‘Remain unbeaten:’ Labrador’s lofty ambitions

After breaking a number of club records, including their biggest win and first memorial cup win, Labrador have set themselves a lofty goal for the rest of the year.

After winning the Memorial Cup last week, Labrador’s Brisbane Hockey League form looks set to continue with four key players earmarked to return to a side already full of confidence.

Adam Imer, Reece Geddes, Will Mathison will all return for the Tigerstix along with captain Joe Reardon who faces a last minute fitness test after five weeks overseas on his honeymoon.

After taking out the Memorial Cup last week with a wrath of young cubs, Imer expected Labrador would have no issues maintaining their team chemistry as they prepare to battle Pine Rivers Saint Andrews on Saturday afternoon.

Adam Imer in action for the Labrador Tigerstix. Picture supplied.

“It will be interesting to see how the players fit in,” he said.

“The players who were out last week have been around the club for several seasons we won’t have any issues with that.”

Saturday’s clash marks the beginning of the BHL’s second round of fixtures with Labrador’s opposition currently sitting seventh on the ladder.

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Imer, who returns to Labrador after spending last weekend in Cairns supporting his wife’s triathlon endeavours, said that the Tigerstix had high expectations of what they could achieve in the remaining eight rounds of competition.

“From a coaching perspective, Chook (coach Darren Fowler) would probably want us to stay unbeaten for the rest of the year,” he said.

“Our goal at the start of the year was to make the Grand Final and that hasn’t changed.

“If anything we probably have more belief now that we can.”

After only playing four BHL matches for Labrador last year due to a points cap issue, Imer said he was relishing his time back in the black and gold.

“I’m loving being back,” he said.

“I only played a few games last year so I’m loving playing week in week out and having a full season under my belt.”

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Labrador’s match against the Saints kicks off on Saturday afternoon (2:55pm) at Carina.

In the Gold Coast Hockey men’s division one competition, Kingscliff play Casuarina on Saturday followed by Labrador vs. Burleigh and Capri vs. Roosters on Sunday.

In the women’s competition, Labrador and Burleigh will face off while the roosters and Mudgeeraba will do battle.