Hockey attention now at Dimboola
Wimmera Hockey Association action will be at Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre, starting with two games on Friday and the remaining 10 on Saturday.
Both encounters on Friday could be danger games for the higher-ranked teams.
In a women’s division match Horsham Jets will take on Warrack Women.
The Jets lost last week and will now need to keep winning if they are to maintain their place in the top two and earn a second chance in the finals.
Warrack Women’s most recent effort was to give top-placed Dimboola Roos a scare.
The second Friday night match will be an open clash between third-placed Warrack Hoops and fifth-placed Horsham Hurricanes. The Hoops will look to continue their form, while the Hurricanes have the incentive that they can still make the finals.
Women
On Saturday, Dimboola Roos will have to find their best form to again beat the team they defeated in the grand final last season – Yanac.
Yanac is returning to the form that took it to the last game in 2016.
The Roos struggled last week, but were also missing regular players, so this should be a tight game.
Nhill Thunderbirds have one more chance to keep their dream of making finals alive when they take on Kaniva Women. A loss will put them 16 points behind Kaniva, and with only three games remaining after this round, they would not have the opportunity to bridge the gap.
Kaniva will also be keen for a good showing as a win would guarantee it a rare finals appearance.
Last week Kaniva hosted a shorthanded Horsham Jets and took full advantage, recording a 3-1 victory.
Jemima Bothe opened the scoring for Kaniva early, but Carmel Mcfarlane of Jets evened the scores late in the half. Olivia Williams took back the lead for Kaniva just before the break and another goal to Kaniva’s Rachel Clark extended the lead.
Sigourney and Olivia Williams were best players for Kaniva along with Nyree Hutchins, and Sophie Robinson continued her good season for the Jets. Ashley Fogarty and Robyn Creek also played well.
Warrack Women looked set to record a significant upset when they led topplaced Dimboola Roos at Yanac.
It was 15 minutes into the game when Alana Morrow scored for Warrack. Her team was able to preserve this lead until Vicki Smithyman evened scores late in the second half.
Desperate defence at both ends of the field stopped many scoring attempts and with a draw looking imminent, the Roos earned a short corner late in the game. When this penalty was played out after the final whistle, Cara Hadzig and Elizabeth Klinge combined to score and salvage full points. Jennifer Klinge, Brooke Mcmaster and Rebekah Albrecht stood out for the Roos and Morrow, Kelly Krahe and full back Tiffany Bull were best for Warrack.
Nhill Thunderbirds relied on junior players in their second game for the day and two borrowed players to make up a full side.
Yanac Women had little trouble win- ning their encounter by two goals. Best on ground Louise Bone scored one of Yanac’s goals and Ellen Wheaton scored the other. For the Thunderbirds, Sami Crowhurst, Emily Koop and Ellie Murden were standouts.
Open
In open company, a close game should unfold between Kaniva Cobras and Nhill Rangers, with the latter team more than capable of causing an upset.
After defeating Hoops two weeks ago, a Rangers win would keep their chances of a finals appearance alive.
The Cobras have shown patchy form, with their best good enough to match Yanac Tigers, but they have also struggled in games against lesser opponents.
Dimboola Burras have an opportunity to assess where they are in the competition when they take on the Tigers, who can claim yet another minor premiership with a win.
The Burras have not yet confirmed a place in the finals.
Last week, Horsham Hurricanes demonstrated they were far from a spent force by pushing second-placed Kaniva Cobras, losing by a goal scored in the last minute of the game.
A scoreless first half contrasted with three goals after the break, which started when Sophie Robinson put the Hurricanes ahead, which was matched by Lachlan Clark 10 minutes later.
The game appeared destined for a draw until Duncan Shalders scored for the Cobras. Clark, Dave Cole and Shalders were the best players for the victors and defender Brydon Tischler, goalkeeper Joel Wilkosz and forward William Gulline played well for Hurricanes.
A more disciplined Hoops team took to the Kaniva field to take on Dimboola Burras. They came out with the points for the first time in a month.
After establishing a one-goal lead through Ethan Schilling, the Hoops built on this when Cameron Bardell trapped an aerial pass from Marcus Williamson and scored. Barry Schilling scored a third goal late in the game to confirm the win.
Bardell, Williamson and Sandon Schultz earned best-player votes for Hoops and Brett Tischler, Jack Lovett and Beau Lovett stood out for Burras.
Yanac Tigers had little trouble earning four points from their game with the Nhill Rangers.
Despite solid defence by the Nhill back line, they were not able to hold off the relentless Tigers attack, which produced five goals scored by five separate players.
Simon Farmers controlled the midfield and earned the accolade of best on the field for the Tigers.
Mont and Blake Miller and goalkeeper Murray Miller were best players for the Rangers.