University's Kieran Powyer gets a pass away from Ryan Kilpatrick of Pine Rivers
St Andrews.

Saints' Andrew Richards stretches to reach University's Hamish Baron.

University goalkeeper Adam Dinsdale saves a Saints penalty corner shot.

Pine Rivers St Andrews rookie Mitchell Bolton tries to run down Anthony Kirk.

Greg Collins congratulates University captain Adam Dinsdale following the goalkeeper's
final top-grade game for the club.

BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE – Round 18


University of Queensland 3 (Jake Burns, Ethan Quan, Greg Collins) defeated Pine Rivers St Andrews 1 (Dylan Elliott) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

University provided retiring captain Adam Dinsdale with a fitting send off, upsetting finals-bound Pine Rivers St Andrews.  Yet the students will be disappointed the victory didn’t extend Dinsdale’s first grade career, with Labrador’s shock victory over minor premiers Commercial denying the Redmen their first finals appearance since 1992.  A successful penalty stroke by University’s Ethan Quan was the only score in a frantic first half, which saw Dinsdale and Saints counterpart Nathan Panetta make crucial saves.  Brent Garske had the best scoring chance for Saints when he rounded Dinsdale, but the goalkeeper managed to push the shot wide.  Saints’ task was made all the more difficult after the break when University's Jacob Burns converted a short corner.  The blue and whites finally had something to cheer about when Dylan Elliott slotted a stroke eight minutes from time, and Saints arguably scored the equaliser minutes later.  With Ryan Kilpatrick’s backstick shot headed for the roof of the net, Dinsdale knocked it into the crossbar, only for the ball to seemingly cross the line, before a clearing save was made.  Instead, University midfielder Greg Collins sealed the win when his misdirected drag flick took a favourable deflection off Saints’ fullback Cameron Richards – Nicholas Bolton.


Valley 5 (Andrew McGuckin 3, James Hill, Duncan Stewart) defeated Bulimba 1 (Liam Brown) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

A late hat-trick of goals to Valley’s Andrew McGuckin ended Bulimba’s finals aspirations by consigning them to a four-goal defeat. In a tight opening stanza both sides struggled to control the ball for any length of time, with Valley having the best of the opportunities with two one-on-one opportunities being brilliantly snuffed out by Bulls goalkeeper Steven Lambert.  James Hill opened the scoring for Valley in the second half after a good passing move found him in the circle with time to place the ball past an outstretched Lambert. Liam Brown levelled the scores with 16 minutes left after Steven Bullion took the ball in the defensive line, drew three players to himself, before laying the ball off to Brown. It wasn’t long before Valley pulled away again with a cracking Duncan Stewart shot finding its way past Lambert into the top corner of the net just one minute later. Needing to win to qualify for the finals following University's win earlier in the day, Bulimba tried desperately to equalise until McGuckin struck three times in the final four minutes to see Valley finish the season with back-to-back 5-1 wins against sides above them on the ladder. It is the second year in a row Bulimba, who spent the previous nine weeks in fifth spot on the ladder, has lost their last game of the season to fall out of the finals positions – Jim Moloney. 


Labrador 3 (Joe Reardon 2, Mark Harris) defeated Commercial 1 (Daniel Beale) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Commercial missed their chance at history, while Labrador miraculously found themselves in the playoffs, following a pulsating final round clash. Needing to win to have any chance of qualifying for the finals, Labrador rushed Australian star Brent Livermore back from a foot injury for their encounter against the Cobras, who were looking to register a perfect regular season record of 18 victories. A defensive error from Cobras fullback Adam Barry led to the first goal of the match. Labrador striker Joe Reardon swooped on the ball, beat defender Matt Lagerroth and confronted goalkeeper David Reid, before sending an expert backstick shot into the net from a wide angle. Labrador came agonisingly close to doubling their lead, with Sam Barker's penalty corner flick hitting the crossbar, Reardon's shot from the backline drifting just wide of the target, and Corey Piggins missing a clear chance in front of goal. Daniel Beale equalised for the Cobras soon after the halftime break, volleying the ball into goal after Cale Cramer's shot was saved by Tigerstix goalkeeper Matt Woods. Ten minutes later a diving Mark Harris restored Labrador's lead, before the Cobras pressed hard for an equalising goal that could have seen University advance to the finals. However, Reardon scored late in the contest to seal a memorable victory – Lee Oliver.


Redcliffe Leagues 3 (Andrew Newman 2, David Halliday) defeated United 2 (Ash Randall, Adam McClelland) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

A second half brace of goals from Redcliffe Leagues' Andrew Newman was enough to get them over the line against a dogged United outfit. In a tight first half it was the peninsula side that opened the scoring with David Halliday cleaning up the scraps of a penalty corner in the 12th minute. It was to remain the only goal of the half with both sides struggling to finish despite many chances. The second half was the polar opposite of the first 35 minutes, with Newman scoring his double in the first seven minutes after the break. United pegged the score back with a goal to Ash Randall, despite being down a player after Kula Bhullar received a yellow card. The ill discipline continued after the restart with Redcliffe Leagues pair Nick Budd and Alex Swann, and United’s David Carlson all receiving their marching orders. Despite this only some excellent goal keeping from Daniel Pink (Redcliffe Leagues) and Aaron Duff (United), and goal line saves from Budd and United’s Shane Cowling, stopped more goals being scored. United had to wait until the final minute of the match to score their second goal, with Adam McClelland converting a penalty stroke.  The last-minute score saw McClelland finish alongside Jacob Webber of Easts at the top of the scorers chart, with 22 goals each – Jim Moloney.


Easts 9 (Jacob Webber 4, Jarrod Black 2, Todd Watson, Jake Farrell, Brad Mathers) defeated QUT 1 (Andrew Penhaligon) at the Clem Jones Sports Centre, Carina.

QUT suffered the indignity of finishing without a competition point for the second straight year, after Easts cruised to an easy eight-goal victory. Four goals to Easts' Jacob Webber saw the young Queensland Blades striker finish alongside United's Adam McClelland as the competition's leading goal scorer. Webber had a hat-trick of goals inside the opening 10 minutes, with two of the scores set up by Jake Farrell after the Tweed product skilfully sliced through the Ibis defence. Three goals in four minutes midway through the half saw the home side extend to a 6-0 lead, which they took into the halftime break. First Todd Watson put a shot past a scrambling QUT goalkeeper Blair Burden, before Jarrod Black finished off good lead-up work by Dylan Wotherspoon. The final goal of the first half came from Farrell, who was left uncontested in the circle. QUT pulled one goal back through Andrew Penhaligon, before Easts scored three unanswered goals, to Webber, Brad Mathers and Black, with the final two goals coming in the last three minutes of play. While QUT has not won in their past 36 matches dating back to August 2008, the worst performed team of the previous generation, City United, managed just two draws between 1988 and 1991, a winless run of 72 games – Lee Oliver.


FINAL POINTS: Commercial 51, Redcliffe Leagues 41, Easts 40, Pine Rivers St Andrews 27, Labrador 24, University of Queensland 22, Bulimba 22 *, Valley 18, United 18,  QUT 0.

* Bulimba deducted 3 points for having a suspended player in the dugout during a match.


LEADING GOAL SCORERS:

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

Easts' Dylan Wotherspoon weaves through the defence of QUT pair Alex Krzensk and
Anders Kinsella.

Young Tiger Robert Bell gets around QUT tackler Anders Kinsella.

QUT's Kieran Dunning sets up a play for the Ibis from midfield.

Andrew Penhaligon collides with Dylan Wotherspoon in a heavy challenge.

Commercial's Kris Glass takes on Labrador's Luke Tyne down the sideline.

Goalkeeper Matt Woods saves a shot from Commercial striker Cale Cramer.

Blair Brown sends the ball past Labrador defender Heath Ferguson.

Compiled by Lee Oliver.