The Dimboola Roos breathed new life into the Wimmera Hockey Association’s Women’s competition with a tight win over the previously undefeated Yanac, and the highlight in the Open division was Kaniva Cobras reviving their chances for a place in the finals when they recorded their first win for the season to stay in touch with the top four.
Open
The Yanac Tigers survived a strong challenge from the Dimboola Burras with a goal in the last minute of the second half to snatch a win from a game that looked to be heading for a draw.
Tim Jorgensen opened the scoring with a goal to put the Burras ahead ten minutes into the game, but Nathan Alexander levelled the scores just four minutes later and although both teams continued to create attacking moves, they remained locked together on the scoreboard at half time.
The intense hockey continued into the second half with both teams attacking but also defending well. With the Tigers looking at dropping points for the first time this season, reliable goal scorer Kim Croot moved forward from full back in a move that proved productive as he put the Tigers ahead with just seconds of play remaining.
Although the Burras did not earn any points, they have sent an ominous warning to the rest of the competition that, on their day, they can match any opponent, and although the Tigers remain undefeated, they will have to continue to play at their best if they are to stay that way.
The Kaniva Cobras have showed that after a slow start to their season, they are still in the hunt for a place in the finals after their first win for the season, at the expense of the Horsham Hurricanes.
Three goals in the first half to the Cobras set up the victory, to which they added another in the last five minutes of the game to record a strong four goal win. Lachie Mills scored one of the goals, and was named as the Cobras best player, and Tom Roberts was the best for the Hurricanes.
With a couple of significant players missing, the Nhill Rangers struggled in their game with the Warracknabeal Hoops, who had Paul Slater on fire on the forward line with half of his team’s six goals. Marcus Williamson, Oskar Bennett and Royce Bennett shared the other three goals.
The evergreen David Reichelt at full back and Murray Miller as goalkeeper kept the scoring in check, whilst Chyna Kessler had a good game, having also rated a mention amongst the best players for the Nhill Thunderbirds in an earlier game.
Slater and Williamson were joined by Sandon Schultz as the Hoops’ best players.
This result keeps the Hoops in second place on the ladder and the Rangers remain in fourth place courtesy of some good results earlier in the season, but they will have to find another win soon if they are to stay there.
Women
The rest of the competition will take great interest to the Dimboola Roos’ win over Yanac, and take heart that the reigning premiers are no longer invincible. Both teams put their best players on the field and the anticipated tough game ensued.
By half time both remained scoreless, but not for the lack of trying with Yanac earning eight penalty corners, all of which the Roos repelled thanks to some strong defending by Elizabeth Klinge.
After the break Yanac maintained the pressure with two more early penalty corners which were unsuccessful, and after around ten minutes of play the balance of the game swung towards Dimboola when they scored the first goal, off the stick of Adina King, which was added to by Jennifer Klinge five minutes later.
Yanac did not reduce their attacking pressure and a goal by Erin Alexander with ten minutes of play remaining kept them in the game, but time eventually ran out and the game finished as a two goals to one win to the Roos.
The middle of the ladder remains very even, with Kaniva taking a one all draw from their game with the Horsham Jets which keeps them in third place on the ladder, and the Jets remain in fifth place but still a threat to the top four.
Both goals in this game were scored in the first half, with Kaniva taking the early lead with a goal by Imogen Williams but this was matched by one to Carmel Lawson just before half time.
In a very even second half neither team scored, highlighted by defenders earning the title of best player for each team, with Launa Schilling for the Jets and Olivia Williams for Kaniva earning the honours.
The Nhill Thunderbirds are back in the top four after a strong win over Warracknabeal. Ten goals, including four to Kellie Farquharson and three to Ellie Murden, by the victors could not be matched by Warrack who are struggling this season to fill the gaps left by injuries and player unavailability.
Above - Leah Eilola (right) of Warracknabeal puts pressure on Chyna Kessler of the Nhill Thunderbirds during their game at Yanac on Saturday afternoon.
Not surprisingly Farquharson and Murden were Nhill’s best players, along with fellow forwards Kendra Clark and Chyna Kessler, whilst for Warrack Donna Rigby played well at centre forward, Natasha Kuchel and Ruth McNamara worked hard on the half back line and Faith Eilola on the forward line also received votes from the umpires.
Under 16
Although their current ladder position would suggest otherwise, the Dimboola Kangaroos could still exert a significant influence on the Under 16 competition this year despite coming up against the undefeated Yanac Warriors on Saturday.
The Kangaroos fought out this game right to the end, and although the Warriors won comfortably on the scoreboard with eight goals, solid goalkeeping by Logan Krelle and tireless work by fullbacks Tanisha Bamford and Tom Krelle repulsed many Warrior gaol scoring attempts to keep the final score well under double figures.
The Nhill Leopards and Warracknabeal Revengers fought out another epic encounter, with the Nhill team taking the points, but not before a very tight game which ended in a two goals one result.
An indication of the pressure applied by Revengers was that goalkeeper Kayden Rowe was named as the Leopards’ best player, along with fullback Kendra Clark and centre forward Lance McBride.
Regular top performers for the Revengers, Ben Williamson, Heath Johns and Faith Eilola once again all played well.
The Kaniva Raiders remain in second place on the ladder after a win over the Horsham Bombers.
Three goals to Max Goodwin, two to Imogen Williams and one to Jonathan Dixon made up their six goals, and these three shared the votes as the Raiders’ best players, and Serena Foot, Lars Simmons and Leo Nuske were the better players for the Bombers.
Under 12 Development Program
The Nhill Bandits won a close game against the Warrack Avengers by three goals to two, the Kaniva Rampagers scored a three goals to one win over Horsham Black Hawks, and the Yanac Lowan Stars scored four goals to the Dimboola Kookaburras’ one.
Round Six Results
Open
Warrack Hoops 6 (Goals - P Slater 3, M Williamson, O Bennett, R Bennett) defeated Nhill Rangers 0 (Best - D Reichelt, Murray Miller, C Kesler)
Kaniva Cobras 4 (Goals - L Mills, C Beattie, P Eastman, J Williams; Best - L Mills, M Goodwin, D Shalders, J Williams) defeated Horsham Jets 0 (Best - T Roberts, T Davies, J Horsfall, C Dodson)
Yanac Tigers 2 (Goals - N Alexander, K Croot; Best - N Alexander, S Farmers, A Magrath) defeated Dimboola Burras 1 (Goal - T Jorgenson; Best - T Jorgensen, Z Slater-Collard, J Tischler)
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Tigers | 24 | 13
| | Warrack Hoops | 18 | 15
| | Dimboola Burras | 10 | 4
| | Nhill Rangers | 8 | -11
| | Horsham Hurricanes | 6 | -10
| | Kaniva Cobras | 6 | -11
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Women
Nhill Thunderbirds 10 (Goals - K Farquharson 4, E Murden 3, R Clark, K Clark, C Rowe; Best - K Farquharson, E Murden, K Clark, C Kessler) defeated Warrack Women 0 (Best - D Rigby, N Kuchel, R McNamara, F Eilola)
Kaniva Women 1 (Goal - I Williams; Best - O Williams, S Williams, H Williams) drew with Horsham Jets 1 (Goal - C Lawson; Best - L Schilling, R Creek, C Lawson)
Dimboola Roos 2 (Goals - A King, J Klinge; Best - B McMaster, J Hauselburger, J Klinge) defeated Yanac 1 (Goal - E Alexander; Best - M Farmers, C Beattie, S Hedt)
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Women | 20 | 23
| | Dimboola Roos | 16 | 4
| | Kaniva Women | 14 | 0
| | Nhill Thunderbirds | 12 | 4
| | Horsham Jets | 10 | -2
| | Warrack Women | 0 | -29
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Under 16
Nhill Leopards 2 (Goals - S Allen, S Delaney; Best - K Rowe, L McBride, K Clark) defeated Warrack Revengers 1 (Goal - B Williamson; Best - B Williamson, H Johns, F Eilola)
Kaniva Raiders 6 (Goals - M Goodwin 3, I Williams 2, J Dixon; Best - M Goodwin, I Williams, J Dixon) defeated Horsham Bombers 0 (Best - S Foot, L Simmons, L Nuske)
Yanac Warriors 8 (Goals - J Croot 2, H Pedie 2, R Croot, N Colbert, C Hassall, Chloe Zanker; Best - J Croot, M Farmers, Chloe Zanker) defeated Dimboola Kangaroos 0 (Best - T Bamford, L Krelle, T Krelle)
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Warriors | 24 | 48
| | Kaniva Raiders | 16 | 7
| | Nhill Leopards | 12 | -3
| | Warrack Revengers | 12 | -10
| | Horsham Bombers | 8 | -11
| | Dimboola Kangaroos | 0 | -31
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Under 12 Development Program
Nhill Bandits 3 (Goals - V Maloney 3) defeated Warrack Avengers 2 (Z O’Connor, E Williamson)
Kaniva Rampagers 3 (Goals - C White, X Stimson, L Williams; Encouragement Award - L Williams) defeated Horsham Black Hawks 1 (Goal - H Toet)
Yanac Lowan Stars 4 (Goals - S Pedie 2, Archie Zanker, A Trenery; Encouragement Award - H Zanker) defeated Dimboola Kookaburras 1 (Goal - J Ward)
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