Damp conditions under threatening skies presented a challenge for players and officials at Warracknabeal on Saturday for round thirteen of the Wimmera Hockey Association season, and with some teams adapting better than others, some spirited matches were played.
- Open -
The Kaniva Cobras moved to outright second on the Open ladder after a solid win over the Dimboola Burras and their closest rival for that position, the Warrack Hoops, lost to the Yanac Tigers.
The Cobras’ three goal victory moved them one win ahead of the Hoops, but with two matches remaining, one against the undefeated Tigers and a last-round meeting with the Hoops, they are not yet assured of finishing in second place.
The all-conquering Tigers showed their versatility by adapting well to the heavy conditions to overcome the Hoops, and as an ominous display of their versatility, they had four individual goal scorers while keeping the home team scoreless for the first time in five rounds. The Hoops remain within reach of the second spot but must win both of their remaining games.
In the other Open match, the Horsham Hurricanes had a confidence-boosting win over the Nhill Rangers, with six players contributing to their eight-goal tally, and unless they suffer a dramatic loss of form combined with an unlikely sequence of other results, this should be enough to see them play finals this year.
- Women -
Despite a last-minute line-up change due to an injury in the previous game, the Warrack Women still put in a good performance in their loss to Yanac, who scored once in each of the first two quarters to establish a two-goal lead at halftime. Some effective defence in the third quarter prevented any scoring, but the last period of play yielded two more Yanac goals to set the final margin at four.
This win is important for Yanac as they prepare for their next encounter against the ladder-leading Kaniva in what has already been locked in as a preview of the second semi-final. Many observers might predict this could also be a grand final preview.
The Horsham Jets firmed their grip on third place with a win over the Nhill Thunderbirds. In an even start to the game, both teams had scored by the mid-point of the second quarter, but another Jets goal just before halftime gave them the advantage at the long break.
The second half began with some very even play, and it was well into the last quarter before the Jets scored again, and the fourth of their successful scoring shots came in the final two minutes of the game.
This result had no bearing on the finals, as these two teams had already confirmed they will meet again in the first semi-final, but it was a good workout for them as they both have only one match remaining, along with a bye, before the finals.
- Under 16 -
The top two teams in the Under 16 division enjoyed wins, with the Yanac Warriors defeating the Warrack Revengers and the Nhill Leopards overcoming the Horsham Bombers, while the Kaniva Raiders had the bye.
Wimmera Hockey Association – Round Thirteen Results
Open -
Kaniva Cobras 3 (Goals - B Miller, M Goodwin, J Bedford; Best - M Goodwin, J Clark, J Dixon) defeated Dimboola Burras 1 (Goal - B Tischler; Best - T Jorgensen, B Tischler, D Danisch)
Yanac Tigers 4 (Goals - S Famers, A Trenery, S Alexander, T Alexander; Best - S Farmers, T Alexander, R Croot) defeated Warracknabeal Hoops 0 (Best - H Wagenknecht, H Johns, R Brown)
Horsham Hurricanes 8 (Goals - J Horsfall 2, W Gulline 2, B Woodhart, S Hallett, P Mackereth, M Goodwin; Best - T Leffler, S Hallett, W Gulline) defeated Nhill Rangers 0 (Best - D Reichelt, K Rowe, L Marra)
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Tigers | 52 | 46
| | Kaniva Cobras | 34 | 17
| | Warrack Hoops | 30 | 8
| | Horsham Hurricanes | 24 | 2
| | Dimboola Burras | 16 | -24
| | Nhill Rangers | 0 | -49
|
Women -
Horsham Jets 4 (Goals - A Heal 3, E Morrow; Best - E Morrow, A Morrow, L Schilling) defeated Nhill Thunderbirds 1 (Goal - S Keller; Best - C Rowe, C Kessler, K Clark)
Yanac Women 4 (Goals - M Farmers 2, E Alexander, C Smith; Best - E Alexander, M Farmers, L Farmers) defeated Warracknabeal Women 0 (Best - B McMaster, F Eilola, D Templeton)
| | Pts | GD
| | Kaniva Women | 42 | 27
| | Yanac Women | 34 | 12
| | Horsham Jets | 26 | -3
| | Nhill Thunderbirds | 20 | -14
| | Warrack Women | 8 | -22
|
- Under 16 -
Yanac Warriors 8 (Goals - R Croot 4, L Farmers 2, H Pedie, Archie Zanker; Best - R Croot, L Farmers, H Pedie) defeated Warracknabeal Revengers 0 (Best - L Nuske, O Nuske, Z O’Connor)
Nhill Leopards 4 (Goals - I Deckert 2, J Clark, A Albrecht; Best - I Deckert, J Clark, D Clark) defeated Horsham Bombers 1 (Goal - H Knoop; Best - C Blake, J Toet, A Heal)
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Warriors | 46 | 61
| | Nhill Leopards | 36 | 13
| | Horsham Bombers | 22 | 6
| | Warrack Revengers | 16 | -44
| | Kaniva Raiders | 10 | -36
|
- Under 12 Development Program -
Horsham Black Hawks 3 (Goals - H Toet, L Rose, D Toet; Encouragement Award - M Carman-Taylor, T Holland) v. Nhill Bandits 0 (Encouragement Award - H Albrecht, S Albrecht)
Dimboola Kookaburras 1 (Goal - J Ward; Encouragement Award - R Wallace, C Elliott, L Elliott) v. Kaniva Rampagers 5 (Goals - J Toet 2, J Beattie, C Champness, L Elliott; Encouragement Award - J Beattie)
Yanac Lowan Stars 3 (Goals - A Pedie, E Alexander, A Zanker) v. Warracknabeal Avengers 4 (Goals - S Williamson 3, M Bentley; Encouragement Award - M Bentley)
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