Hoops take on Cobras
The feature game of round nine in Wimmera Hockey Association, at Nhill’s Davis Park on Saturday, will be an open-division clash between Warrack Hoops and Kaniva Cobras.
A win to Cobras would see them draw even on points with secondplaced Hoops, but a win to Hoops would see them retain an outright hold on second place on the ladder.
Horsham Hurricanes, with a tenuous hold on fourth place, will be able to judge where they stand in the competition after taking on undefeated Yanac Tigers, and the clash between Dimboola Burras and Nhill Rangers will keep one of these sides in touch with the leaders.
Although the Rangers are yet to win this season, they are a chance to change this on Saturday.
Last week, in a fierce rivalry that dates back to grand-final clashes in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, Yanac Tigers and Warrack Hoops played out another classic.
The game started at full pace and did not slow down until the final whistle.
Both teams enjoyed periods of domination, with Hoops’ precise short passing contrasting Tigers’ strong, long-hitting game.
Well coordinated defence at each end of the field kept the scoreboard empty until Yanac’s Seth Croot found a gap in Hoops’ defence and opened the scoring with five minutes left in the first half. There was more intense play after the break and it took another 20 minutes before Hoops’ Marcus Williamson evened the scores.
Five minutes later Bradley Alexander converted a short corner to put the Tigers back in front. In a frantic final 10 minutes neither team was able to breach their opponent’s defence and the game finished with a 2-1 victory to Yanac. Jayden Honeyman, Croot and Lewis Wheaton stood out for Tigers. Jordan Williamson, Hamish Wagenknecht and Simon King played well for Hoops.
Kaniva Cobras remained in touch with the top two teams after a 3-2 win over Dimboola Burras.
Jarryd Tischler put Dimboola in front with a successful shot from the top of the scoring circle, and three minutes later, Bradley Walker extended the lead with another goal.
The last 20 minutes of play was dominated by Cobras, with Lachlan Clark scoring a hat-trick, all from penalty corners, to put them in the lead and claim the win.
Clark was Kaniva’s best ahead of Duncan Shalders and Clint Beattie. Caleb Halsall, Tim Jorgensen and Lachlan Schultz were best for Dimboola.
Nhill Rangers continued to show they could push any team, scoring first through a Kellie Farquharson converted short corner against Horsham Hurricanes.
A field goal by Jarryd Bannan after half time levelled the scores but neither team was able to score again and the game finished in a draw.
Best players included Lachie Wilde, Mont Miller and Sharma Delaney for Rangers and Aaron Carter, Paul Mackereth and Bannan for Hurricanes.
Women’s division
Yanac has a chance to consolidate its place in the top four when it plays Horsham Jets this weekend, while Nhill Thunderbirds take on Dimboola.
Warrack Women have a good chance for their first win for the season against Kaniva Women. For much of the first half of their game last week, Kaniva Women matched Dimboola Roos, but late goals by Adina King and Jennifer Klinge gave Roos the lead by half time.
Meaghan Pohlner added another goal in the second half. Solid defence denied Kaniva any opportunity to score. Ashlee Baker, Pohlner and Klinge were best for Dimboola and Nyree Hutchins, Rachel Clark and Olivia Williams played well for Kaniva.
In a tight game on Saturday, Yanac Women held on for a narrow two-goal win over determined Warrack Women.
Teams shared control of the game and it was well into the second half before Shanaye Alexander scored with a solid hit from the top of the circle and Susan Hedt scored another late in the game. Hedt, Caitlyn Smith and Mikayla Famers were Yanac’s best players while defenders Alana Morrow, Tiffany Bull and Kelly Krahe were solid contributors for Warrack.
Player unavailability forced Nhill Thunderbirds to forfeit their game to Horsham Jets.
Under-16s
In under-16 competition the bottom two teams will clash, giving one of them the opportunity to stay in touch with the top four.
Dimboola Kangaroos take on Nhill Leopards and Warrack Revengers meet Kaniva Raiders in two games that will clarify the difference between the top two and the next two.
Last week Nhill Leopards stayed on top of the ladder with a nine-goal victory over Horsham Bombers.
Sharma Delaney, Matthew Reichelt, Ellie Murden and Blake Miller all scored two goals each, while Tom Roberts, Stuart Hallett, Joshua Schwarz and Harvey Mellor stood out for the Bombers.
A hat-trick by Sandon Schultz led Warrack Revengers to a 4-1 win over Yanac Warriors. Schultz, Klemm and Oskar Bennett were best for the Revengers, and Honeyman, goal-keeper Alister Dickinson, Sophie Pipkorn and Mikayla Farmers did well for the Warriors.
Dimboola Kangaroos and Kaniva Raiders played out a two-all draw with Tom Krelle, Daniel Danisch, Noah Krelle and Teo Haines best for the winners and Olivia Williams, Max Goodwin and Luke Shalders best for Raiders.