Match Reports

Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths goalkeeper Nathan Panetta makes a
save (Photo by Manfreds Photography - www.manfredphoto.com.au).

Bulimba's Dean Butler beats an outstretched Luke Reddiex.

Saints defender Cameron Richards pulls away from Bulimba's Duncan Mahony.

BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE - ROUND 13

Easts 5 (Jason Wilson 3, Jarrod Black, Matt Gohdes) defeated Commercial 4 (Jacob Burns 3, Wayne Barry) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Easts kept alive its hopes of becoming the first side since the premiership-winning Tigers outfit of 1985 to go through the regular season undefeated with a 5-4 win in a see-sawing clash with Commercial.  While Australian under-21 stars Jason Wilson (Easts) and Jacob Burns (Commercial) each scored a hat-trick of goals, the Tigers took the honours over their fierce rivals in a gripping top-of-the-table clash that would have left spectators impatiently counting the weeks until the next meeting of the competition high flyers.  Burns scored the first two goals on the match to give the Cobras a 2-0 lead at halftime, but his side couldn’t prevent a rampant display of attacking brilliance from the Tigers after the break.  Easts found the back of the net five times in 10 minutes - including Wilson’s three goals scored in just seven minutes - to swiftly and spectacularly turn the game on its head.  To their credit, the shell-shocked Cobras recovered well, with Burns and Wayne Barry scoring the next two goals of the match to bring the score back to 5-4.

Redcliffe Leagues 6 (Shane Kenny 2, Nick Budd, Kyle Murphy, Matthew Swann, James McAlpine) defeated University of Queensland 1 (Murray Wenzal) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Redcliffe Leagues gave evidence they may have cured their two-week mid-season hiccup, scoring three goals in each half to convincingly beat University .  After letting both Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths and United into the playoff mix with consecutive losses, the baysiders looked to bounce back against University - and reverse a shock defeat to the students earlier in the season.  Redcliffe Leagues started well, with Shane Kenny scoring within the opening five minutes.  Two more goals from unlikely sources - fullback Nick Budd and stand-in centre half Kyle Murphy - saw the peninsula side take a 3-0 lead into halftime.  University goalkeeper Adam Dinsdale worked extra hard in the second half, saving numerous goal bound shots from Kenny and Matthew Swann.  Swann finally beat Dinsdale from a well worked penalty corner variation with 15 minutes left, before University’s unlucky night was typified by their next attacking chance.  Timbi Poon set up a one-on-one chance for Greg Collins but, with goalkeeper Charlie Bason well beaten, his shot hit the post. 

Labrador 3 (Brad Puleosi 3) defeated Valley 1 (Duncan Stewart) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

A dominant three-goal performance by Brad Puleosi helped Labrador strengthen its grip on third place by overcoming a determined Valley side.  Puleosi scored his first goal after 10 minutes when he made space for himself in the circle, before firing a shot past Valley goalkeeper David Watts.  Many would have expected the floodgates to open soon after, but Valley displayed more of the defensive resilience that saw them beat University recently.  Andrew McGuicken came close to scoring for Valley, who produced one of their best efforts in recent weeks but lacked the authority in front of goal to really challenge the Gold Coast men.  Puleosi had no such troubles, receiving a Tom Kavanagh pass to score his second goal five minutes after halftime.  After Labrador goalkeeper Tyrone Melrose saved a backstick shot from Valley skipper Tobias Figura, Sam Barker and Andrew Ward combined at the other end of the field to set up Puleosi’s third goal.   Valley kept persevering and we were rewarded when Duncan Stewart scored with 12 minutes remaining to hint at a revival by his team, but it didn’t eventuate.

QUT 1 (Scott Barton) drew with United 1 (Matt Freeman) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

QUT came within five minutes of winning their first match the year, as well as claiming their first victory in 19 games, after stunning the highly favoured United outfit on their home turf.  Chasing their first victory since the corresponding Round 13 fixture last year, also against United, the Ibis got off to a dream start when Scott Barton scored his first goal of the season after 15 minutes.  QUT goalkeeper Chris Grew looked on track to record the club’s first clean sheet in their two-year existence in the top-grade competition, and claim a memorable victory after a hellish season, until Matt Freeman saved the day for United when he scored with five minutes left to play.  The goal, Freeman’s eighth of the season, could also prove to be one of his side’s most important, keeping them in touch of fifth Redcliffe Leagues and Bulimba in the race for a finals berth.  QUT’s sudden discovery of form could not have come at a better time for the club, who face varsity rivals University of Queensland in their next match.  QUT always rise to the occasion against UQ, having upsetting the Redmen’s golden start to the 2008 season by holding them to a 2-2 draw in Round 5.

Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 3 (Ryan Kilpatrick, Craig Smith, Brent Garske) defeated Bulimba 1 (Luke Paine) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths scored their first win over Bulimba in three years to keep the pressure on local rival Redcliffe Leagues for a place in this year’s finals.  The important win by the Brendale-based club, their first over the Bulls in nine matches, showed just what a full strength Saints outfit is capable of in this year’s competition.  Ryan Kilpatrick scored the only goal of the first half, taking advantage of the absence of noted Bulimba defender Mitch Baker.  With Bulimba’s Australian representative Dean Butler and Saints’ opposite Brent Garske engaged in an enticing midfield battle, the match looked evenly poised for most of its duration.  Bulimba fullback Luke Paine tied the game soon after halftime by converting a penalty stroke after teammate Liam Brown was felled in the circle, before two missed scoring chances by Saints’ Craig Richards looked like it could prove costly for his team. But two goals in three minutes - to Craig Smith, scoring from his side’s first penalty corner attempt, and Garske - saw the Saints open up a vital two-goal break with one-third of the game left to play.

POINTS:

Easts 39, Commercial 31, Labrador 26, Bulimba 22, Redcliffe Leagues 19, Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 18, United 15, Valley 9, University of Queensland 8, QUT 2.

LEADING GOAL SCORERS:

17  -  Jason Wilson (Easts)
16  -  Brad Puleosi (Labrador)
15  -  David Brain (Commercial)
13  -  James McAlpine (Redcliffe Leagues)
12  -  Tobias Figura (Valley)
11  -  Cale Cramer (Commercial)
      -  Adam McClelland (United)
10  -  Darran Bisley (Easts)
  9  -  Jarrod Black (Easts)
      -  Liam Brown (Bulimba)
      -  Duncan Mahony (Bulimba)
      -  Luke Paine (Bulimba)
      -  Ian Schulz (Redcliffe Leagues)
  8  -  Hamish Baron (University of Queensland)
      -  Tim Bates (Easts)
      -  Jacob Burns (Commercial)
      -  Matt Freeman (United)
      -  Mark Harris (Labrador)

Valley's Matt Denning pressured by Labrador's Andrew Ward (Photo
by Manfreds Photography - www.manfredphoto.com.au).

Valley's Duncan Stewart and Tobias Figura put the squeeze on Labrador's Julian Wright
(Photo by Manfreds Photography - www.manfredphoto.com.au).

Valley fullback Cameron Dunning evades Labrador's Sam Barker (Photo by Manfreds
Photography - www.manfredphoto.com.au).

Labrador's Joe Reardon takes on Valley's Duncan Stewart (Photo by Manfreds
Photography - www.manfredphoto.com.au).

Compiled by Lee Oliver.