All involved in the Wimmera Hockey Association were given a reminder that hockey is a winter sport when they were greeted with damp fields at Kaniva and Yanac on Saturday morning, and when further rain fell during the day, skills were really put to the test.
No players fully mastered the conditions but some adapted their game better than others which saw the Horsham Jets score their first win for the season in the Women’s competition, and although they lost to the strong Yanac Tigers, the Nhill Rangers continue to show that they could be a force in the Open division this year.
Open
With rain falling as the first whistle sounded to start the game between the Kaniva Cobras and Warrack Hoops, neither team was able to fully utilize their signature style of play.
The Cobras base their game on long hitting whilst the Hoops reply strongly on short accurate passing, neither of which were fully effective in the slow and wet conditions.
Both teams controlled parts of the game and the lack of scoring in the first half was a true indication of the evenness of the contest. Defence dominated with the slow conditions giving the defenders time to set up to repel attacking moves at both ends of the field.
It took more than twenty minutes of play after the break before a quick run and back stick hit by Marcus Williamson resulted in a goal for the Hoops.
A further fifteen minutes of intense hockey followed, but neither team could increase their score and the Hoops recorded a one goal victory which has moved them into second place on the ladder.
A scoreless first half between the two undefeated teams in the competition suggested that the Nhill Rangers may have found a way to match the dominant Yanac Tigers, but as is often the case, the Tigers raised the pressure after the re-start and scored twice early in the second half to take the lead.
The Rangers were unable to match this scoring, but a number of spectacular saves by their goalkeeper, Murray Miller, kept the margin to just the two goals.
Neither the Dimboola Burras nor Horsham Hurricanes adapted well to the damp and slippery conditions, and whilst they played out a fierce contest, the end result was a scoreless draw.
Women
After spending much of the last decade or so towards the bottom of the Women’s division ladder, Kaniva is showing signs that they intend to spend more time towards the top this season.
This week they hosted Warracknabeal and although the damp conditions prevented the game from being a great spectacle, a very even game was played. Kaniva earned a one goal lead by half time, which they extended to three by the final whistle. Two goals were scored by Lisa Stimson and one by Hannah White.
Solid defence kept Warracknabeal in the game but they are yet to find any successful scoring options in their forward line.
Six goals before half time, including one converted penalty stroke, allowed the Yanac Women to establish a daunting lead over the Nhill Thunderbirds by half time, and a further two goals after the break gave them a solid eight goal win, firmly establishing them at the top of the Women’s ladder.
In the very damp conditions the Dimboola Roos scored first in their game against the Horsham Jets when Peta Williams scored after fifteen minutes of play, and with no more goals in the first half took this lead into the break.
Launa Schilling and Bonnie Brooks both scored for the Jets in the second half and by preventing the Roos from adding to their tally, overtook them and registered their first win for the season.
Under 16
Undaunted by taking the field with only ten players, the Kaniva Raiders started their game against the Warrack Revengers strongly and were first on the scoreboard after Max Goodwin converted a penalty corner after only seven minutes of play.
Ten minutes later Zach O’Connor scored off a penalty corner at the other end of the ground giving a one all score line at half time which was an accurate indication of a very even game.
The Revengers’ options off the interchange bench proved an advantage as the undermanned Raiders struggled to maintain the pressure in the heavy and damp conditions, although it was only in the dying minutes of the game that Ben Williamson broke the dead-lock with Warrack’s second goal.
The Raiders fought the game out right to the end, earning another penalty corner which they were unable to score from, giving the Revengers a narrow two goals to one victory.
Heath Johns and Ben Williamson controlled the forward line for the Revengers, and enjoyed support from Clarice Bennett in the mid field, and Max Goodwin continued his strong start to the season with another dominant show at centre half back for the Raiders. John Dixon was also solid at full back.
The Yanac Warriors have drawn further ahead at the top of the Under 16 ladder with a ten goal win over the Nhill Leopards, maintaining their average nine goal winning margin so far this season. This result has seen the Leopards slip to fifth on the ladder but they are still well in the hunt for a place in the top four.
The Dimboola Kangaroos team that has been struggling for players this season were unable to assemble enough for their clash with the Horsham Bombers and were forced to forfeit their game.
Under 12 Development Program
Three very close games were played out in the Under 12 Development Program, with two draws and one narrow win.
The Kaniva Rampagers and Warrack Avengers played a two all draw, as did the Yanac Lowan and Nhill Bandits, and the Horsham Black Hawks finished three goals ahead of the Dimboola Kookaburras.
Round Four Results
Open
Warrack Hoops 1 (Goal - M Williamson; Best - K Mills, R Bennett, H Wagenknecht) defeated Kaniva Cobras 0 (Best - J Bedford, L Mills, A Wallis, D Cole)
Yanac Tigers 2 (Goals - T Alexander, C Zanker; Best - S Farmers, J Cramer, T Alexander) defeated Nhill Rangers 0 (Best - Mont Miller, B Miller, Murray Miller)
Dimboola Burras 0 (Best - J Williams, T Dent, T Jorgensen) drew with Horsham Hurricanes 0 (Best - T Davey, S Hoffman, C Dodson, T Roberts)
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Tigers | 16 | 7
| | Warrack Hoops | 10 | 4
| | Nhill Rangers | 8 | -1
| | Dimboola Burras | 6 | 1
| | Horsham Hurricanes | 6 | -1
| | Kaniva Cobras | 2 | -10
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Women
Kaniva Women 3 (Goals - L Stimson 2, H White; Best - L Stimson, N Hutchins, K White) defeated Warrack Women 0 (Best - K Krahe, R McNamara, M Bentley)
Yanac Women 8 (Goals - S Hedt 2, C Beattie 2, M Farmers 2, E Alexander, A Farmers; Best - E Alexander, N Harding, C Beattie) defeated Nhill Thunderbirds 0 (Best - K Farquharson, B Cuming, E Wallace)
Horsham Jets 2 (Goals - L Schilling, B Brooks; Best - L Schilling, C Lawson, A Allen) defeated Dimboola Roos 1 (Goal - P Williams; Best - J Hauselberger, C Hadzig, E Woods)
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Women | 16 | 20
| | Kaniva Women | 12 | 4
| | Dimboola Roos | 8 | 2
| | Nhill Thunderbirds | 8 | -5
| | Horsham Jets | 4 | -7
| | Warrack Women | 0 | -14
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Under 16
Warrack Revengers 2 (Gaols - B Williamson, Z O’Connor; Best - H Johns, B Williamson, C Bennett) defeated Kaniva Raiders 1 (Goal - M Goodwin; Best - M Goodwin, J Dixon, I Williams)
Yanac Warriors 10 (Goals - J Croot 2, Caleb Zanker 2, M Farmers, C Hassall, Archie Zanker, Chloe Zanker, Asher Zanker, C Dickinson; Best - J Croot, M Farmers, A Farmers, C Hassall) defeated Nhill Leopards 0 (Best - L McBride, T Cuming, K Clark, S Allen)
Horsham Bombers (5) defeated Dimboola Kangaroos (0) by forfeit
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Warriors | 16 | 36
| | Kaniva Raiders | 12 | 5
| | Horsham Bombers | 8 | -2
| | Warrack Revengers | 8 | -12
| | Nhill Leopards | 4 | -9
| | Dimboola Kangaroos | 0 | -18
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Under 12
Kaniva Rampagers 2 (Goals - X Stimson) drew with Warrack Avengers 2 (Goals - Z O’Connor, S Williamson)
Yanac Lowan Stars 2 (Goals - Archie Zanker 2; Encouragement - L Cramer) drew with Nhill Bandits 2 (Goals - G Pohlner, O Bone)
Horsham Black Hawks 3 (Goals - A Trigg, J Schwarz, Hayley Toet) defeated Dimboola Kookaburras 0
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