The final results were not the most important thing to come out of the latest round of the Wimmera Hockey Association’s 2021 winter season when compared to the opportunity to get back on the field after three weekends of no sport and enjoy time with teammates and opponents in the friendly atmosphere that is the hallmark of this competition.
Despite this, there were several significant outcomes in the context of the season and the quest for the premiership.
In the Open division, the Horsham Hurricanes announced that they are far from a spent force this year with an impressive display to register their first win for 2021, and the Under 16 Kaniva Raiders kept alive their dream of a place in the finals with their first victory.
Open -
The game that was seen as the match of the round was between the undefeated Yanac Tigers and the improving Nhill Rangers, and it lived up to all expectations. Although the Tigers finished the game with their undefeated record intact, they had to endure some fierce pressure from the Rangers.
It was only late in an otherwise very even first half that they registered their first goal, and while they did score twice more after the break, they were pushed by a determined Rangers team who got one goal before the final whistle.
Brad Alexander once again featured amongst the Tigers’ best, alongside Nathan Colbert, and Jason Reichelt and Hamish Pearse stood out for the Rangers.
Despite their current position outside the top four, the Kaniva Cobras remain a serious threat to any team in the competition, and on Saturday they matched the second-placed Warrack Hoops for the full seventy minutes of their game.
These teams have contrasting playing styles, with the Cobras plan based around long solid hitting, and the Hoops rely on shorter passing and possession, but they cancelled each other on this occasion and the game finished as a scoreless draw.
Both teams feature players enjoying some rich form, with Cobra Clint Beattie and Hoop Cameron Bardell having attracted the umpires’ attention for all the right reasons in every game so far this season, including on Saturday.
Above - Sandon Schultz of the Hoops (left) and Beau Lovett of the Cobras focus on the ball with Royce Bennett (rear left) and Paul Slater looking on.
After several narrow defeats, the Horsham Hurricanes finally broke through for their first win, which came at the expense of the Dimboola Burras and was a satisfying response to their big loss to this opponent back in round four.
The Hurricanes took full advantage when the Burras were unable to put their best team on the field, and they had five individual goal scorers, while their defenders kept the Burras scoreless.
Will Gulline, Paul Mackereth, and Traiyth Leffler all played well for the Hurricanes, and Daniel Danisch was a solid force in the midfield for the Burras, with support from Brett Tischler and Lee Marra.
Women -
Yanac Women showed the depth of their playing squad with seven individual goal scorers in their match against the Nhill Thunderbirds, although the scoreline did not convey the pressure that the Nhill team applied to the reigning premiers.
The best players for the winners included Carmel Beattie and Louise Bone, and Jennie Hauselburger and Kellie Farquharson dominated for the Thunderbirds.
The Horsham Jets firmed their grip on fourth place on the Women’s ladder with a solid win over the Dimboola Roos, which now places them a game and a half ahead of this opponent.
The Jets took the lead in the first half courtesy of a goal by Sue Puls, who added another to her tally soon after the start of the second half. Ellie Morrow also contributed one goal to establish the three-goal winning margin.
Tasha Engelbrecht was named as the Roos’ best player, ahead of Ameilia Rintoule and Lisa Stimson, and for the victors, Morrow and Robyn Creek, in her first game back from injury, were the better players.
Under 16 -
The Kaniva Raiders moved into the top four for the first time this season after they registered their first win, at the expense of the Warrack Revengers.
Charlie White and Xavier Stimson scored three goals each, and Leah Eilola was the sole scorer for the Revengers.
Four goals to Rourkey Croot, two to Asher Zanker and one to Archie Zanker made up the seven goals that the Yanac Warriors scored to defeat the Nhill Leopards, who only found the goals once, off the stick of Issac Deckert.
Croot was named as the Warriors’ best, and Kendra Clark was best for the Leopards.
Wimmera Hockey Associaiton | Round Eight Results -
Open -
Yanac Tigers 3 (Goals - K Croot, N Colbert, J Cramer; Best - B Alexander, N Colbert, C Hassall) defeated Nhill Rangers 1 (Goal - B Miller; Best - J Reichelt, H Pearse, B Miller)
Kaniva Cobras 0 (Best - C Beattie, A Wallis, L Mills) drew with Warrack Hoops 0 (Best - C Bardell, P Slater, S Schultz)
Horsham Hurricanes 5 (Goals - T Lefler, W Gulline, J Mills, P Mackereth, T Batchelor; Best - W Gulline, P Mackereth, T Lefler) defeated Dimboola Burras 0 (Best - D Danisch, B Tischler, L Marra)
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Tigers | 24 | 16
| | Warrack Hoops | 16 | 2
| | Nhill Rangers | 10 | -2
| | Dimboola Burras | 10 | -3
| | Kaniva Cobras | 8 | -4
| | Horsham Hurricanes | 4 | -9
|
Women -
Horsham Jets 3 (Goals - S Puls 2, E Morrow; Best - E Morrow, R Creek, L Schilling) defeated Dimboola Roos 0 (Best - T Engelbrecht, A Rintoule, L Simson)
Yanac Women 7 (Goals - A Farmers, M Farmers, E Alexander, L Bone, C Beattie, C Dickinson, S Croot; Best - C Beattie, L Bone, S Shurdington) defeated Nhill Thunderbirds 0 (Best - J Hauselberger, K Farquharson, E Murden)
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Women | 22 | 26
| | Kaniva Women | 16 | 8
| | Nhill Thunderbirds | 10 | -4
| | Horsham Jets | 10 | -5
| | Dimboola Roos | 2 | -25
|
Under 16 -
Yanac Warriors 7 (Goals - R Croot 4, Asher Zanker, Archie Zanker; Best - R Croot, H Pedie, A Farmers) defeated Nhill Leopards 1 (Goal - I Deckert; Best - K Clark, D Clark, C Rowe)
Kaniva Raiders 6 (Goals - C White 3, X Stimson 3; Best - C White, X Stimson, L Krelle) defeated Warrack Revengers 1 (Goal - L Eilola; Best - L Eilola, K Johns, C Bennett)
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Warriors | 22 | 26
| | Horsham Bombers | 16 | 2
| | Nhill Leopards | 10 | 3
| | Kaniva Raiders | 6 | -11
| | Warrack Revengers | 6 | -20
|
Under 12 Development Program -
Horsham Black Hawks 5 (Goals - J Schwarz 2, J Mills, R Clarke, J Di Pietro; Encouragement Award - R Clark) v. Dimboola Kookaburras 1 (Goal - J Ward)
Nhill Bandits 3 (Goals - E Woodward 2, C Bone; Encouragement Award - E Woodward, C Bone) v. Yanac Lowan Stars 1 (Goal - L Cramer)
Kaniva Rampagers 1 (Goal - H Dickinson; Encouragement Award -O Curtis) v. Warrack Avengers 3 (Goals - Diani Nel 2, R Bish; Encouragement Award - C Slater)
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