BURLEIGH LEAVE IT LATE IN GRAND FINAL REPLAY
A FAST-finishing Burleigh have denied Labrador more bragging rights in Gold Coast men’s division 1 hockey after stealing a remarkable point from their grand final rematch.
Having fallen to the Tigerstix in last year’s title decider – the fifth-straight between the sides – Burleigh gained a small slice of revenge with a 5-5 draw at Keith Hunt Park.
Second-placed Labrador led 5-1 after 43 minutes before Burleigh hit back with two goals in four minutes early in the second half.
A Daniel Rawding strike five minutes from time then ensured a tense finale, with Matt Freeman equalising with his second goal in the last second of the game.
With Burleigh (20 points) sitting third on the ladder at the halfway point of the season, coach Col Rawding said it was a crucial result in his side’s quest to close the gap on Kingscliff (30 points) and Labrador (26 points).
“Five-all was probably a good result for us considering we didn’t play very well. Labrador did play well and would probably be disappointed with the result,” Rawding said.
“In the second half Labrador got quite a bit of an advantage by pressing our guys and got up to 5-1. We clawed our way back to 5-3 and Labrador tried to close up shop and in the last second we scored.
“Overall it’s been not our best season but two years ago, the last time we won it, we were performing the same we are now.”
In other results yesterday, Kingscliff beat Capri 8-3 and Mudgeeraba disposed of Casuarina 4-1.