The fourth round of the 2017 Wimmera Hockey Association season presented some unpredicted results, with two teams earning their first points for the year, but the leading teams also continued their dominance in each division.
The Kaniva and Warracknabeal Open and Women's teams opened the round with two games on Friday evening at the Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre, and the remining games were contested at the same venue on Saturday.
Open
The Open competition ladder is taking on a familiar look with the Yanac Tigers and Warrack Hoops occupying the top two places, followed by the Kaniva Cobras and Dimboola Burras, with the Horsham Hurricanes and Nhill Rangers both just outside the top four.
This has been the final team positions for the last couple of years, and current form suggests this season may end with more of the same, although with the Nhill Rangers earning their first points for the season the opportunity is there for the lower teams to challenge the pace setters.
The reward for the victors in the Friday evening clash between the Kaniva Cobras and Warrack Hoops was outright second place on the ladder, as both teams went into the game on the two wins from their first three games.
Both teams play the artificial surface at Dimboola well despite contrasting game styles, and they put on an exceptional display of hockey.
The Hoops took control of the game early with their short passing game penetrating the Cobras half back line to set up opportunities to score, but when they gained possession the Cobras used their big hitting game effectively to transfer the ball into their attacking zone.
This resulted in a fast paced game and it was a passage of play following a short corner that resulted in a Cameron Bardell goal that opened the scoring for the Hoops, 24 minutes into the game.
This lead was maintained into the second half, but during a ten minute period of play mid-way through the second half the Cobras lifted and had multiple scoring attempts, but through a combination of solid defence by the Hoops and some unfortunate luck they were unable to find the goals.
Another goal by Bardell in the dying minutes of the game stretched the winning margin to two, but this was not a true indication of how close this game was.
With a majority of the play in the Cobras defensive half it was not surprising that all of their better played came from the back line, with half back Duncan Shalders nominated as their best, with strong support from Lachie Mills and full backs Jaden Hendy and Josh Bedford.
Half back Todd Krahe was best for the Hoops with full back Simon King and forward Marcus Williamson also getting a mention.
Despite struggling for players, the Nhill Rangers showed some of their potential on Saturday evening with a fighting come-from-behind draw with the Dimboola Burras to earn their first points for the season.
Lachlan Schultz scored early in the first half to put the Burras ahead, and in the even play that followed it looked like this may have been enough to win the game, but an equalising goal by Dakarai Delaney during the second half evened the scores and neither team was able to score again, leaving the result as a draw.
This still leaves the Rangers on the bottom of the ladder, but they have signalled to the rest of the competition that they are not to be taken lightly as they have the potential to cause some upsets.
Defenders Sam Bone and David Reichelt were the best for the Rangers, and James Keating and Schultz shone for the Burras.
In the last game on Saturday the Yanac Tigers were clinical in their five goal win over the Horsham Hurricanes.
The Horsham team had no answer to the Tigers' quick and accurate passing and disciplined positional play. Seth Croot with two goals and Josh Cramer, Kim Croot and Bradley Alexander with one each shared the spoils for the victors. Seth Croot was names as the best player for the Tigers and Darren Schwarz was the stand out player for the Hurricanes.
Women
The Dimboola Roos are yet to be defeated this season and sit comfortably a game and a half clear on top of the ladder but it is the rare presence of the Kaniva Women in second place that is the talking point of this division.
Kaniva strengthened their place in the top four with a close two goal win over the Warrack Women in the opening game of the round on Friday evening.
In a hard fought match both teams set up opportunities in their attacking half but it was Kaniva who found the goals first, establishing a one goal lead by half time which they extended to two goals with a score less than a minute from full time.
This result has the Kaniva Women comfortably in the top three, and leaves Warracknabeal winless after four games, but with the tenacity they showed in this game, their first victory cannot be too far away.
The evenness of the play showed with midfielder Nyree Hutchins and forwards Jemima Bothe and Lisa Stimson named the best players for Kaniva, and Teagan Roche and Kelly Krahe on the forward line and full back Cassandra Schilling the leading players for Warracknabeal.
Above - Nyree Hutchins (left) of Kaniva and Donna Robinson of Warracknabeal contest the ball
After only four games, the Dimboola Women have established a six point lead at the top of the ladder and it is hard to see which opponent is going to bridge this gap this year.
On this occasion it was the Nhill Thunderbirds who made a valiant attempt to stop them but despite a hat trick of goals by Kellie Farquharson they still finished two gaols short of the Roos' tally of five.
The goals for Dimboola were shared between five different players, and midfielder Rebecca Lovett was nominated as their best player.
As the Thunderbird's only goal scorer, Farquharson was named as her team's best player, but it was defenders Leah Hawker, Mary-ann Lovera and goalkeeper Erin Wallace who made up the rest of their better players.
After a slow start to the season, the Yanac Women are beginning to move up the ladder after a one goal win over the Horsham Jets on Saturday.
A goal to Carmel Beattie mid-way through the first half was the only score during an otherwise very even game as neither forward line could breach their opponent's defence again, but this was enough for Yanac to take the points. Susan Hedt and Louise Bone along with Beattie played well for Yanac and Launa Schilling and Sophie Robinson stood out for the Jets.
Under 16
A gap is developing between the top three and bottom three teams on the Under 16 ladder. The Nhill Leopards are undefeated on top with 16 points, six ahead of both the Warrack Revengers and Dimboola Kangaroos who in turn are six points ahead of the remaining three teams.
The Leopards continued their winning streak with victory over their closest rival, although the Kangaroos were not disgraced by the 4 goals to 2 score line.
With ten minutes of play remaining the scores were locked at 2 goals each, and it was only two goals in the last six minutes by Nhill that broke the deadlock.
Blake Miller scored two goals and was judged the best player for the Leopards, and Koby Bamford was best for the Kangaroos.
After a comfortable six goal win over the Kaniva Raiders, the Warrack Revengers have climbed to second place on the Under 16 ladder, with a superior goal difference moving them ahead of the Dimboola Kangaroos.
Neither team could field a full side and it was Revenger centre half back Oskar Bennett who used the extra space this provided to finish with three goals and a best on ground nomination, whist Olivia Williams played equally well in the same position for the Raiders.
A breakthrough win by the Horsham Bombers now has them equal on points with the fourth placed Yanac Warriors which highlights how even the teams fighting for the lower places in the top four are.
Play in the first half was very even, but a sharp cross from the base line allowed Serena Foot to score and give the Bombers the lead by half time.
After the break Thomas Bachelor scored twice and a goal by Josh Schwarz stretched the lead to four whilst they were able to keep the Warriors scoreless.
Batchelor and Foot were the better players for the winning team, and Jasper Croot, Hannah Honeyman and Mikayla Farmers played well for the Warriors.
Under 12
The popular of the Under 12 competition, which is only in its second season, continues to provide an opportunity for primary school aged children to experience the sport against players of their own age.
The Yanac club has always had a strong focus on encouraging junior players, and this is showing in the results achieved by their Under 12 team. The Lowan Stars defeated the Horsham Blackhawks on Saturday but a very even game was highlighted by disciplined positional play.
The Dimboola Kookaburras had a comfortable win over the Nhill Bandits and the Kaniva Rampagers, bolstered with a number of spare opposition players, earned a win over Warracknabeal.
2017 Junior Country Championships
Next week all local competitions have a bye whilst three representative teams travel to Melbourne for the Junior Country Championships next Saturday and Sunday. Local teams will compete in the Girls Under 17, Boys Under 17 and Boys Under 15 divisions.
The Wimmera Hockey Association competition will resume on Saturday the 27th of May with a full round of matches played at Yanac.
Round Four Results -
Open
Warrack Hoops 2 (Goals - C Bardell 2; Best - T Krahe, S King, M Williamson) defeated Kaniva Cobras 0 (Best - D Shalders, L Mills, J Hendy, J Bedford)
Nhill Rangers 1 (Goal - D Delaney; Best - S Bone, D Reichelt, B Miller) drew with Dimboola Burras 1 (Goal - L Schultz; Best - J Keating, L Schultz, N Krelle)
Yanac Tigers 5 (Goals - S Croot 2, K Croot, J Cramer, B Alexander; Best - S Croot, T Alexander, L Wheaton) defeated Horsham Hurricanes 0 (Best - D Schwarz, J Bannan, B Clark)
Open Ladder
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Tigers | 16 | 10
| | Warrack Hoops | 12 | 6
| | Kaniva Cobras | 8 | -1
| | Dimboola Burras | 6 | -1
| | Horsham Hurricanes | 4 | -6
| | Nhill Rangers | 2 | -8
|
Women
Kaniva Women 2 (Goals - N Hutchins, L Stimson; Best - N Hutchins, J Bothe, L Stimson) defeated Warrack Women 0 (Best - T Roche, K Krahe, C Schilling)
Dimboola Roos 5 (Goals - E Klinge, B McMaster, A King, M Pohlner, J Klinge; Best - R Lovett, J Klinge, E Klinge, B McMaster) defeated Nhill Thunderbirds 3 (Goals - K Farquharson 3; Best - K Farquharson, L Hawker, E Wallace, M Lovera)
Yanac Women 1 (Goal - C Beattie; Best - S Hedt, L Bone, C Beattie) defeated Horsham Jets 0 (Best - L Schilling, S Robinson, K Guest)
Women's Ladder
| | Pts | GD
| | Dimboola Roos | 16 | 6
| | Kaniva Women | 10 | 2
| | Yanac Women | 10 | 0
| | Horsham Jets | 8 | 5
| | Nhill Thunderbirds | 4 | -1
| | Warrack Women | 0 | -12
|
Under 16
Warrack Revengers 6 (Goals - O Bennett 3, L Klemm, C Eilola, M Butcher; Best - O Bennett, L Klemm, B Williamson, M Butcher) defeated Kaniva Raiders 0 (Best - O Williams, K Clark, M Goodwin, D Clark)
Nhill Leopards 4 (Goals - B Miller 2, S Delaney, M Delaney; Best - B Miller, J Reichelt, E Murden) defeated Dimboola Kangaroos 2 (Goals - B Walker, L Geary; Best - K Bamford, D Danisch, T Haines)
Horsham Bombers 4 (Goals - T Barchelor 2, J Schwarz, S Foot; Best - T Batchelor, S Foot, S Hallett) defeated Yanac Warriors 0 (Best - J Croot, H Honeyman, M Farmers)
Under 16 Ladder
| | Pts | GD
| | Nhill Leopards | 16 | 15
| | Warrack Revengers | 10 | 10
| | Dimboola Kangaroos | 10 | 3
| | Yanac Warriors | 4 | -6
| | Kaniva Raiders | 4 | -10
| | Horsham Bombers | 4 | -12 |
Under 12
Kaniva Rampagers 3 (Goals - C White, B Williams, S Williamson; Best - B Williams) defeated Warracknabeal 0 (Best - J Goodwin)
Yanac Lowan Stars 4 (Goals - C Zanker 2, A Zanker, H Pedie) defeated Horsham Blackhawks 1 (Goal - O Nuske)
Dimboola Kookaburras 8 (Goals - M Hughes 5, L Krelle 2, R Simpson; Best - M Hughes) defeated Nhill Bandits 0
Under 12 Ladder
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Lowan Stars | 12 | 7
| | Kaniva Rampagers | 10 | 3
| | Horsham Blackhawks | 10 | -1
| | Dimboola Kookaburras | 8 | 4
| | Nhill Bandits | 8 | -4
| | Warracnabeal | 0 | -9
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