mark Harris. The Tigerstix have never lost to United since both teams entered the BHL in 2007.

 - Rebecca Kirchner

Bulimba 4 (Kyle Richardson 2, Luke Paine, Duncan Mahony) defeated Valley 2 (Marar Pretesh, Andrew McGuckin) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Bulimba overcame an early deficit to defeat Valley and regain third position on the ladder as the race for the top five heats up.  Valley got the jump on the Bulls, courtesy of a field goal from striker Marar Pretesh after 13 minutes.  Bulimba were quick to equalise however, with fullback Luke Paine converting a penalty stroke.  The match looked destined to enter the break tied up, but when striker Duncan Mahony latched onto a cross Bulimba had landed a telling blow.  Knowing they had to be next to score, Valley began the second half strongly, yet it was Bulimba midfielder and new Queensland Blades squad member Kyle Richardson who goaled to give his side some breathing room.  Undeterred by the setback the Diehards continued to throw the ball around, with striker Andrew McGuckin scoring to raise hopes of a Valley upset.  However, Richardson’s second goal one minute later erased any hopes of a comeback victory.  It is the fourth time in six matches that Bulimba has scored four goals in a game – and on each occasion they have come away with a win.  The last time the Bulls lost after scoring four goals in a match was in 2005.

 - Nicholas Bolton

Easts 3 (Jacob Whetton 2, Dale Gohdes) defeated University of Queensland 0 at Mary Nairn Fields, Redcliffe.

University showed glimpses of the form that saw them upset Easts earlier in the year, but this time it was a different result as the Tigers won for the first time in three matches.  Both sides had great opportunities to open the scoring in the final 10 minutes of a tight first half, with University striker Timbi Poon and Easts pair Treva Mills and Jacob Whetton shooting over the top of the net.  Dale Gohdes was first to find the back of the net ten minutes into the second period, converting a penalty stroke awarded after Jarrod Black was judged to have been fouled from behind as he tried to squeeze through defensive traffic in the circle.  Seven minutes later Easts scored again when Whetton chipped the ball over diving University goalkeeper Aaron Duff from close range.  Down two goals University didn’t give up the fight, with Poon, Luke Emerson and David Brooks threatening the Easts defence.  Poon forced a good save from Tigers goalkeeper Casey Lee after teammate Simon Mills turned the ball over from a poor sideline hit deep in his own half.  But Whetton scored again with six minutes left to keep the Tigers in striking distance of the top five.

 - Lee Oliver

POINTS:

Redcliffe Leagues 31, Commercial 29, Bulimba 22, Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 21, Labrador 20, Easts 18, United 13, Valley 11, University of Queensland 9, 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)
10  -  Kye Hawgood (Commercial)
      -  Andrew Newman (Redcliffe Leagues)
  9  -  David Halliday (Redcliffe Leagues)
  8  -  Jarrod Black (Easts)
      -  Brent Garske (Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths)
      -  James McAlpine (Redcliffe Leagues)
      -  Jason Wilson (Easts)

Easts defender Peter Morris wrongfoots University tackler Damien Queisser.

University's Ashley Hennegan battles with Easts' Todd Watson.

University halfback Kieran Powyer takes on Easts forward Zaan Togo.

Compiled by Lee Oliver.