Commercial's Kris Glass runs the ball upfield.

Labrador's Joe Reardon pressures Commercial's Chris Beale.

Tigerstix halfback Ryan Holding chased by Cobras goal scorer Kye Hawgood.

Commercial fullback Leighton Stock claims the ball ahead of Sam Barker.

BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE – Round 9


Valley 2 (Tobias Figura 2) defeated Bulimba 1 (Jaryd Cutler) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

Valley have won one of the Brisbane Hockey League’s most one-sided fixtures, beating Bulimba for the first time since the 1990s with a spirited come-from-behind victory. In a tight, fiery encounter, Valley triumphed to take points off Bulimba for the first time since the opening round of the 2005 season, when the sides drew 1-1. Jaryd Cutler got Bulimba’s only goal of the game after ten minutes from a penalty corner in what was an almost highlight-free first half. Valley started the second half on top, with three penalty corners won in the first 20 minutes of the second stanza while enjoying the better run of general play. For Valley it was a case of fourth time lucky when Tobias Figura scrambled in a goal from a penalty corner with 14 minutes left to play, to rapturous applause from Diehards supporters. Figura clinched the historic win seven minutes from time when he pounced on a defensive mistake before tomahawking the ball under Bulimba's international goalkeeper Stephen Lambert. Valley played the game well in the final minutes, keeping possession effectively to run out the clock and seal their second win of the season – Michael Spring.


Pine Rivers St Andrews 5 (Craig Smith 2, Brent Garske, Ryan Kilpatrick, Andrew Richards) defeated University of Queensland 3 (Jacob Burns 3) at the Clem Jones Sports Centre, Carina.

Pine Rivers St Andrews put the disappointment of a last-start loss to Bulimba behind them to post a vital victory over fellow top-five hopeful University.  The match began in a stalemate, with both sides struggling to create quality chances in attack.  However, a penalty corner tap in from striker Craig Smith gave Saints the important first goal, after Ryan Kilpatrick’s initial deflection had hit the post.  With the game poised at 1-0, and defence dominating, there was no indication the second half would produce an incredible seven goals.  Goals in the first four minutes to Saints’ pair Brent Garske and Smith rocked the students.  When Kilpatrick added a fourth, courtesy of a deft backstick deflection, a thrashing was on the cards, as one-third of the match remained.  As they had done the week before against Redcliffe Leagues, University mounted a spirited fightback, spearheaded by Jacob Burns.  Saints’ fifth goal to Andrew Richards cancelled out Burns’ first strike, but when a drag flick and tomahawk completed his hat-trick in just ten minutes, it was Saints’ turn to be rattled.  Yet there would be no miracle comeback, as the Saints’ defence repelled University during the final seven minutes – Nicholas Bolton.


Commercial 4 (Kye Hawgood, Daniel Beale, Tom Brough, Cale Cramer) defeated Labrador 1 (Kane Hancock) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Commercial's unbeaten status looked shaky at times against Labrador, before the champions ground out their 17th straight victory in a finals-like encounter.  A tight first half had plenty of scoring chances but only one goal, as the action shifted between opposite goal circles. Commercial's Cale Cramer and Kris Glass and Labrador trio Mark Harris, Craig Bigham and Kyle Gildea had the best scoring chances in the first half hour, with goalkeepers David Reid and Matt Woods making key stops.  Defenders Adam Barry (Commercial) and Kane Hancock (Labrador) also saved shots on the line before Kye Hawgood opened the scoring for Commercial two minutes before halftime, after Tigerstix fullback Heath Ferguson saved the initial shot. Six minutes later an unmarked Daniel Beale doubled the Cobras' lead, before Hancock scored for the Tigerstix with a penalty stroke, after Reid felled a runaway Gildea. Moments later Labrador was denied an equaliser when Reid saved a shot from Jamie Want. After Tom Brough volleyed the ball into the goal to give Commercial some breathing space, Cramer sealed the win with ten minutes left by rocketing an unstoppable tomahawk into the goal after Woods had saved his first shot – Lee Oliver.


Redcliffe Leagues 4 (David Halliday, Nick Budd, James McAlpine, Alex Swann) defeated United 1 (Sam Acutt) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

Redcliffe Leagues have extended their unbeaten run to six games after downing United. A goal after five minutes to Redcliffe Leagues' top goal shooter for the season, experienced forward David Halliday, started the scoring for the match. Defender Nick Budd doubled the peninsula side's advantage on the 20-minute mark from a penalty corner. Five minutes later Redcliffe Leagues got a third goal when James McAlpine finished a tricky set play from a penalty corner. United could have got themselves into the game minutes before half-time with a penalty corner goal of their own but Adam McClelland couldn’t finish. The home side took their next opportunity though, when Sam Acutt fired in his side's first goal 14 minutes into the second half. United then had two penalty corners in the space of five minutes and could have levelled the game if not for some outstanding goalkeeping from Redcliffe Leagues’ Daniel Pink. Redcliffe Leagues' victory, which earned them a spot in the Memorial Cup playoff against Commercial, was confirmed when they got the last goal of the game ten minutes from full-time, with Alex Swann calmly slotting home a penalty corner – Michael Spring.


Easts 8 (Jacob Webber 2, Andrew Campbell, Jacob Whetton, Michael Bates, Jarrod Black, Dylan Wotherspoon, Jake Farrell) defeated QUT 0 at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Four goals in each half, and seven different goal scorers, saw Easts cruise to victory against winless QUT.  The Tigers took a while to get warmed up, with their first goal to Andrew Campbell coming in the 13th minute.  New QUT coach Shane Everist must have been satisfied as his side trailed by a single goal ten minutes out from halftime, until the Tigers scored two goals in an many minutes, through Jacob Whetton and Michael Bates. Jarrod Black scored a goal in the shadows of halftime to see Easts lead 4-0 at the break.  Moments after halftime Queensland Blades rookie Jacob Webber had the first of his two goals, to take him to the top of the competition's goal scorers list alongside United's Adam McClelland. After having a hand in Webber's goal Whetton again turned provider, this time setting up Dylan Wotherspoon to take the score to 6-0 after 45 minutes. Webber scored his second goal from a penalty corner, before QUT had their best scoring chances. First Chris Rawlings hit the side of the net, before Andrew Penhaligon had his shot saved.  Jake Farrell rounded out the scoring for Easts, who welcomed back fellow Blades player Ben McCarthy for his first game of the year after overcoming a groin injury – Lee Oliver.


POINTS: Commercial 27, Redcliffe Leagues 22, Easts 21, Pine Rivers St Andrews 13, Bulimba 13, Labrador 12, University of Queensland 10, United 9, Valley 6, QUT 0.


LEADING GOAL SCORERS:

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


BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE TRIVIA:

26.  In what year did Norths last contest the Division 1 premiership?  2002 (finished 5th out of 8 teams).

27.  Which two players won the BHA Player of the Year medal despite their team finishing second last on the ladder?  Neil Bullion (Bulimba) in 1987 and Ori Gasparini (Bulimba) in 1991.

28.  Which club won the 1986 Division 1 premiership after failing to win a game the previous year?  South West United.

29.  Which was the last team to draw more than one-third of its matches during a Division 1 season?  Redcliffe-Norths drew 7 of 18 games in 2005.

30.  When was the last year Commercial did not qualify for the semi finals?  2000 (finished 5th out of 7 teams).

Easts' Jake Farrell holds off QUT rival Lyndon Evans.

Matthew Pembroke stretches to stop QUT's Alex Krzensk.

Easts midfielder Easts challenged by QUT's Chris Gilmore.

Easts forward Jacob Webber confronts QUT's Andrew Penhaligon as he runs the ball
out of defence.

QUT skipper Chris Rawlings tries to get past Easts young gun Robert Bell.

Compiled by Lee Oliver.