A tied game on Friday evening was enough for Warracknabeal to secure the last place in the top four in the Wimmera Hockey Association's Women's competition, and book a place in the finals for the first time since 2009.

The teams to compete in the Open finals have also been set after the Dimboola Burras drew ahead of the Horsham Hurricanes when they defeated the Kaniva Cobras whilst the Hurricanes tried valiantly but could not stop the Yanac Tigers run towards yet another finals series.

Open

The round started on Friday evening under the lights at the Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre when the Warrack Hoops took on the inform Nhill Rangers, and in a fast flowing game the ball spent a majority of time in the Hoops' attacking half of the field, but when the Rangers wrested control they looked dangerous but could not penetrate the Warrack defence.

Five minutes into the second half a deflection by Jayden Smith got the ball past the Nhill goalkeeper to register his first goal in senior hockey, and to give the Hoops the lead, which they were able to maintain until the end of the game.

This win guarantees the Hoops a top two finish, and the second chance in the finals, which may be useful as they contemplate the daunting task of taking on the undefeated Yanac Tigers next Saturday in the last round and then again in the semi finals the following week.

More interest was focused on the two games on Saturday evening from which the Dimboola Burras have all but confirmed the last place in the Open top four when they defeated the Kaniva Cobras, and the Horsham Hurricanes went down to the dominant Yanac Tigers.

An early flurry of goals saw the Cobras take a two goals to one lead over the Dimboola Burras within the first ten minutes of the game, but the Dimboola team evened the scores in the shadows of the half time break.

A third Burras goal from a converted penalty corner ten minutes into the second half gave them the lead and with no further scoring, they took the valuable four points and their positive goal difference should be enough for them stay in fourth place regardless of the results in the last round.

The Yanac Tigers juggernaut continues to roll on with a four goals to one victory over the improving Horsham Hurricanes, who despite the loss pushed the ladder leaders for the whole game and became only the third team this year to get the ball past their goalkeeper.

Women

Very few of the current Warracknabeal Women players have experienced a senior final as it has been nine seasons since they last finished in the top four, but much hard work over the last few seasons has resulted in them finally extending their season into the semi finals for the first time since 2009.

A draw from their game with the Nhill Thunderbirds on Friday evening was enough for them to draw far enough ahead to lock in fourth place.

Kellie Farquharson goaled early in the game for the Thunderbirds and despite determined play by both sides, it took until the last two minutes of play before Deb Templeton was able to even the scores and earned Warrack the vital minimum two points they needed.

Warrack's trip to the finals was confirmed on Saturday afternoon when the Dimboola Roos scored a three goal win over Kaniva who went into the game with a very slim chance of remaining within reach of fourth place if they had registered the win.

Yanac enjoyed a week off after the Horsham Jets were unable to field a team and they forfeited their game.

Under 16

In the Under 16 competition the battle for the bragging rights of top of the ladder will go into the final round next Saturday with the leading two teams set to clash in round fifteen.

The Warrack Revengers are currently on top after drawing their game with the Nhill Leopards but they are only two points ahead of the second placed Yanac Warriors who held off a determined Horsham Bombers.

This makes the game between the Revengers and Warriors next Saturday morning the match of the round, and is also a preview of the second semi final the following week.

In a very tight game between two confirmed finalists, the Warrack Revengers scored goals through Oskar Bennett and Clarice Bennett, which was matched by Jason Reichelt and Lance McBride of the Nhill Leopards, and the Yanac Warriors kept in form with a four goal win over the Horsham Bombers.

Above - Tasha Engelbrecht of the Warrack Revengers and Jason Reichelt of the Nhill Leopards battle for control of the ball.

Nathan Colbert scored three of the Warrior's goals and Mikayla Farmers scored the fourth which took her season tally to twelve, and defenders Cade Dodson, Ben Woodhart and Lars Simmons all played well for the Bombers.

Although they are out of the race of the finals, the Dimboola Kangaroos put in an impressive performance to draw with the Kaniva Raiders after both teams scored two goals.

Logan Krelle and Lachlan Geary scored for the Kangaroos and Chloe Baker and Koby Bamford were named as their best players and it was the Raiders best player, Olivia Williams who shared the goal scoring with Nardia White.

Under 12

One draw and two one goal results highlighted the second last round of the Under 12 Development Program.

The Warrack Avengers and Nhill Bandits played out a 2 all draw, the Yanac Lowan Stars finished one goal ahead of the Horsham Black Hawks as the Dimboola Kookaburras did in their game with the Kaniva Rampagers.

This program will come to an end for this season when the last round of games will be played on the Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre turf pitch at 12.30 on Saturday afternoon.

Round Fourteen Results

Open

Warrack Hoops 1 (Goal - J Smith; Best - C Bardell, H Wagenknecht, S Schultz, J Knoop) defeated Nhill Rangers (Best - S Bone, S Vorex, L Marra, B Miller)

Dimboola Burras 3 (Goals - L Schultz 2, C Halsell; Best - T Dent, B Tischler, J Williams) defeated Kaniva Cobras 2 (Goals - L Mills; Best - C Beattie, L Mills, A Wallis)

Yanac Tigers 4 (Goals - J Harding, A Wheaton, T Alexander, S Croot; Best - B Alexander, T Alexander, S Farmers) defeated Horsham Hurricanes 1 (Goal - J Horsfall; Best - W Gulline, E Mellor, P Mackereth)

Open Ladder

   Pts      GD
Yanac Tigers 54 56
Warrack Hoops 38 19
Kaniva Cobras 26 -11
Dimboola Burras 24 4
Horsham Hurricanes      20 -18
Nhill Rangers 6 -40

Women

Warrack Women 1 (Goal - D Templeton; Best - D Rigby, A Morrow, K Krahe) drew with Nhill Thunderbirds 1 (Goal - K Farquharson; Best - K Farquharson, R Clark, E Murden)

Dimboola Roos 3 (Goals - C Finlay, K Smithyman, J Hauselberger; Best - J Hauselberger, A Baker, E Klinge) defeated Kaniva Women 0 (Best - L Stimson, H White, K White)

Yanac Women (5) defeated Horsham Jets (0) by forfeit

Women's ladder

   Pts      GD
Yanac Women 48 39
Dimboola Roos 46 25
Horsham Jets 24 0
Warrack Women 22 -19
Kaniva Women      14 -23
Nhill Thunderbirds 14 -22

Under 16

Yanac Warriors 4 (Goals - N Colbert 3, M Farmers; Best - M Farmers, N Colbert, R Croot, A Farmers) defeated Horsham Bombers 0 (Best - C Dodson, B Woodhart, L Simmons)

Warrack Revengers 2 (Goals - O Bennett, C Bennett; Best - O Bennett, H Johns, B Williamson) drew with Nhill Leopards 2 (Goals - J Reichelt, L McBride; Best - E Murden, J Reichelt, L McBride, M Reichelt)

Kaniva Raiders 2 (Goals - O Williams, N White; Best - O Williams, J Mitchell, N White) drew with Dimboola Kangaroos 2 (Goals - L Krelle, L Geary; Best - C Baker, K Bamford, L Krelle)

Under 16 Ladder

   Pts      GD
Warrack Revengers 48 23
Yanac Warriors 46 29
Nhill Leopards 36 33
Kaniva Raiders 20 -11
Dimboola Kangaroos 10 -15
Horsham Bombers      8 -59

Under 12

Yanac Lowan Stars 3 (Goals - Asher Zanker, Archie Zanker, H Pedie) defeated Horsham Black Hawks 2 (Goals - S Schwarz, J Schwarz)

Dimboola Kookaburras 2 (Goals - L Krelle 2; Encouragement Award - V Ward) defeated Kaniva Rampagers 1 (Goal - K Stimson; Encouragement Award - L Williams)

Warrack Avengers 2 (Goals - S Williamson, H Zwar) drew with Nhill Bandits 2 (Goals - V Maloney, J Clark; Encouragement Award - N Reichelt)