The sounds of hockey will return to Kaniva on a Saturday afternoon for the first time in nearly three years when the local club plays host to the fourth round of the Wimmera Hockey Association.

With no hockey played in the Wimmera in 2020 and with the timings of lockdowns last year forcing several attempts to play at this venue to be abandoned, no games have been played there since August 2019.

Despite being only three games into a fifteen round season, a two-win gap has already developed between the top four teams in the Open competition and the remaining two sides, giving these last teams the increasing incentive to register their first wins.

Last year’s runners-up, the Hoops, will see their clash with the Kanvia Cobras as a chance to open their account and stay in touch with the leaders, although the hosts will be keen to cement their place in the top two with a home-ground win.

If they both can field their best sides, the clash between the Dimboola Burras and Horsham Hurricanes will highlight the round. Horsham has improved their consistency this season and is establishing themselves as a serious contender for the finals, and while Dimboola’s top eleven players can be a formidable combination, the limited depth in their playing list this year has them struggling when key players are unavailable.

The winless Nhill Rangers are the next to face the daunting task of taking on the undefeated Yanac Tigers, and they are unlikely to cause an upset if the Tigers maintain their current form.

The current leader in the Women’s competition, the undefeated Kaniva, will look to maintain their perfect record when they take on Warracknabeal. While the visitors have yet to score a win this season, they have nothing to lose, so they should put up a determined showing. The other women’s game between Yanac and the Nhill Thunderbirds will see two traditional rivals and teams showing a similar level of form over recent weeks battle it out, with the prize for the winner being a place in the top four by Saturday evening.

The opening match of the round will be the meeting of the two teams in the Under 16 competition yet to register a win creating the opportunity for either the Kaniva Raiders or the Warrack Revengers to taste victory for the first time in 2022 in what should also be an entertaining match.

The Nhill Leopards will attempt to become the first team to topple the undefeated Yanac Warriors when they clash in the other Under 16 match.
Round Four Fixture

Saturday 21 May, 2022 at the Kaniva Recreation Reserve

Field One

11:00 am - Under 16 - Kaniva Raiders v Warracknabeal Revengers
12:30 pm - Under 12 Development Program
- Kaniva Rampagers v Warracknabeal Avengers
- Yanac Lowan Stars v Nhill Bandits
- Dimboola Kookaburras v Horsham Black Hawks
2:00 pm - Women - Kaniva Women v Warracknabeal Women
3:30 pm - Open - Kaniva Cobras v Warracknabeal Hoops

Field Two

11:00 am - Under 16 - Yanac Warriors v Nhill Leopards
12:30 pm - Open - Dimboola Burras v Horsham Hurricanes
2:00 pm - Open - Yanac Tigers v Nhill Rangers
3:30 pm - Women - Yanac Women v Nhill Thunderbirds

Bye - Horsham Bombers and Horsham Jets