Labrador's Craig Bigham challenged by Redcliffe Leagues' Ian Schulz.

Redcliffe Leagues' Alex Swann tries to outwit Labrador goalkeeper Matt
Woods in the circle.

Redcliffe Leagues goalkeeper Daniel Pink clears the ball away from
Labrador's Dean Murphy.

Redcliffe Leagues centre half looks for support as Labrador young gun
Kyle Gildea approaches.

BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE – Round 2


Bulimba 4 (Allan Dale 2, Mitchell Grant, Dean Butler) defeated United 3 (Ben Irving, Adam McClelland, Jacob Jennison) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Bulimba beat United for their first win this season in a seesawing encounter that finished with a thrilling penalty corner goal after the final siren.  United were made to rue their missed chances against a club they are yet to beat after pressuring Bulimba's goal area for large parts of the match.  The Bulls proved to be more clinical in front of goal, making the most of their six penalty corners to United’s 11.  Bulimba’s final penalty corner was the most telling as some intricate passes and dummy moves set up Dean Butler for a smashing drive that saw his team take the spoils.  Bulimba started the scoring after Allan Dale rifled a penalty corner into the top left corner in the ninth minute.  United responded through a Ben Irving tap-in from Adam McClelland’s smart flick pass over Bulimba goalkeeper Stephen Lambert.  Dale’s calmly taken penalty stroke gave Bulimba the lead ten minutes before halftime but United countered minutes after the break through a McClelland penalty corner.  Mitchell Grant restored Bulimba’s lead before Jacob Jennison responded with a neat finish to set up a frantic finale.  United’s desperate defence looked like earning them a share of the spoils but it wasn’t to be for a team that’s winless after two rounds - Michael Spring.


University of Queensland 3 (Dilbag Singh 2, Anthony Kirk) defeated Valley 1 (Chris Ahern) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Two goals from Indian import Dilbag Singh helped University beat Valley to record a rare win over the Diehards. Valley had defeated the students 13 times out of their previous 15 matches, including  6-0 and 6-1 victories last season. However, University came out firing with striker Singh scoring after three minutes.  Early in the first half University forward Jacob Burns collided with Valley goalkeeper David Watts at full speed whilst leaping for the ball. Burns went down but was thankfully not seriously injured and was able to walk off the field soon after. University kept the pressure on the remainder of the half with Anthony Kirk scoring from a short corner in the last ten minutes. As the second half started Valley increased their possession, retaining the ball and creating some promising chances by Kane Posselt. A driving hit by Patrick Gleadhill that was touched in by Valley teammate Chris Ahern put the Diehards on the scoreboard. The goal was originally not awarded, but that ruling was overturned as the second referee from behind called it in. Despite the goal University proved too much when Singh struck back with his second goal - Andrew Beard.


Redcliffe Leagues 3 (Andrew Newman, Ian Schulz, David Halliday) defeated Labrador 2 (Joel Ward, Joe Reardon) at Mary Nairn Fields, Redcliffe.

Two goals in the final seven minutes helped Redcliffe Leagues get out of jail against an unlucky Labrador outfit making the longest road trip in the competition.  With Australian international Brent Livermore guiding the side from centre half, Labrador looked the better team early on and were rewarded when Joel Ward skipped into the circle to find the back of the net after just five minutes. Redcliffe Leagues drew level when Andrew Newman skillfully rounded Labrador goalkeeper Matt Woods following a turnover from Tigerstix defender Heath Ferguson. Mark Harris set up Joe Reardon to give the visitors back the lead eight minutes out from halftime after Livermore stalked the Redmen's circle looking for an attacking opportunity.  A missed scoring chance soon after halftime, when Andrew Ward hit the post from a penalty corner variation, would eventually prove costly for Labrador. Tensions rose in a frantic final ten minutes that saw Labrador's Kane Hancock sent off for dissent, then Ian Schulz deflected in James McAlpine's shot from the ensuing penalty corner. The drama peaked with 80 seconds left when David Halliday stuck home home the winning goal - Lee Oliver.


Easts 6 (Jacob Webber, Jacob Whetton, Dale Gohdes, Michael Bates, Matthew Pembroke, Zaan Togo) defeated Pine Rivers St Andrews 1 (Ryan Kilpatrick) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Easts have avenged last year’s elimination final loss to Pine Rivers St Andrews, crushing the Brendale-based club 6-1. Despite both teams having early opportunities to score, it was Easts who began to dictate terms midway through the first half.  Under intense pressure the Saints’ defence held on, but their resistance was finally broken by a Jacob Webber shot.  Fortunate to go to the halftime break only one goal down, the Saints' luck ran out in the second stanza. The Tigers piled on three goals in eight minutes courtesy of strikes to Queensland Blades players Jacob Whetton and Michael Bates, with Dale Gohdes converting a penalty stroke.  Yet there was more pain to come for the Saints, who just couldn’t work their way into the contest.  Matthew Pembroke and Zaan Togo completed the impressive rout, before Saint Ryan Kilpatrick registered a consolation goal.  The victory was the Tigers' first against Saints since 2008, whilst for a disappointing Saints outfit, the loss marks their heaviest defeat since game three last year against eventual premiers Commercial. The Tigers will christen their new den, an artificial turf field at Carina, with a local derby against Bulimba on April 10 - Nicholas Bolton.


Commercial 7 (Cale Cramer 3, Daniel Beale 2, Chris Beale 2) defeated QUT 0 at Mary Nairn Fields, Redcliffe.

In a David and Goliath battle between the four-time defending champions and a side seeking its first win in 19 months, QUT punched above their weight early before surrendering to Commercial.  QUT could have easily led the match in the first half, with new signings Rob Kruger and James Mount going close to scoring for the Ibis.  After QUT's Alex Short and Tommy Mills saved goal bound shots on the line, Commercial opened the scoring after 17 minutes through Chris Beale before doubling their advantage when Cale Cramer made the most of a long pass from Matt Lagerroth that pierced the Ibis defence.  As with their previous match against Labrador, QUT's hopes of winning were stifled when they conceded several goals in quick time, letting in three goals in the final six minutes of the first half to trail 5-0 at the break. Commercial's fifth goal of the half, a goal from a penalty corner by Cramer, saw the Queensland Blades striker bring up his hat-trick of goals. It looked like the floodgates would open when Daniel Beale scored five minutes after the break, but QUT's defence stemmed the flow of scoring for 25 minutes with goalkeeper Blair Burden saving no fewer than six Cobras scoring shots - Lee Oliver.


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


LEADING GOAL SCORERS:

4  -  Cale Cramer (Commercial)
3  -  Jacob Webber (Easts)
2  -  Chris Beale (Commercial)
    -  Daniel Beale (Commercial)
    -  Steven Bullion (Bulimba)
    -  Jacob Burns (University of Queensland)
    -  Dean Butler (Bulimba)
    -  Allan Dale (Bulimba)
    -  David Halliday (Redcliffe Leagues)
    -  Matt Harmon (Labrador)
    -  Mark Harris (Labrador)
    -  Ben Irving (United)
    -  Jacob Jennison (United)
    -  Adam McClelland (United)
    -  Paul Nichols (Commercial)
    -  Dilbag Singh (University of Queensland)

QUT's Rob Kruger and Commercial's Tom Brough in action.

Commercial's Cale Cramer closes in on QUT's Shaun Lu.

Cale Cramer slips a ball past QUT defender Luke Nash, a play that led to
him scoring one of his three goals.

Fullback Matthew Lagerroth gets a pass away for Commercial.

Compiled by Lee Oliver.