LIVESTREAM: BHA finals live from the State Hockey Centre

Easts scored a sensational shoot out victory over Commercial, while Pine Rivers St Andrews beat Bulimba in BHA Div 1 semi-finals livestreamed today. WATCH THE REPLAYS.

Easts scored a sensational shoot out victory over Commercial, while Pine Rivers St Andrews beat Bulimba in BHA Div 1 semi-finals livestreamed today.

Saturday’s finals today continue the www.courermail.com.au extensive coverage of hockey after recent coverage of BWHA finals, juniors and Masters finals’ action.

RELATED LINKS

Watch replays of all four BWHA senior grand finals

Watch replays of the BWHA Masters grand final

Watch replays of the under 18 boys Div 1 finals

Div 1 men's hockey semi-finals. Saints Vs Bulimba Saints player Liam Hart with the ball. Saturday October 10, 2020 Picture, John Gass

PINE RIVERS ST ANDREWS V BULIMBA

Pine Rivers St Andrews were alive and well in the Division 1 BHA’s premiership pursuit after a 4-1 victory this afternoon over Bulimba.

Saints now progress to play the winner of game two today which features Commercial and Easts.

Bulimba player Trot Cooper looks for a player. Saturday October 10, 2020 Picture, John Gass

Bulimba bow out of the grand final race for 2020.

Saints coach Andrew May said effort and desire to win for each other were key to the win.

The side was also consistent across all four quarters and did not appear to have any great dips in performance.

Saints player Liam DeYoung comes out of defense. Saturday October 10, 2020 Picture, John Gass

“We were fairly consistent and we had a fairly open game plan,’’ May said.

“Guys have a fairly free range about how they go about their game, so that gives them a bit of freedom.’’

Bulimba’s Reilly Newberry scored. Saturday October 10, 2020 Picture, John Gass

It was a frenetic start to the match, with four goals coming in hot conditions during the first half.

Saints, through young gun Liam Hart, opened the scoring but then Reilly Newberry struck back for Bulimba on the stroke of the first quarter siren with a stunning effort to level the scores.

Bulimba player Isaac Layton. Saturday October 10, 2020 Picture, John Gass

But the second quarter belonged to Saints who extended its lead to 3-1 after Max Harding and another rising star, Zac Profke, found the back of the net.

Pine Rivers St Andrews would have extended their advantage just after halftime had Bulimba keeper Chris Dick not made a superb save lunging to his right.

Saints player Zac Day with the ball. Saturday October 10, 2020 Picture, John Gass

Bulimba then had a succession of chances through a penalty shot and a couple of corners, but Saints’ defence held.

Then, with four minutes remaining in the third quarter, Saints Profke hammered home his second goal and Pine Rivers St Andrews had a down payement on victory, leading 4-1.

Bulimba’s last throw of the dice probably came seven minutes from time when Saints were able to defend a penalty corner.

Commercial player Rye Hawgood. Saturday October 10, 2020 Picture, John Gass

EASTS V COMMERCIAL

Easts overcame the loss of captain-coach Mark Knowles to score a sensational shoot out victory over Commercial late today.

With the scores locked at 1-all at fulltime, Easts goalie Casey Lee twice saved one-on-ones to give his side victory.

It was drama after drama as Easts levelled the scores through Arin Doig after Commercial had led for most of the match.

The injured Mark Knowles rallies his Easts' team

Adding to the theatre was the sight of Knowles, the great Australian and Olympic champion, watching his team from the sidelines with a punctured lung and a broken collarbone after withdrawing from the clash following a Thursday night training injry.

Easts will now play Pine Rivers St Andrews next weekend, while Commerical will take on Labrador.

Div 1 men's hockey semi-finals. Commercial Vs Easts. Commercial player Jared Taylor. Saturday October 10, 2020 Picture, John Gass

“My biggest concern at the start was that our defensive intensity was poor,’’ Knowles said.

“Commercial were just way too good in that first quarter. They picked us to pieces.’’

Knowles said he needed more out of his team after the first quarter and was pleased to see his team creating chances.

He said when it came to a shoot out situation, it was difficult for both keeper and striker.

“That is a really hard skill, eight seconds, one on one, because guys get confused whether you hit, do you spin, do you fore stick, back stick,’’ he said.

Commercial player Jarrod Carseldine. Saturday October 10, 2020 Picture, John Gass

“I think the biggest thing for the guys is when you get on the line, you have to be ready to score, not ready to miss.’’

It was a great, tense final.

Easts almost scored on the stroke of halftime, but a cross missed two advancing team mates.

Indeed the head of Easts Tyler Spry ended up in the goals, so committed was he to try and reach the cross as he extended himself to dive head first toward the ball.

Commercial had opened the scoring in the first quarter courtesy of Jared Taylor via a penalty corner.

Commercial then held that 1-nil advantage for the remainder of the half.

Bulimba player Michael Francis in action. Saturday October 10, 2020 Picture, John Gass

THE PREVIEW

A glittering array of talent will grace the State Hockey Centre, featuring:

Pine Rivers St Andrews

Andrew Butturini (Ex QLD Blades)

Max Harding (Ex National Futures, Qld 21s)

Liam Hart (Australian Futures Squad, Qld 21s)

Zac Profke (Australian Futures Squad)

Liam de Young (ex-Australian Kookaburras)

Josh Mynott (ex-Queensland Blades)

Bulimba

Jayden Atkinson (Australian Futures Squad, Qld 21s)

Troy Cooper (Australian Country)

Harrison Farrell (Ex Junior Australian Squad – Burras, Qld 21s)

Michael Francis (Junior Australian Squad – Burras, Qld Blades, Qld 21s)

Luke Randle (Australian Futures Squad)

Jun Sugio (Ex National Futures, Qld 21s)

Michael Doan will be an important player for Easts.

Easts

Scott Boyde (Brisbane Blaze, QLD Blades)

Michael Doan (Australian Futures Squad, Qld 21s)

James Easton (Qld 21s)

Troy Elder (ex Kookaburra)

David Hubbard (Australian Futures Squad, Qld 21s)

Mark Knowles(ex Kookaburra captain)

Hugh Pembroke (Brisbane Blaze, QLD Blades, Aus Development Squad)

Matthew Pembroke (Brisbane Blaze, QLD Blades)

Kane Posselt (Ex QLD Blades)

Will Prest (Qld 21s)

Matthew Shaw (Ex QLD Blades)

Tyler Spry (Qld 21s)

Mackenzie Warn (Ex National Futures)

Commercial

Matthew Finn (Brisbane Blaze, QLD Blades)

Shane Kenny (Brisbane Blaze, QLD Blades)

Jared Taylor (Brisbane Blaze, QLD Blades)

Ian Schulz (ex-Queensland Blades)

Liam Hart in action. Picture: Andrew Blanchard

Bulimba will take winning form into the clash, having beaten Saints 3-nil during the previous encounter earlier in the season.

In the previous games this season between Commercial and Easts, there was a 2-all draw and a 3-nil win by Easts.

Some key facts:

- Commercial and Easts have met in the finals eight times in the past 10 years (four wins each)

- Easts beat Commercial 4-0 in their last finals meeting in 2018

- Commercial and Easts have played each other once this season - Easts won 3-0 in Round 6

- Jacob Webber (Easts) recently scored his 300th career goal. He has scored four goals in his past three games against Commercial

- Jared Taylor (Commercial) has scored nine goals in his past four games

Commercial's Jared Taylor in action against Easts. Photo by Andrew Blanchard.

- Pine Rivers St Andrews and Bulimba have played each other once this season - Bulimba won 3-0 in Round 1

- This weekend’s game will be the first time in nine years the teams have met in a final - Pine Rivers St Andrews beat Bulimba 5-0 in 2011

- Pine Rivers St Andrews and Bulimba bring erratic form into the finals: both teams won just two of their last six games

- Bulimba and Pine Rivers St Andrews both lost to ninth-placed Norths in the past month

- Bulimba has lost only one of eight games this year when Isaac Layton has scored a goal

RELATED LINKS

Watch replays of the junior girls grand finals

Mark Knowles on playing 300 games for Australia

LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE

OCTOBER 10

BHA senior men’s division 1 semi-finals

2.30pm: Pine Rivers St Andrews v Bulimba

4pm: Easts v Commercial

OCTOBER 17

BHA senior men’s division 1 preliminary finals

OCTOBER 24

BHA senior men’s division 1 grand finals

PINE RIVERS ST ANDREWS v BULIMBA

The teams:

Pine Rivers St Andrews

1. Josh Mynott, 2. Max Harding, 3. Luke Reddiex, 4. Regan Weatherhead, 5. Mitchell Bolton, 6. Andrew Butterini, 7. Thomas Madden, 8. Zac Profke, 9. Nathan Case, 10 Liam Hart, 11. Paul Hubbard, 12. Shaun Smith, 13. Mark Wilcox, 14, Liam DeYoung, 15. Zac Day, 16. Tom Woodley

Bulimba

1. Chris Dick, 2. Corey Hale, 3. Matt Frazer, 4. Isaac Layton, 5. Nicholaas Smith, 6. Jun Sugio, 7. Reilly Newberry, 8. Joshua Nicol, 9. Troy Cooper, 10. Harrison Farrell, 11. Louis Hassum, 12. Alistair Mais, 13. Michael Francis, 14. Liam Moller, 15. Jack Martin, 16. Ryley Stevens

COMMERCIAL v EASTS

Easts

1. Scott Boyde, 2. James Easton, 3. Casey Lee, 4. Matt Shaw 5. Mackenzie Warne, 6. Will Prest, 7. Matt Pembroke, 8. Tyler Spry, 9. Michael Doan, 10. Arin Doig, 11. David Hubbard, 12. Jacob Webber, 13. Hugh Pembroke, 14. Zac McCoombes, 15. Oliver Roberts, 16. Mark Knowles

Commercial

1. Matthew Finn, 2. Shane Kenny, 3. Will Padman, 4. Jared Taylor, 5. Paul Comerford, 6. Matthew Hough, 7. Kye Hawgood, 8. Ian Schulz, 9. Joel Torrisi 10. Jared Carseldine, 11. James Hawley 12. Bryce Morley, 13. Matt Lagerroth, 14. Cooper Cabot, 15. Caleb McCoombes, 16. Jay Pavitt