Bulimba's Allan Dale shadowed by Ryan Kilpatrick.

Bulimba's Dean Butler and Pine Rivers St Andrews' Dylan Elliott stretch for the ball.

Pine Rivers St Andrews forward Michael Stokes tries to evade Bulimba's Bob Barron.

Bulls striker Steve Bullion tries to outpace Saints defender Craig Richards.

BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE – Round 8


Commercial 8 (Blair Brown 7, Kye Hawgood) defeated Easts 4 (Michael Bates 2, Jacob Whetton, Jacob Webber) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Blair Brown’s stunning seven-goal haul was the catalyst for Commercial’s win over one of the main title challengers Easts in their top of the table clash. The defending champions opened the scoring through Brown after seven minutes when he pounced on a loose ball near an open goal. Easts responded a minute later when Jacob Whetton finished from close range. Brown then slotted a penalty corner and Kye Hawgood put his side 3-1 up after 15 minutes. Easts were next to score through a Jacob Webber penalty corner. Brown scored next to complete his hat-trick in just 22 minutes, before adding his fourth and fifth goals in the space of five minutes. The first half siren stopped Commercial’s momentum and it was Easts that got the first second half goal when forward Michael Bates bundled in a loose, airborne ball. Commercial responded seven minutes later when Brown clinically dispatched his fifth penalty corner to get his sixth goal. Hawgood’s clever cross from the wing found an unmarked Brown, who got his seventh goal minutes later to give his side an 8-3 lead. The goal-fest finished when Bates hit a powerful reverse tomahawk across Commercial gloveman David Reid late in the game. The sides have now each won 13 matches from their past 27 clashes, with Easts scoring 87 goals to Commercial’s 86 – Michael Spring.


United 4 (Matt Curran 2, Adam McClelland, Jacob Jennison) defeated QUT 2 (Chris Rawlings, Lyndon Evans) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

United has ended their three game losing run while extending QUTs run of outs to 25 games. With a host of the usual United team not playing, QUT started the stronger of the sides and took an early lead with a goal to Chris Rawlings in the eighth minute after good lead up work by Rob Kruger. QUT were unable to continue their strong start and the half fizzled into a scrappy affair. United come out from the halftime interval a seemingly different team and the scored their four goals in the 15 minutes after the break. The first goal was a result of a powerful Matt Curran strike from a penalty corner, with Adam McClelland continuing the resurgence with a drag flick from another penalty corner six minutes later.  Another powerful Curran strike in the 47th minute found its way into the goal in somewhat controversial circumstances, with QUT claiming that the strike was too high. Jacob Jennison rounded out the scoring one minute later after good lead up play by Aaron Lund and Josh James. Lyndon Evans tried to inspire his team to mount a comeback with a goal with 10 minutes remaining, but it was not be with both sides finishing the match with a number of wasted opportunities. The match was QUT’s first without Kym Ireland at the helm after she resigned during the week to pursue other interests – Jim Moloney.


Labrador 6 (Craig Bigham 2, Mark Harris 2, Andrew Ward, Dean Murphy) defeated Valley 3 (Tobias Figura 2, Lachlan Brownhalls) at Mary Nairn Fields, Redcliffe.

Labrador continued Valley’s disappointing start to the season, doubling up on the score of the Diehards at the neutral surrounds of Redcliffe. The score was tied 1-1 after 10 minutes, after Andrew Ward opened the scoring from a penalty corner for Labrador and busy Valley centre half Lachlan Brownhalls netted a field goal. With Valley right in the contest against their higher ranked opponents, the wheels fell off in their bid for an upset win as Labrador’s Craig Bigham scored two goals from penalty corners in a couple of minutes.  The Tigerstix were in again five minutes after halftime when Dean Murphy finished off a length of the field breakaway, and when Mark Harris scored a brace of goals from penalty corners, the Gold Coast side looked set to extend their 6-1 lead. To their credit Valley didn’t drop their intensity, with rookie Kane Posselt showing plenty of ingenuity in attack and goalkeeper David Watts making some good saves. Tobias Figura was rewarded for his effort when he beat Labrador goalkeeper Matt Woods with 15 minutes left to play. Valley kept the pressure on the Tigerstix defence, with Woods forced to negate shots from Posselt and Andrew McGuckin, before Figura netted his second goal from a penalty corner variation – Lee Oliver.


Bulimba 2 (Mitchell Grant, Jaryd Cutler) defeated Pine Rivers St Andrews 1 (Ryan Kilpatrick) at Mary Nairn Fields, Redcliffe.

Bulimba have grabbed a vital three-point break on Pine Rivers St Andrews, defeating their north side rivals thanks largely to a vintage goalkeeping display from Stephen Lambert.  Bulimba, Saints and University entered the weekend tied on 10 points, but Bulimba are now outright fourth, following University’s loss to Redcliffe Leagues.  The importance of their match was not lost on the Saints and the Bulls, as solid defence from both sides ensured the game was scoreless at the break.  Saints had the better of the scoring chances in the first half, with retired Kookaburras goalkeeper Lambert denying an advancing Ryan Kilpatrick and a Craig Smith drag flick.  Early in the second half Bulimba striker Steven Bullion looked to have broken the deadlock, only to have his shot hit the post.  Seemingly in control of proceedings, the Saints were rocked by two Bulls’ goals in five minutes to turn the match on its head.  The Saints continued to pressure the Bulimba defence, desperate to erase scores from Mitchell Grant and Jaryd Cutler.  Kilpatrick finally got the Saints on the board with five minutes remaining, having earlier had a second shot magnificently saved by a soaring Lambert.  A penalty corner on full-time gave the Saints hope of earning a draw, but they couldn’t find a way past Lambert.  The win is Bulimba’s first against the Saints since April 2008 – Nicholas Bolton.


Redcliffe Leagues 5 (Shane Kenny, Nick Budd, Alex Swann, Peter Dillon, David Halliday) defeated University of Queensland 3 (Sim Bird, Daniel Biase-McInally, Jacob Burns) at the Clem Jones Sports Centre, Carina.

University of Queensland gave evidence they are not far away from challenging the sides at the top end of the competition table, after they pushed 2009 grand finalists Redcliffe Leagues to the limit before falling by two goals. The match started in familiar fashion for Redcliffe Leagues, who raced out to a 2-0 lead by the 12th minute mark through goals from Shane Kenny and Nick Budd. When Alex Swann scored after his team dominated the play, the peninsula side had earned a three-goal lead midway through the first half.  But University didn’t surrender meekly, with Sim Bird scoring three minutes later, before Daniel Biase-McInally found the back of the net soon after halftime to see University trail by one goal.  With University enjoying the better of the play, Peter Dillon gave Redcliffe Leagues some breathing room when he scored with 15 minutes left, before Bird received a yellow card for a poor tackle on James McAlpine. Despite being one player down, University refused to let the match go, with Jacob Burns’ penalty corner flick deflecting off the stick of Redcliffe Leagues goalkeeper Daniel Pink and going into the net. University’s momentum was finally stymied with five minutes left when unselfish play by Kenny in the circle allowed David Halliday to land the knockout blow for Redcliffe Leagues – Lee Oliver.


POINTS: Commercial 24, Redcliffe Leagues 19, Easts 18, Bulimba 13, Labrador 12, University of Queensland 10, Pine Rivers St Andrews 10, United 9, Valley 3, QUT 0.


LEADING GOAL SCORERS:

14  -  Adam McClelland (United)
12  -  Blair Brown (Commercial)
      -  Jacob Webber (Easts)
10  -  Michael Bates (Easts)
      -  Mark Harris (Labrador)
      -  Jacob Whetton (Easts)
  8  -  Jacob Burns (University of Queensland)
      -  David Halliday (Redcliffe Leagues)
  6  -  Chris Beale (Commercial)
      -  Nick Budd (Redcliffe Leagues)
      -  Cale Cramer (Commercial)
  5  -  Daniel Beale (Commercial)
      -  Matt Curran (United)
      -  Dale Gohdes (Easts)
      -  Mitchell Grant (Bulimba)
      -  Jacob Jennison (United)
      -  Shane Kenny (Redcliffe Leagues)
      -  James McAlpine (Redcliffe Leagues)
      -  Joe Reardon (Labrador)
      -  Ian Schulz (Redcliffe Leagues)
      -  Dilbag Singh (University of Queensland)
      -  Joel Torrisi (Commercial)


BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE TRIVIA:

21.  Which club had the longest wait before winning their first Division 1 grand final? Easts won their first top-grade premiership in 1983, 53 years after the club was established.

22.  Who is the only player to win back-to-back BHA Player of the Year medals?  George Clutton (Easts) in 2004 and 2005.

23.  Which player won consecutive Hec Cormie Medals, for being player of the match in the Division 1 grand final, in 2007 and 2008?  Commercial goalkeeper David Reid.

24.  In what year did Valley last finish bottom in the Division 1 competition? 2002.

25.  Which Division 1 players have the nicknames Snake, Doctor, Princess, Bump, T-Bone and Skinner?  Jacob Burns (University), David Halliday (Redcliffe Leagues), Lyndon Evans (QUT), Robert Bell (Easts), Tobias Figura (Valley), Andrew Richards (Pine Rivers St Andrews).

Labrador's Brent Livermore prepares to snatch the ball from Valley's Chris Ahern.

Rowan Moran shoots despite pressure from Braden O'Callaghan.

Labrador's Andrew Ward makes a move on Valley rookie Kane Posselt.

Labrador's Craig Bigham runs away from Valley's Lewis Short in the midfield.

Compiled by Lee Oliver.