Winners claim outright spot

Wimmera Hockey Association comes out of a mid-season bye this week with just six weeks of competition to play before finals are decided.

Grand finals will be hosted by Horsham Hockey Club at Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre on September 9.

Feature games at Warracknabeal’s Anzac Park this week include a top-of-the-ladder clash in the under-16 competition, where the winner of Nhill Leopards and Warrack Revengers will claim outright top position.

Another match-up between leading teams will occur in the women’s division, with top spot on the ladder going to the winner of the Dimboola Roos and Horsham Jets game.

Warrack Women have the chance to continue recent improving form when they encounter Nhill Thunderbirds, the team just above them on the ladder, and the winner between Kaniva and Yanac will consolidate its hold on third place.

In open competition, Kaniva Cobras take on undefeated Yanac Tigers and a win would take them past Warrack Hoops into outright second place. With Dimboola Burras and Horsham Hurricanes tied on points and in fourth and fifth places respectively, the winner of this game will take a big step towards a place in the finals.

Open

The top of the open division ladder has a very similar look as the past five seasons, with Yanac Tigers undefeated, closely followed by Warrack Hoops and Kaniva Cobras.

The fight for second will come down to a round 13 clash between Hoops and Cobras to decide the important second chance, and with two games between these teams split at one win each, second place is still up in the air.

Most interest will centre upon who will claim the last place in the semi-finals. Dimboola Burras have spent much of the season so far in fourth place, but Horsham Hurricanes did displace them for a couple of weeks. Even sixth-placed Nhill Rangers have shown some good form and are still in the mix for finals.

The game between the Burras and Hurricanes this week will have a significant influence on the final finishing order.

Women

With only one loss so far this season, Dimboola Roos appear destined to go into the finals in the number-one position. They meet their only serious challenger this week when they play Horsham Jets.

A win to Jets would see them draw equal with Roos but they would still have an inferior goal difference.

Kaniva Women still need to win a couple of their remaining six games to confirm a place in the finals, but their schedule should allow them to do this and qualify for a rare appearance in the final four.

Yanac, the 2014 and 2015 premier, should be able to win enough games to earn the opportunity to remain in the hunt for another grand final berth, but its clash with Nhill Thunderbirds in round 11 could define its season.

The Thunderbirds are in fifth place.

Warrack will need to break through for its first win when it plays the Thunderbirds this week if it is to keep alive its chances of rising from the bottom of the ladder.