Kaniva opens hockey fields
Anew era for hockey will begin in Kaniva on Saturday when the west Wimmera town hosts games on a long-awaited second field for the first time.
Availability of the field has allowed the Kaniva club to host a full round of Wimmera Hockey Association games for the first time in many years.
The latest round of competition featured leading teams in all three divisions either registering victories or playing out draws to enhance finals prospects. Results also left middleof-the-table teams with only three rounds to confirm their place in the top four or to make a late challenge for a finals second chance.
A feature game of this round will be a clash between first and second on the Open division ladder, when Yanac Tigers and Warrack Hoops again do battle.
Although the result means little to either combatants’ finals prospects, both will be looking to sharpen their games leading up to another tilt at the premiership.
Nhill Rangers will be aiming to firmly claim fourth place and in the process eliminate one of the challengers for that position when they take on Horsham Hurricanes.
A win for the Rangers will make
it difficult for either Kaniva or Horsham to overtake them, while a loss will formally end their chances of a semi-final appearance.
If Kaniva Cobras can christen their new ground with a win over Dimboola Burras they can keep their diminishing finals chances alive for another week. A victory for the Dimboola team will keep it within reach of a top-two finish.
Women
In the Women’s competition, all games feature a team from the top three taking on a team from the bottom three. But outcomes might not be as clear cut as this suggests.
Although in fifth place, Horsham Jets are still close enough to snatch a place in the finals if they can win a couple of games.
This week they take on third-placed Nhill Thunderbirds and must win to be any chance to continue.
Top-ranked Yanac takes on improving Warrack Women, and although the latter team can no longer make it to finals, they have nothing to lose and could cause an upset.
The result of a match between Kaniva and Dimboola Roos could have considerable ramifications for both teams. Kaniva needs another win to assure fourth place on the ladder while Dimboola still harbours thoughts of taking the top spot from Yanac. But both need a win this week if achieving these goals are to remain possible. Results –
Dimboola Burras 1 (Goal, J. Parley; Best, T. Dent, T. Jorgensen, L. Schultz) drew with Warrack Hoops 1 (M. Williamson; S. Schultz, M. Williamson, R. Bennett); Yanac Tigers 2 (S. Alexander, C. Zanker; T. Alexander, S. Farmers, J. Cramer) d Horsham Hurricanes 0 (T. Roberts, P. Mackereth, C. Dodson); Nhill Rangers 3 (D. Reichelt, J. Reichelt, C. Hauselburger; S. Bone, J. Reichelt, L. Marra, C. Hauselburger) d Kaniva Cobras 0 (L. Mills, A. Wallis, J. Bedford, M. Goodwin).
Dimboola Roos 7 (A. King 2, P. Williams 2, J. Klinge 2, N. Kuhnell; J. Klinge, J. Hauselburger, B. Mcmaster) d Warracknabeal 0 (S. Foot, T. Engelbrecht, F. Eilola); Thunderbirds 1 (E. Murden; E. Murden, K. Farquharson, H. Cannel, E. Koop) d Kaniva 0 (O. Williams, C. Shurdington, H. White, L. Stimson); Yanac 2 (S. Shurdington, C. Beattie; M. Farmers, E. Alexander, C. Beattie) d Horsham Jets 0 (I. Gulline, L .Schilling, R. Creek).
Warrack Revengers 2 (K. Johns, B. Williamson; B. Williamson, H. Zwar, L. Eilola) d Dimboola Kangaroos 0 (T. Krelle, W. Abbott, T. Bamford); Yanac Warriors 18 (M. Farmers 6, J. Croot 3, N. Colbert 3, R. Croot 2, Chloe Zanker, Caleb Zanker, C. Hassall, Asher Zanker; M. Farmers, N. Colbert, J. Croot) d Horsham Bombers 0 (T. Batchelor, S. Foot, A. Trigg); Nhill Leopards 0 (L. Mcbride, K. Clark, T. Cuming) drew with Kaniva Raiders 0 (M. Goodwin, S. Braisby, I. Williams).