Note: The matches of 24 July 2010 and 31 July 2010 make up a single round for the BHL1 Competition.

Lewis Short of Valley tackles Labrador forward Mark Harris.

Valley midfielder Kane Posselt looks for a way through the Labrador defence.

Valley fullback Callan Short defends his circle against Tigerstix striker Joe Reardon.

Alecz Day initiates an attack for Valley from fullback.

BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE - Round 17 (Split round – week 1)

Note: The matches of 24 July 2010 and 31 July 2010 make up a single round for the BHL1 Competition.

Bulimba 5 (Mitchell Grant 2, Liam Brown, Allan Dale, Jaryd Cutler) defeated Pine Rivers St Andrews 4 (Mitchell Bolton, Ryan Kilpatrick, Craig Smith, Michael Stokes) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

Bulimba has ensured their return to the Brisbane Hockey League finals, pipping Pine Rivers St Andrews in a seesawing encounter.  Eliminated from the 2009 finals race in the final fixture by Labrador, it was fitting the Bulls should progress at the expense of the Tigerstix in season 2010.  The Bulls deserved their win against the Saints, coming from behind four times to steal victory.  Craig Smith opened the scoring for Saints in the 13th minute, firing a shot into the net from point blank.  This looked likely to be the only score of the half until a Jaryd Cutler reply sparked a run of five goals in seven minutes.  Michael Stokes restored Saints’ lead, only for it to be erased by a pinpoint Allan Dale drag flick.  From the ensuing restart Ryan Kilpatrick goaled, before disappointing Saints’ defence allowed Mitchell Grant to score in the same minute.  When Mitchell Bolton produced a stunning back line strike and his first A-grade goal, Saints once again had the chance to play frontrunner.  However, a brilliant finish by Liam Brown, and a second goal to Grant gave Bulimba the lead for the first time with ten minutes to play.  Saints had the Bulls’ defence under extreme pressure for the remainder of the contest, but Bulimba hung on for a gutsy victory.  The two sides will face off in an elimination final in week one of the playoffs - Nicholas Bolton.


Valley 5 (Tobias Figura 2, Lachlan Brownhalls, Brendan Lindsay, Kane Posselt) defeated Labrador 1 (Mark Harris) at Keith Hunt Park, Labrador.

Valley belied their lowly position on the ladder to turn in their best performance in years to beat Labrador on the road, ending the Gold Coast side's chances of making the finals.  Second last on the ladder entering the match the understrength Valley side, led superbly by fullback Callan Short and with good support from Tobias Figura and Lachlan Brownhalls, recorded their first victory against the Tigerstix in eight attempts. Brownhalls opened the scoring for Valley midway through the first half after fullback Alecz Day roamed upfield to instigate an attack, before Mark Harris equalised for the home side from a penalty corner.  After Harris and Labrador fullback Kane Hancock argued with the umpire at length about Valley's goal, Figura caught the Tigerstix defence napping from the restart to set up Brendan Lindsay to score. Figura extended Valley's lead after halftime when he dispossessed Hancock, rounded Tigerstix goalkeeper Matt Woods and cooly shot into an open net. Two goals from penalty corners in three minutes midway through the second half, to Figura and Kane Posselt, sealed Valley's best victory in recent memory. Bulimba's win against Pine Rivers St Andrews later that day means Labrador will miss the finals for the first time since entering the Brisbane competition in 2007 - Lee Oliver.


United 4 (Adam McClelland 3, Sam Accutt) defeated QUT 2 (Chris Gilmore, Anders Kinsella) at the Clem Jones Sports Centre, Carina.

Three second half goals proved the difference as United overcame winless QUT in a match where pride was more important than points. United made the early running with Sam Accutt missing a diving deflection which would have put his team up within ten seconds of the game starting. QUT struck first with Anders Kinsella scoring off a waist high cross in the sixth minute, before Chris Gilmore doubled the lead three minutes later. The goals gave QUT confidence and they started to control the match, until Lyndon Evans received his first yellow card of the year for a professional foul. United’s Adam McClelland took advantage when his drag flick deflected off a QUT player.  The match continued as a tight affair with QUT seemingly happy to defend their lead. It wasn’t until the 52nd minute that McClelland was able to find a way past outstanding Ibis goalkeeper Blair Burden again, and just one minute later an excellent touch saw the Queensland under-21 striker deflect the ball into the net from a Dave Carlson drive into the circle. Accutt put the game beyond doubt with a wonderful tomahawk strike, to finish off a wonderful play involving Kula Bhullar and Shane Cowling. United's victory sees them record the most wins in a season since the joint venture side joined the Division 1 competition four seasons ago - Jim Moloney.


POINTS: Commercial 48 *, Redcliffe Leagues 38 *, Easts 37 *, Pine Rivers St Andrews 27, Bulimba 25, Labrador 21, United 18, University of Queensland 16 *, Valley 15, QUT 0.


LEADING GOAL SCORERS:

21  -  Ryan Kilpatrick (Pine Rivers St Andrews)
      -  Adam McClelland (United)
20  -  David Halliday (Redcliffe Leagues) *
18  -  Jacob Webber (Easts) *
16  -  Blair Brown (Commercial) *
      -  Jacob Burns (University of Queensland) *
15  -  Michael Bates (Easts) *
      -  Cale Cramer (Commercial) *
13  -  Nick Budd (Redcliffe Leagues) *
      -  Mark Harris (Labrador)
12  -  Joe Reardon (Labrador)
11  -  Chris Beale (Commercial) *
      -  Kye Hawgood (Commercial) *
      -  Jacob Whetton (Easts) *
10  -  Shane Kenny (Redcliffe Leagues) *
      -  Craig Smith (Pine Rivers St Andrews)
  9  -  Ian Schulz (Redcliffe Leagues) *

* denotes game in hand.

QUT goal scorer Chris Gilmore jostles with United halfback
Shane Cowling. Photo by Kat Down - www.katdown.com

QUT's Alex Krzensk pressured by Dave Carlson. Photo by Kat Down - www.katdown.com

QUT players defend a United penalty corner, with Alex Krzensk and Andrew
Penhaligon leading the chase. Photo by Kat Down - www.katdown.com

Ibis fullback Tommy Mills hits a ball past United striker Adam McClelland. Photo by
Kat Down - www.katdown.com

Compiled by Lee Oliver.