Baxter’s hat trick seals the deal for Labrador
INTERNATIONAL Adam Imer and favourite son Luke Tyne returned to the Labrador line-up but Josh Baxter was the name on people’s lips at the State Hockey Centre on Saturday.
Baxter registered his first career hat-trick to help Labrador beat Bulimba 8-4 in a Brisbane Hockey League goal-fest at Colmslie. Labrador led all game, with Luca Brown and Baxter scoring for a 2-1 lead before Blake Wotherspoon struck just before halftime to give the Tigerstix a two-goal buffer at the main break.
Bulimba hit back through Louis Hassam to narrow the margin to one goal before Baxter scored twice in one minute to push Labrador out to a commanding 5-2 break.
The Bulimba side wouldn’t go away and hit back again through Cale Cramer but, as they did all game, Labrador returned serve straight away, this time through Joe Sandor.
The Gold Coast side scored two of the last three goals of the contest to wrap up a fourth straight win.
Brown finished with two goals while Sam Young also scored for the Tigerstix, which has scored at least six goals in those four victories.
In the local division one women’s league, Labrador took the honours in the 2018 grand final rematch with a 5-2 win over Burleigh.
The Roosters meanwhile cemented their spot on top of the ladder with a 6-2 win over Mudgeeraba.
In the men’s competition, Casuarina defeated Mudgeeraba 4-2, the Roosters beat Labrador by three goals and Kingscliff smashed Capri 6-0. BRISBANE HOCKEY LEAGUE LADDER P W L D 6 6 0 0 6 5 1 0 6 4 1 1 6 3 3 0 6 2 2 2 6 2 2 2 6 2 2 2 6 1 4 1 6 1 5 0
6 0 6 0 Easts Labrador St Andrews Bulimba Commercial QLD Uni Kedron Valley Redcliffe Northern 47 20 12 7 5 3 -1 -25 -35 -33 Pts 18 15 13 9 8 8 8 4 3 0