Round 4:- Minor Competition
MEN
Saturday
Hepburn Park, Goonellabah
2.55 p.m. Alstonville v Kingscliff
5.45 p.m. East Lismore v Labrador

Barry Smith Field, Murwillumbah
1:00 p.m. Waratahs v Ballina
2.25 p.m. Redbacks v Northern Star
3:50 p.m. United v Coraki
Bye Mullumbimby

Sunday
Hunt Park, Labrador
11.30 a.m. Mudgeeraba v Capri
1:00 p.m. Burleigh v Casuarina

Consolidtion Round

Round four Men's J.H.Williams Premier Hockey League action is going to be one of consolidation for most teams. With the format running over seven rounds there is very little leeway for team's serious about making the finals. And without Allstars in 2008 has created a bye in pool two making it extra hard for those teams.

Steve Law's Alstonville team will be keen to put some points on the board when they meet Kingscliff at 2:55 p.m.. While still competitive Alstonville have failed to seize their opportunities presented to them. Lachlan McKendrick and Chris Woolner certainly give Law some exceptional support through the midfield. And it is easy to see a number of the other players following this lead.

But as East's found out, Kingscliff are not a side to take lightly even on the road. Keeper Kelvin Gordon was a revelation last time at Goonellabah with a sublime performance in goals. Henry Prichard seized the breakdown well and coordinated the midfield with aplomb. So much so that his young players stepped up another gear to take their first points of the year.

Raymond Rodda's East Lismore have a similar match on their hands hosting Labrador at Hepburn Park at 5:45 p.m.. Still struggling to make the most of their abilities and resources East's start their matches at a frenetic pace. And with Mat Rodda, Matt Curry and Anthony Moss in good form it's hard to understand why they give up so many goals to their opposition.

And while Labrador has a development side in the JHWPHL their last round win at home against Redbacks showed they have more than a little ability. Craig Moore is the midfield organiser with young Chris Gilmour and Chris Littlejohn is able lieutenants giving them plenty of offensive penetration.

At Murwillumbah Waratah's host Ballina in what is sure to be one of the most interesting matches there. Stung by recent run of poor form Tony Meldrum's side is more than keen to turn their fortunes around. With Mitchell Harley and Daniel Riley setting an excellent standard it's only a matter of time until the seasiders get the ship back on course. And Ballina are leaving no stone unturned in a search for that allusive ingredient.

With Queensland country player Tim Willis at the helm Waratah's are hard to handle at the best of times, but at home it's tough to bet against them. James Walker's controlled through the midfield and Mitch Paron's defence in goals make them an awesome challenge.

Next on the program has Redbacks hosting Northern Star 2:25 p.m.. Star have been in breath-taking form and are yet to drop a point in the competition. Thomas Vantaggiato and James Harmon have found a good balance in the midfield allowing Star the latitude required to take the points. And Star are only getting better with every match.

Redbacks on the other hand are a bit like Alstonville with some excellent performances across the field. Dylan Wotherspoon and Jake Farrell especially are growing from strength to strength. But they're finding it hard to consolidate their resources consistently enough to take the points.

In the last of the triple header United host the rampant Coraki side at 3:50 p.m.. From all reports Chris Stuart's side still have any amount of ability across the paddock, but like so many other sides in this competition you only have to blink and the match has escaped you.

However Adrian McGrath's side is likely to add to United's horror run with the Royal blues in some splendid form. With Ben Moss in such freakish good form and his younger brother named in the side Coraki are only adding to their strengths.

In a local derby on the Gold Coast, Capri and Mudgeeraba face off at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow (Sunday). In local competition Capri has shown they have the edge. But little separates the teams. Capri have been sharper in front of goal's and even more productive from the midfield forward.

However coach Paul Gasmire is happy with Mudgee's recent performance and as they have shown anything is possible in the day.

And in the last match this round the rampant Burleigh side host Casuarina at 1 p.m.. Ben Chiu, Tony Mahoney and Marion Wuntke lead an awesome team who are only getting stronger in this competition. And presently they haven't lost a match certainly seizing the dark horse tag in the race towards the finals. Casuarina on the other hand have ability and depth to their team, but they're struggling to get the same team on the paddock each week.

Mullumbimby have the bye.

Pointscore
Pool 1: Burleigh 7 (+5), Coraki 7(+3), Waratahs 6(+5)*, Mudgeeraba 3(+1), Casuarina 3(-6), Ballina 3(-4), Capri 3(+4)*, United 0(-8) (*Match in hand).
Pool 2: Northern Star 9 (+6), Mullumbimby 6(+5), East Lismore 3(-3), Kingscliff 3(0)#, Labrador 3(-1)#, Redbacks 1(-1)#, Alstonville 1(-6).(# Bye)

WOMEN - Round 4:-Minor Competition
Friday
Barry Smith Field, Murwillumbah
7.00 p.m. Mullumbimby v Kingscliff

Saturday
Hepburn Park, Goonellabah
1:30 p.m. Ballina v Casuarina
4.20 p.m. East Lismore v Glee

Sunday
Hunt Park, Labrador
2.30 p.m. Griffith v Northern Star
4:00 p.m. United v Labrador
Bye Mudgeeraba
Bye Waratah's
Bye Alstonville

Labrador To Struggle on Road

In this week's Women's J. H. Williams Premier hockey league action teams are given the opportunity to establish a strong position. The current point score in either pool is way too close to call with so many rounds left play.

With Ballina meeting Casuarina at 1.30pm, the loss of captain Alison Porter through injury is certainly a blow to this wonderful Ballina side. And with Porter in such outstanding form this may lead to a chink in Ballina's armour. Amanda Moss and Sally Baldry continue to give Ballina plenty of drive and go forward. At home Casuarina will have to be on their guard.

With no less than three current Queensland country players Deb Dolan , Hope Miller and Hannah Rafferty in the lineup Casuarina have the ability to take out any team on the day. But apart from the current crop ex-Australian and now veteran goalscoring wizz Kim Tuckwell is in some scintillating form in front of the goals. Their biggest barrier it appears is only a matter of getting the same team on the paddock each week to seize more points. Distance may be there enemy this week.

Kate Baird, Brooke Colby and Sophie Rodda have really stepped up to give East Lismore a much stronger and more decisive look to their team. But they are going to have to be at their best in their match against Glee at 4:20 p.m.. And while their current results fail to flatter them, it is only a matter of time before they get the benefit from all of their hard work.

And after having one of the slowest starts to any season Glee are starting to get some forward momentum to their season. Cassie Douglas, and now Queensland country players Kim Chappell and Nicole Danvers give Glee every opportunity in attack.

Glee had the attacking strength and East's have the best midfield. The question is "who is going to make the most of their strengths? ".

At Murwillumbah, Mullumbimby and Kingscliff meet in the local derby. Mullum have been in awesome form of late, however with Chappell and Danvers playing for Glee this weekend will leave a chink in attacking armour. But as allways Jo Tunstall and Alicia Harvey will fill the breach with strong performances.

Lorrelle Morrisey and Sam Stanford are still capable of 'putting the cat among the pigeons' as they help Kingscliff rebuild. Not without any ability Kingscliff overcome Mudgeeraba recently showing they haven't lost their ability to put it together.

On the Gold Coast tomorrow (Sunday) Griffith host Northern Star at 2.30p.m.. Griffith's mixed bag of results is showing that they have lost a little bit of their early-season momentum. However at home they are a much tougher proposition as Ballina previously found out. And Griffith's ability to score goals will be put to the test against one of the better defensive sides.

Star, on the other hand have the added load of being on the road which will test their resolve. Tracey Makings will be looking to Amanda West to give her plenty of support searching for the younger players to attack. ' Keeper Erin McKenzie, and Leanne Albertini will certainly have their hands full in this game.

In the last match of this round Labrador host United at 4 p.m.. At home Labrador have lost none of their matches and look a much, much stronger team. With the availability of most of Labrador's stars, United will have to be on their best performance to stay in the match. But in the heat of the match Claire Jackson and Laura Shillito are some of the cool heads that keep Labrador moving forward.

Kelly Roatz, Stan Johnston and Sam Wyborn have all been firing giving United a number of opportunities. But like so many other teams in the competition maintaining consistency has been the hardest barrier to overcome. United certainly need the points from this match, but it is hard to see Labrador being that generous.

Pointscore
Pool 1: Waratahs 6(+3)#, Glee 4(+5)#, Mullumbimby 4(+2)#, Kingscliff 3(-2)#, Mudgeeraba 0(-4)#, East Lismore 0(-3)#.

Pool 2: Labrador 5(+2), Casuarina 4(+5)#, Ballina 4(0), Griffith 4(-1), United 3(-1)#, Northern Star 2(0)#, Alstonville 0(-5). (# Bye)

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Jim Challenor - BHMS (Ex Sci)

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