Commercial's Adam Barry and Redcliffe Leagues' David
Halliday battle it out.

Redcliffe Leagues' Shane Kenny set to pounce on Commercial's Blair Brown.

Cobras fullback Adam Barry gives chase on Redcliffe Leagues' centre half Peter Dillon.

BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE – Round 3


United 5 (Adam McClelland 3, Matt Curran, Ben Irving) defeated University of Queensland 3 (Dilbag Singh 2, Lloyd McLoughlin) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

An Adam McClelland hat-trick has clinched United’s first win of the season against University.  United’s Matt Curran started the scoring in the 12th minute after a penalty corner allowed him to smash a ball that trickled into goal after bouncing off University keeper Adam Dinsdale. McClelland netted his first goal ten minutes later from another penalty corner and United’s dominance continued with the dangerous Ben Irving unlucky not to score seconds after the restart. United scored again through another McClelland penalty corner minutes before the break but Dilbag Singh’s penalty stroke gave University the last say of the half.  Irving cancelled out Singh’s goal by beating Dinsdale at his near post a minute into the second half. McClelland then completed his hat-trick in fine style by rounding Dinsdale after some sloppy University defence let him in, before finishing with precision in the bottom right corner. United tapered off in the dying stages, allowing Lloyd McLoughlin and Singh to score easy goals but the comeback didn’t happen, though United’s imposing score-line was weakened. The prolific McClelland has now scored in eight straight games and needs one goal to reach a milestone of 50 goals in his fourth season with the joint venture club – Michael Spring.


Labrador 4 (Brent Livermore, Andrew Ward, Joel Ward, Mark Harris) defeated Pine Rivers St Andrews 0 at Keith Hunt Park, Labrador.

Labrador has continued their dominance over Pine Rivers St Andrews, defeating their Brisbane rivals 4-0 in their first home game of the season.  Both teams entered the clash desperate to rebound from last-start defeats, but it was the Tigerstix who took control from the outset.  Labrador’s first penalty corner shot was denied by the post, but an Andrew Ward deflection ensured they made no mistake with their third set play from the top of the circle.  Despite being under further pressure, it appeared the Saints would go to the halftime break just one goal down.  However, Labrador landed two telling blows in the final five minutes of the half to establish a commanding 3-0 lead.  First it was Joel Ward finishing a length of the field movement, followed by a deflection to striker Mark Harris. With goalkeeper Nathan Panetta keeping the Tigerstix attack at bay, the Saints had their chances to the close the deficit in the second half, but ultimately it was Australian Kookaburras representative Brent Livermore who scored to complete a comprehensive victory. The result means the Saints are yet to beat Labrador since their inception into the Brisbane Hockey League in 2007, while the Gold Coast side avoided a record equalling losing streak – Nicholas Bolton.


Easts 5 (Dale Gohdes 2, Michael Bates, Jacob Webber, Jacob Whetton) defeated Bulimba 1 (Jaryd Cutler) at Clem Jones Sports Centre, Carina.

Easts christened their new home ground in style, and picked up a piece of silverware in the process, with a convincing win in the local derby against Bulimba. In the first match played at the Clem Jones Sports Centre the Tigers never looked like losing, racing out to a 4-1 lead by halftime.  Easts opened the scoring when Michael Bates collected a rebound from the pads of Bulimba goalkeeper Stephen Lambert, before two goals in five minutes to Dale Gohdes saw the Tigers stretch out to a 3-0 break by the 27th minute. Although Bulimba looked out of sorts in attack as they struggled with the new turf, they pulled a goal back soon after when Allan Dale found the Tigers defence napping. His quick pass found Jaryd Cutler unmarked on the penalty spot, who then flicked the ball past Easts goalkeeper Casey Lee. Jacob Webber scored Easts' second goal from a penalty corner after the halftime hooter to cap a dominant first half display. With Bates, Andrew Ridgewell and Jacob Whetton looking dangerous in attack it appeared Easts could put a big score on the Bulls, but Whetton could only add one goal to his side's tally in the second period while Bulimba earned a bevy of penalty corners. The victory handed Easts the Southside Cup, to be awarded to the winner of clashes between the Tigers and the Bulls – Lee Oliver.


Valley 2 (Callan Short, Harry Young) defeated QUT 0 at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Valley stretched their winning streak against QUT to seven straight games, yet their latest victory was not as convincingly as in past seasons.  This was influenced by the absence of seven players from Valley's first-team line-up, including higher grade representative players including former Queensland Blades star Tobias Figura, Australian Country representatives Mitch Smith and Lachlan Brownhalls and ex-Australian Schoolboy Kane Posselt, who is currently leading Queensland's under-18 side at the national titles in Canberra.  As the match began there were several missed opportunities in the first half by both sides, the intensity increased and early in the second half Callan Short scored for Valley with a field goal.  Valley held onto the ball significantly longer than QUT, but Ibis goalkeeper Blair Burden made some outstanding saves, rushing out of the goal to boot the ball away.  The fate of the Ibis was sealed in the 51st minute as Harry Young flicked the ball from near the penalty spot to score for Valley. While the 2-0 defeat was QUT's best defensive effort in eight matches, it still leaves Labrador, University, Bulimba and United as the only teams the Ibis have taken premiership points against – Andrew Beard.


Commercial 5 (Joel Torrisi 2, Chris Beale, Cale Cramer, Blair Brown) defeated Redcliffe Leagues 2 (James Hawley, David Halliday) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Redcliffe Leagues was left to rue missed chances from penalty corners as defending champions Commercial continued their dominance of the Peninsula side to remain the only unbeaten side in the competition.  The Redmen had no return from seven penalty corner plays in the first half, with Commercial goalkeeper David Reid making several saves.  Moments after Redcliffe Leagues centre half Peter Dillon shot over the top of the net, Commercial's Joel Torrisi gave the pass for an unmarked Chris Beale to open the scoring. Cobras centre half Blair Brown caught the Redcliffe Leagues defence napping again, giving a pass for Torrisi to score to give the Cobras an unlikely 2-0 lead at the break.  When Torrisi slid in to deflect the ball into goal two minutes after play resumed, Redcliffe Leagues' hopes looked dashed. But a goal from a penalty corner by James Hawley and a penalty stroke conversion by David Halliday, after Cobras defenders Kye Hawgood and Leighton Stock brought down Shane Kenny, got their side back in the contest with 15 minutes left.  However, the Redmen's fightback was short-lived, with Cale Cramer scoring two minutes later before Brown flicked in the ball from a penalty corner to give Commercial their 18th win in 20 games against the baysiders – Lee Oliver.


POINTS: Commercial 9, Easts 6, Labrador 6, Redcliffe Leagues 6, University of Queensland 4, Bulimba 4, United 3, Valley 3, Pine Rivers St Andrews 3, QUT 0.


LEADING GOAL SCORERS:

5  -  Cale Cramer (Commercial)
    -  Adam McClelland (United)
4  -  Dilbag Singh (University)
    -  Jacob Webber (Easts)
3  -  Chris Beale (Commercial)
    -  Dale Gohdes (Easts)
    -  David Halliday (Redcliffe Leagues)
    -  Mark Harris (Labrador)
    -  Ben Irving (United)

Easts youngster Hugh Pembroke arrives too late to stop Bulimba's Kyle Richardson.

Bulimba fullback Tom Elmer gets a hit away despite pressure from Michael Bates.

Bulimba goalkeeper Stephen Lambert smothers an attack by Andrew Ridgewell.

Bulimba's Adam Grant scrambles to clear the ball from Tigers forward Jacob Whetton.

Compiled by Lee Oliver.