A maiden victory for Warrack Women and a destructive second quarter display by the Horsham Hurricanes highlighted round twelve of the Wimmera hockey season.
With most of the results from this round reflecting ladder positions, there was still plenty to play for, as there are still places in the finals to be decided in all divisions over the remaining three rounds of the regular season.
- Women -
The biggest news from the round was Warrack Women’s win over a depleted Horsham Jets, their first victory in two seasons, ending a sequence of twenty-six matches since their last victory in the semi-finals in 2023.
Warrack started the stronger of the two teams, keeping the ball in their attacking half of the pitch for much of the first quarter and there were scenes of jubilation when Sam Williamson ran the ball into attack and his shot at goal as he crossed into the ‘D’ eluded the Horsham goalkeeper, scoring the first goal by a Warrack player in this grade this season. A second goal came in the shadows of quarter time when Sam Williamson again found himself with an opportunity in front of the goals and put his team two ahead at the break.
The remainder of the game was very even, with neither team gaining an advantage, with the Jets unable to reduce the lead, nor Warrack build on it.
Although Warrack is out of contention for the finals, this result makes it more difficult for the Jets to break back into the top four, now needing two more wins than the Nhill Thunderbirds in the last three rounds to qualify for the semi-finals.
Pictured above - The Warrack Women team enjoying their first victory since 2023.
The Women’s match on Friday evening started with both the Dimboola Roos and Nhill Thunderbirds sharing control of the play with several penalty corners earned by each team. It was the Roos who opened the scoring when they converted one of these penalties just before quarter time.
As the game progressed, more of the play was taking place in the Roos’ half of the pitch, which they capitalised on with two field goals in the second quarter, another in the third, while the ‘Birds were only able to breach the Roos’ defence once, just before the three-quarter time break.
The Roos then dominated the last period of play, and while being kept very busy, the determined Nhill Thunderbirds’ defence prevented any more scoring.
Roos’ striker Jennie Hauselberger continued her good season in front of goals, with three, and Ellie Baldock scored their other goal, while Nancy Rowe was Nhill’s scorer.
This win confirms second place for the Roos, while despite the loss, the Thunderbirds retained their grip on the fourth rung of the ladder.
The rivalry between Yanac and Kaniva continues to build, and in the latest instalment, it was Yanac that maintained their undefeated 2025 season with a comfortable four-goal win, with Alexis Farmers scoring twice and Erin Alexander and Imogen Hedt contributing one each.
Yanac are now just one win away from confirming the minor premiership, while despite the loss, Kaniva are still comfortably in third on the ladder, no longer able to move up, and unlikely to drop down.
Kaniva goalkeeper Briony Williams successfully repels another Yanac attempt to score.
- Open -
In the Open competition, the Horsham Hurricanes sent a message to the rest of the competition with some polished hockey, which saw them defeat the second-placed Warrack Hoops, while the Yanac Tigers recorded a win over the Kaniva Cobras. The Nhill Rangers had the bye.
The Hurricanes took on a depleted Hoops who were missing several key players, but this in no way detracted from their disciplined display, with positional play, accurate passing, and use of the width of the pitch that would challenge any team in the competition playing at their best.
In an intense start, both teams shared control of the play, and with the Hoops successfully defending the only two penalty corners in the period, the quarter-time break came with no score on the board.
The Hurricanes took control of the game with a destructive second quarter, with four goals in five minutes. Fraser Cullen converted two penalty corners, and Charles Hassall and Brett Luy scored field goals, despite several great saves by goalkeeper Madisson Bentley. Marcus Williamson replied with a goal for the Hoops late in the quarter, which was followed by their only penalty corner for the match, but they were unable to reduce the margin any further before half-time. Although this was the only period of play where the Hurricanes clearly outplayed the Hoops, it was decisive.
The second half was more even on the scoreboard, but the Hurricanes controlled the play on the field, and some solid defence by the Hoops kept the Horsham team to just one more goal, again off Cullen’s stick, in the third quarter.
The last quarter was much more even, but the Hoops were unable to make any more impression on the scoreboard and the game ended in a resounding win for the Hurricanes.
The Yanac Tigers continue rolling towards another finals series, defeating the Kaniva Cobras without thoroughly dominating the game. While the sheer number of Tigers’ attacking moves, which included fifteen penalty corners for the match, the Cobras’ defence did well to restrict the competition-leader to four goals for the game. Todd Alexander led the scoring with two goals.
These results didn’t make any changes on the ladder, although the Tigers have now done enough to confirm they will finish the season on top, and the Hurricanes remain in fourth place, but if they maintain this form, they could still move up, but no higher than third. With both teams losing, the Hoops still hold second place with a six-point advantage over the Cobras, but they need to secure some points from their last two games to maintain stay there.
- Under 16 -
The top two Under 16 teams registered wins, with the Yanac Warriors defeating the Kaniva Raiders, and Nhill Leopards having a win over the Dimboola Kangaroos, and they remain locked on points in the top two places on the ladder, separated only by goal difference.
In the other match, a win by the Warrack Revengers would have all but confirmed them a place in the finals, but the sixth-placed Horsham Bombers had other ideas and held them to a draw. The two points from this result were enough for the Revengers to move back up into third, but they are still not assured of a place in the finals.
The Bombers can no longer qualify for the finals, but they could still have a significant impact on which two of the Revengers, Raiders, and Kangaroos advance.
Round Twelve Results -
- Open -
Yanac Tigers 4 (Goals - T Alesander 2, J Honeyman, S Alexander; Best - T Alexander, B Alexander, S Alexander) defeated Kaniva Cobras 0 (Best - L Mills, A Wallis, K Glasgow)
Horsham Hurricanes 5 (Goals - F Cullen 3, C Hassall, B Luy; Best - W Gulline, J Harris, F Cullen) defeated Warrack Hoops 1 (Goal - M Williamson; Best - M Williamson, E Schilling, H Wagenknecht, B Williamson)
Bye - Nhill Rangers
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Tigers | 40 | 27
| | Warrack Hoops | 30 | 3
| | Kaniva Cobras | 24 | -10
| | Horsham Hurricanes | 20 | 5
| | Nhill Rangers | 6 | -25
|
- Women -
Yanac Women 4 (Goals - A Farmers 2, E Alexander, I Hedt; Best - E Alexander, M Mackley, A Farmers) defeated Kaniva Women 0 (Best - L Stimson, S Williams, B Williams)
Warrack Woman 2 (Goals - S Williamson 2; Best - E Williamson, S Williamson, K Williamson) defeated Horsham Jets 0 (Best - H Mackereth, A Heal, C Lawson)
Dimboola Roos 4 (Goals - J Hauselberger 3, E Baldock; Best - B McMaster, J Hauselberger, T Clark) defeated Nhill Thunderbirds 1 (Goal - N Rowe; Best - C Shurdington, K Clark, R Clark)
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Women | 48 | 63
| | Dimboola Roos | 38 | 32
| | Kaniva Women | 26 | 7
| | Nhill Thunderbirds | 16 | 17
| | Horsham Jets | 12 | -29
| | Warrack Women | 4 | -90
|
- Under 16 -
Yanac Warriors 3 (Goals - H Zanker 2, I Hedt; Best - S Pedie, A Zanker, A Pedie) defeated Kaniva Raiders 1 (Goal - F Dodson; Best - R Williams, J Beattie, F Dodson)
Warrack Revengers 1 (Goal - N Eilola; Best - E Williamson, C Peters, S Williamson) drew with Horsham Bombers 1 (Goal - H Di Pietro; Best - O Knoop, J Mackereth, H Di Pietro)
Nhill Leopards 3 (Goals - H Albrecht 2, O Bone; Best - O Bone, B Clark, B Cannell, H Albrecht) defeated Dimboola Kangaroos 0 (Best - L Hauselberger, R Hadzig, A Corbett, E Ward)
| | Pts | GD
| | Nhill Leopards | 44 | 44
| | Yanac Warriors | 44 | 28
| | Warrack Revengers | 20 | -21
| | Kaniva Raiders | 18 | -7
| | Dimboola Kangaroos | 14 | -11
| | Horsham Bombers | 4 | -33
|
- Development Program -
Kaniva Rampagers 0 v. Yanac Lowan Stars 2 (Goals - C Alexander, M Zanker)
Warrack Avengers 2 (Goals - C Peters, M Marra) v. Horsham Black Hawks 2 (Goals - L Rose, L Austin)
Dimboola Kookaburras 1 (Goal - L Hauselberger) v. Nhill Bandits 5 (Goals - M Chequer 2, H Albrecht, Z Chequer, M Sardhara)
|
