Hockey teams sharpen games
During the remaining five rounds of the regular season, leading teams in Wimmera Hockey Association will be honing their games in preparation for finals.
At the same time, middle-ranked contenders will be jostling to claim remaining places in the top four that are still up for grabs.
Round-11 games will be shared between Nhill and Kaniva venues on Saturday with a couple of middle-ofthe-table clashes over all three competitions that could go a long way to shaping final ladder positions.
Open
The feature game in Open division will be a clash between Warrack Hoops and Dimboola Burras, with the former coming off a loss at the hands of Yanac Tigers, and the latter having a confidence-boosting eight-goal win.
The Burras will find scoring more difficult in this encounter because the Hoops have conceded only six goals in their first 10 games.
They might have to rely more on skilful play than brute strength to get the ball into the goals in this game.
The Hoops will also be determined to prove they are better than their twogoal loss last week and will want to win to shore up their place at number two on the ladder. Nhill Rangers have their best opportunity to score a win this year when they take on Horsham Hurricanes.
If they can put a full side on the field they are in with a good chance.
Recent form suggests Yanac Tigers will remain unbeaten after they meet the Cobras, but the Kaniva team has nothing to lose and a good showing in this game would boost their quest for another opportunity to play off in a grand final.
Women
A game between Horsham Jets and Nhill Thunderbirds will help to shape the top four.
A win to the Jets will see them consolidate third place, but a loss could see them slip back to fifth and Thunderbirds replace them.
Last weekend, Dimboola Roos ran away with their game against Thunderbirds with a flurry of late goals, and Warrack Women pushed Yanac for the full 70 minutes. This match up is an opportunity for the Roos to prove they are deserving of their second place and Warrack needs to keep winning to stay above fifth.
Sixth-placed Kaniva Women will face a great challenge when they host the ladder leading Yanac Women but a loss will see them fall off the pace in the race for the finals.
Under-16s
After their first loss for the season last week, Yanac Warriors will look to bounce back against the in-form Kaniva Raiders, who have won their past three games.
The Raiders have the incentive of proving their recent form puts them in a position to challenge the leading teams, while the Warriors will want keep the pressure on Revengers with the aim of reclaiming top spot sometime in the next five weeks.
Horsham Bombers can keep their chances of a finals appearance alive when they take on the erratic Nhill Leopards, who have only won one game when these two teams last met in round seven.
Dimboola Kangaroos are another team that is more than capable of causing an upset or two before the end of the season, and what better challenge than taking on the leading team?
In contrast, Warrack Revengers will need to keep winning if they are to remain on top of the group of leading teams until the finals.
Results – Open: Dimboola Burras 8 (Goals, C. Halsall 4, Z. Slater-collard 3, T. Krahe; best, T. Dent, J. Lovett, B. Lovett, C. Halsall) d Nhill Rangers 0 (D. Reichelt, B. Miller, S. Bone, D. Schwarz); Yanac Tigers 2 (Shaun Alexander, B. Alexander; S. Farmers, J. Honeyman, B. Alexander) d Warrack Hoops 0 (P. Slater, D. Cosgrave, J. Dean); Kaniva Cobras 4 (D. Shalders 2, A. Hoggett, B. Jewell; L. Mills, D. Shalders, R. Wallis) d Horsham Hurricanes 0 (P. Mackereth, S. Trigg, J. Horsfall, T. Davey). Women: Dimboola Roos 5 (E. Klinge, K. Smithyman, A. King, J. Walker, B. Mcmaster; E. Klinge, N. Kuhnell, R. Lovett) d Nhill Thunderbirds 2 (E. Koop, L. Hawker; K. Farquharson, E. Koop, L. Hawker); Yanac Women 3 (E. Alexander 2, S. Hedt; S. Alexander, E. Alexander, S. Hedt) d Warrack Women 2 (D. Rigby, L. Eilola; A. Genn, A. Morrow, T. Engelbrecht); Horsham Jets 4 (E. Morrow 2, S. Robinson, L. Shanaughan; L. Schilling, S. Robinson, E. Morrow) d Kaniva Women 1 (O. Williams; O. Williams, L. Stimson, C. Shurdington). Under 16s: Nhill Leopards 1 (J. Reichelt; J. Reichelt, L. Mcbride, E. Murden) d Dimboola Kangaroos 0 (N. Krelle, K. Bamford, L. Geary); Warrack Revengers 1 (O. Bennett; O. Bennett, B. Williamson, H. Johns) d Yanac Warriors 0 (M. Farmers, H. Pedie, J. Croot); Kaniva Raiders 6 (C. White 2, H. White, N. White, E. Dixon, T. Mitchell; O. Williams, M. Goodwin, C. White) d Horsham Bombers 0 (J. Schwarz, C. Dodson, T. Batchelor).