Drawing the short straw

Tigerstix expecting backlash from league leaders

LABRADOR are preparing for a fired up Easts in today’s Brisbane Hockey League top of the table clash after the ladder leaders dropped their first competition points for the season in a 3-3 draw against Commercial last week.

Labrador beat Easts 5-3 in June’s mid-season Memorial Cup – played between the league’s top two sides – though last Saturday’s game marks the first time Easts have failed to win a regular match this term.

After going down 7-3 in their other meeting this season, Labrador coach Darren Fowler expects Easts to come out swinging.

“I think their draw might fire them up a bit more,” he said. “I went and watched and they played poorly by their standards which is probably

going to make them more determined.”

While Fowler expects a challenging contest, he is confident

that the Tigerstix can emulate their Memorial Cup performance when they were severely undermanned.

“The players are all going out there expecting to get the win if we work hard,” he said.

“Confidence isn’t the issue it’s going to be about our execution.

“It should be another close game.

“It could go either way but if we do all the right things then it should go a long way towards us winning.”

The Tigerstix will be without Dylan Wotherspoon, the Kookaburra not expected to return until Labrador’s first semi-final, while Aaron Weiss is still injured and Josh Baxter will miss due to Queensland Country duties.

Today’s match starts at 4.30pm at Easts Hockey Tiger Turf.

Tomorrow in the Gold Coast Division 1 men’s league, Kingscliff take on Burleigh in a top of the table contest, Capri play Labrador and Mudgeeraba go head to head with the Roosters.

In the women’s league, Burleigh take on Mudgeeraba while the Roosters play Capri.