Labrador's Mark Harris beats Redcliffe Leagues' Ian Schulz
(Photo by Manfreds Photography - www.manfredphoto.com.au).

Labrador's Andrew Ward and Redcliffe Leagues' Martyn Somers get physical in the circle
(Photo by Manfreds Photography - www.manfredphoto.com.au).

BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE - ROUND 15

United 4 (Matt Freeman 2, Brendan Merry, Adam McClelland) defeated University of Queensland 2 (Hamish Baron, Murray Wenzel) at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

Three quick goals to United’s leading scorers Matt Freeman and Adam McClelland has helped their side keep alive its hopes of a finals berth with a come-from-behind win in a fiery clash against University.  The team had drawn 3-3 in their two previous clashes and looked set to produce another close and intense clash when University’s Hamish Baron scored in the 30th minute to cancel out Brendan Merry’s strike.  University took the lead eight minutes after halftime when Murray Wenzel cleaned up the scraps from a penalty corner.  But United, who had come from behind to deny University victory in their two previous meetings, did the same again with two goals in four minutes.  First Freeman scored and then McClelland volleyed in a rebound off the pads of University goalkeeper Adam Dinsdale, from Freeman’s shot, to give United a 3-2 lead with 15 minutes left.  Two minutes later Freeman had his second goal, with United’s immodest celebrations leading to friction between the sides.  Both teams finished the game with 10 players after McClelland and University’s Greg Collins received yellow cards for clashing soon after.

Easts 7 (Jason Wilson 3, Jarrod Black, Treva Mills, George Clutton, Jacob Webber) defeated Bulimba 3 (Kyle Richardson, Luke Paine, Dean Butler) at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Jason Wilson has extended his lead at the top of the Brisbane Hockey League goal scorers list after scoring three times in his side’s 7-3 win against Bulimba.  The Queensland Blades star, who was recently named in the Australian Under-21 squad, scored two of Easts’ three first half goals from penalty corners to help set up the Tigers’ 15th straight win of the season.  Wilson’s second three goal haul from his past two matches took him to 21 goals for the season, five ahead of Labrador’s Brad Puleosi and Commercial’s David Brain.  While they are still yet to beat or draw with a top three opponent this season, the Bulls gave evidence they are still a premiership threat, keeping Easts scoreless for 22 minutes and trailing the Tigers just 3-2 at halftime, thanks to goals to Kyle Richardson and Luke Paine.  However, Easts scored four more goals - to Wilson, Jarrod Black, Treva Mills and George Clutton - to run away with the match in the second half.  The seven goals conceded to Easts was the most goals Bulimba has had scored against them since the Tigers beat them 7-1 in Round 2, 2004.

Commercial 14 (Adam Barry 3, Chris Beale 2, Wayne Barry 2, Jacob Burns 2, Jason Greene, Cale Kramer, Tom Brough, Ian Baker, Kye Hawgood) defeated QUT 0 at the State Hockey Centre, Colmslie.

Defending premiers Commercial continue to give QUT nightmares, topping the 10-goal mark against the bottom-placed students for the fourth straight match with a 14-0 win.  The Cobras, who had beaten the Ibis 10-0, 11-1 and 10-0 in three previous meetings over the past two seasons, looked capable of posting a football score against QUT at halftime, leading 9-0 at the break.  Commercial shared around the scoring against their totally outclassed opponents, registering nine different goal scorers in their massive win.  Fullback Adam Barry scored a hat-trick of goals for Commercial, while his brother Wayne, who registered three goals of his own the previous week against Redcliffe Leagues, hit the back of the net twice against the Ibis.  Chris Beale and Jacob Burns also scored doubles, while five other Commercial players scored one goal each.  The heavy loss takes QUT’s goals conceded tally to 109, seven more than the total goals they let in during their debut season in the first division competition last year. 

Redcliffe Leagues 3 (Shane Kenny, James McAlpine, Kent Harle) defeated Labrador 2 (Mark Harris, Tom Kavanagh) at Keith Hunt Park, Labrador.

Redcliffe Leagues scored its most vital victory of the season when they maintained their unblemished record against Labrador.  The match was a must win clash for the peninsula side, who sat outside the finals positions in sixth place heading into their road trip to the Gold Coast.  The baysiders responded positively to having their season on the line, coming out strong early to lead 3-0 at halftime, before holding off a late charge from the home side to score their fourth win from as many matches against the Tigerstix.  Shane Kenny continued his recent run of form in front of goal by scoring for Redcliffe Leagues, while team stalwart Kent Harle and the side’s leading goal James McAlpine also got on the score sheet.  Labrador, who could have jumped four points clear of fourth-placed Bulimba with a win over Redcliffe Leagues, fought back in the second half but ultimately ran out of time.  Mark Harris scored his 10th goal of the season to get Labrador on the scoreboard, before a goal to Tom Kavanagh with four minutes left to play gave Labrador a sniff of victory.

Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 6 (Brent Garske 3, Ryan Gibbs, Craig Smith, Ryan Kilpatrick) defeated Valley 0 at Burringbar Park, Chermside.

A hat-trick of goals to Toowoomba import Brent Garske helped Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths keep their finals ambitions on track with a six-goal win over a severely depleted Valley side.  The Saints scored three goals in each half against Valley, who were missing a large portion of their regular starting line-up, including leading goal scorer Tobias Figura, fellow key forward Duncan Stewart, goalkeeper David Watts and fullback Matt Denning.  The Saints scored first inside five minutes when Ryan Gibbs skilfully weaved through the Valley defence in the circle.  Ten minutes later Garske scored from a penalty corner, after earlier spraying a shot over the top of an empty goal net.  Craig Smith scored against his former club to give Saints their 3-0 halftime lead, before two goals soon after the break - to Ryan Kilpatrick and Garske - sealed the result with 25 minutes left.  To their credit the spirited Valley outfit didn’t capitulate, with fullback Alex Dayz and forward Brayden O’Callaghan producing good performances.  Garske scored his third goal of the game 10 minutes from fulltime - his eighth goal from five appearances for the Saints.
 

POINTS:

Easts 45, Commercial 37, Labrador 26, Bulimba 25, Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths 24, Redcliffe Leagues 22, United 18, University of Queensland 11, Valley 9, QUT 2.

LEADING GOAL SCORERS:

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

United's Belema Dede stretches out.

United's Shane Cowling shadowed by University's Kieran Powyer.

Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths' Andrew Richards takes on Valley goalkeeper Peter Hampton.

Pine Rivers St Andrews-Norths' Brent Garske tries to beat Valley's Alex Dayz.

Compiled by Lee Oliver.