Penultimate hockey round awaits
Teams will gather in Dimboola on Saturday for the penultimate round of Wimmera Hockey Association’s regular season.
Although finals are not far away, there are still several matches that will have significant outcomes.
In the open competition, Kaniva Cobras need to inflict the Yanac Tigers’ first defeat of the season if they are to ensure they remain second on the ladder going into the finals.
The Tigers play the artificial turf at Dimboola well, and their 2022 record speaks for itself. But even if they do not win, the Cobras need a solid performance to preserve their good goal difference.
The Cobras are one win ahead of the challengers for their place on the ladder, the Warrack Hoops, so a win will maintain this margin. A narrow loss would also maintain their position due to a superior goal difference.
However, the Hoops, who come off a loss to the Tigers, need to defeat Horsham Hurricanes, who enjoyed an eight-goal win last week, if they are to make a late challenge to take over second place.
If all Saturday results reflect current ladder positions, we will be in for a big round-15 next week, with the second chance in the finals still on the line when the Cobras and Hoops face each other. In the third open match, the bottom two teams, Dimboola Burras and Nhill Rangers meet.
Pride is the only thing on the line here, with Rangers out of the running for the finals and the Burras only a distant outside chance, needing an unlikely series of other favourable results for them to scrape into fourth place.
Meanwhile, Kaniva and Yanac are the two in-form teams in the women’s competition and have already put on two enthralling matches this season.
With them already locked in to meet in the second semi-final, the psychological advantage from a good performance this week will be more significant than the numbers on the scorecard.
Horsham Jets will look to build on their victory against Nhill when they take on Warracknabeal, who are still looking for their first win. Nhill Thunderbirds have the bye before embarking on their assault on the finals.
The most interest in the under-16 competition will be in the game between third-placed Horsham Bombers and fourth-placed Warrack Revengers, who will meet again in the semi-finals. Both need to find some form if they are to make a serious challenge in the finals.
The undefeated Yanac Warriors should be too strong for the very young Kaniva Raiders, but that does not mean they won’t put on a fun display of hockey.
Round 13 results — Open: Kaniva Cobras 3 (Goals: B. Miller, M. Goodwin, J. Bedford; best, M. Goodwin, J. Clark, J. Dixon) d Dimboola Burras 1 (B. Tischler; T. Jorgensen, B. Tischler, D. Danisch). Yanac Tigers 4 (S. Famers, A. Trenery, S. Alexander, T. Alexander; S. Farmers, T. Alexander, R. Croot) d Warracknabeal Hoops 0 (H. Wagenknecht, H. Johns, R. Brown). Horsham Hurricanes 8 (J. Horsfall 2, W. Gulline 2, B. Woodhart, S. Hallett, P. Mackereth, M. Goodwin; T. Leffler, S. Hallett, W. Gulline) d Nhill Rangers 0 (D. Reichelt, K. Rowe, L. Marra). Women: Horsham Jets 4 (A. Heal 3, E. Morrow; E. Morrow, A. Morrow, L. Schilling) d Nhill Thunderbirds 1 (S. Keller; C. Rowe, C. Kessler, K. Clark). Yanac Women 4 (M. Farmers 2, E. Alexander, C. Smith; E. Alexander, M. Farmers, L. Farmers) d Warracknabeal Women 0 (B. Mcmaster, F. Eilola, D. Templeton). Under 16: Yanac Warriors 8 (R. Croot 4, L. Farmers 2, H. Pedie, Archie Zanker; R. Croot, L. Farmers, H. Pedie) d Warracknabeal Revengers 0 (L. Nuske, O. Nuske, Z. O’connor). Nhill Leopards 4 (I. Deckert 2, J. Clark, A. Albrecht; I. Deckert, J. Clark, D. Clark) d Horsham Bombers 1 (H. Knoop; best, C. Blake, J. Toet, A. Heal). Under-12 development program: Horsham Black Hawks 3 (H. Toet, L. Rose, D. Toet; encouragement award, M. Carman-taylor, T. Holland) v Nhill Bandits 0 (Encouragement award, H. Albrecht, S. Albrecht). Dimboola Kookaburras 1 (J. Ward; encouragement award, R. Wallace, C. Elliott, L. Elliott) v Kaniva Rampagers 5 (J. Toet 2, J. Beattie, C. Champness, L. Elliott; encouragement award, J. Beattie). Yanac Lowan Stars 3 (A. Pedie, E. Alexander, A. Zanker) v Warracknabeal Avengers 4 (S. Williamson 3, M. Bentley; encouragement award, M. Bentley).