Ideal conditions greeted players at Davis Park in Nhill on Saturday for round three of the Wimmera Hockey Association winter season and with many teams missing some regular players, most of the games finished closer than recent form may have predicted.
Open
The feature game of the day was the first clash for the season between the combatants from the 2016 Open division grand final and the Yanac Tigers and Warrack Hoops always put on a good show and they did not disappoint on this occasion.
The game started at a brisk pace from the first whistle and did not slow down for the next 70 minutes of play.
The Tigers did most of the attacking in the first fifteen minutes and topped this off with a penalty stroke conversion by Bradley Alexander to take the lead and when Josh Cramer scored a second goal from a penalty corner a few minutes later they had established what would prove to be a match winning lead.
From this point on the control of the game fluctuated between the two teams and although there was no further scoring, the Hoops proved that they could match the reigning premiers, but will have to work on their goal conversion before they meet again later in the season.
Before Saturday neither the Horsham Hurricanes nor Nhill Rangers had tasted victory in 2017, and it was the Hurricanes who earned their first points with a three goal win on this occasion.
Jarryd Bannan opened the scoring with a field goal nine minutes into the game and Tim Hunt added another four minutes later when he converted a short corner, which established a two goal lead by half time.
Despite some spirited defence by the Rangers, Bannan converted another short corner 21 minutes into the second half to give the Hurricanes the win, which puts them equal on points and goal difference with the fourth placed Dimboola Burras and it is only a small difference in their percentage that has them just outside the top four.
The Dimboola Burras and the Kaniva Cobras took full advantage of the quick field by playing a very fast paced game with both teams setting up opportunities to score but the nippy attacking moves were all repelled by solid defence.
The deadlock was broken 20 minutes into the second half when Clint Beattie found the back of the net, and this proved to be enough for the Cobras to take the win, and firmly establish themselves in the top four.
Women
The Dimboola Roos remain undefeated on top of the ladder after they slowed the Kaniva Women's impressive start to the season with a two goals to one win.
Both teams were missing many of their regular players but they still managed to put on an entertaining display of hockey and it was regular goal scorer Kelly Smithyman and borrowed player Ellie Murden who scored the goals for the Roos, whilst Lisa Stimson scored the lone goal for Kaniva.
There was only one goal between the Yanac and Warracknabeal Women after the full 70 minutes of play although both teams created good passages of play and numerous opportunities to score. Solid defences at each end of the field prevented any scoring until Erin Alexander found the goals with only 15 minutes remaining in the game to put Yanac ahead, and Warrack was unable to match this.
Sophie Robinson opened the scoring for the Horsham Jets only minutes before half time to give her team the lead at the break, and after dominating play for a 15 minute period mid-way thought the second half, Claire Bernett doubled the lead.
Above - Sandi Semmler playing for the Nhill Thunderbirds and Claire Barnett of the Horsham Jets run to make position on Saturday during their game on Saturday.
The Nhill Thunderbirds increased their intensity after this second goal and three minutes from full time this paid off with a goal to Deb Cook, and they then earned a last minute short corner just before the final whistle, but they were unable to convert to even the scores.
This was a very even game which was reflected in the final score line.
Under 16
The Nhill Leopards have signalled an ominous warning to the rest of the Under 16 competition with a nine goals to one win over the Horsham Bombers. Blake Miller and Ellie Murden scored three goals each and three of their team mates scored single goals each.
One significant positive for the Bombers was their ability to become the only team so far this season to breach the strong and well-disciplined Leopard's defensive line when Stuart Hallett scored soon after the resumption of play after half time.
A victory over the Kaniva Raiders, who were grand finalists in 2016, has the Dimboola Kangaroos sitting only half a game behind the Leopards at the top of the ladder.
Both teams play a very fast brand of hockey and pass the ball quickly around the whole field so it was no surprise that this was another high scoring game, with a total of 8 goals scored.
The Kangaroos' captain Daniel Danisch scored three goals himself, and Teo Haines and Chloe Baker scored one each to make up their team's total of five whilst Tyson Mitchell scored two and Luke Shalders one of the Raiders' three.
The Warrack Revengers and Yanac Warriors played out a nil-all draw after a very even game where neither team could break through the opposition back lines and score. Regular better players for the Revengers, Sandon Schultz, Royce Bennett and Lachlan Hicks played well as did Mikalya Farmers, Jasper Croot and Caleb Zanker for the Warriors.
Under 12s
The Horsham Blackhawks and the Nhill Bandits both remain undefeated after they played out a one all draw on Saturday, and the Dimboola Kookaburras scored their first win when the narrowly defeated the Kaniva Rampagers.
The Warracknabeal Under 12s remain without a win, but their first will not be too far away after they came close on Saturday when they finished only one goal behind the Yanac Lowan Stars.
Round Four Preview
The action for the fourth round of the 2017 Wimmera Hockey Association season returns to the Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre with the Horsham club as the host this weekend.
The first game on Friday evening hits off at 7.00 pm and features the surging Kaniva Women taking on the struggling Warrack Women. Both of these teams suffered one goal losses last week but if they can each put a full team on the field, a close game should result. Kaniva will be looking to continue their rare run of form which has them in an unaccustomed position in the top four whilst Warrack are desperately looking for their first win for the season and will view this opponent as their
The Warrack Hoops and the Kaniva Cobras are both on eight points each on the Open ladder in second and third places respectively and with outright title to the second place on the ladder on offer this should be a tight game.
Both teams play the artificial surface at Dimboola well and the players will relish the opportunity to let their skills determine the result without too much influence from an irregular surface which is often the case when playing on grass.
On Saturday morning two of the leading Under 16 teams will open proceedings, but after a nine goal win last weekend, the Nhill Leopards will go into the game favourites ahead of the Dimboola Kangaroos who have improved significantly since last season.
On their home ground the Kangaroos will be hard to beat, so the Leopards will have to play at their best if they are to remain undefeated.
The Warrack Revengers and the Kaniva Raiders registered a draw and a loss respectively last round, and both will be looking to get back on the winning list to establish themselves in the top four.
The last Under 16 game will see the Yanac Warriors meet the Horsham Bombers, with both teams struggling early in the season the winner of this game will stay in touch with the leaders.
The closest of the games in the afternoon should be the Women's clash between the Yanac Women and the Horsham Jets both of whom are jostling for second position behind the competition pace setters, the Dimboola Roos. Both enjoyed a win in round three but the Jets have shown the more consistent form this season and should be able to finish ahead.
The Dimboola Roos more settled playing roster should see them have the edge over the Nhill Thunderbirds who have been struggling for players early in the season in the last of the Women's games.
The final two games for the round appear, on paper at least, to be foregone conclusions with the Dimboola Burras and Yanac Tigers taking on the Nhill Rangers and Horsham Hurricanes respectively. Despite a win last week against the Nhill Rangers, the Horsham Hurricanes will still struggle against the undefeated Yanac Tigers, and Ranges are yet to register a win this season, and that is unlikely to change this week when they take on the Burras
The Under 12s game between the Horsham Blackhawks and the Yanac Lowan Stars will be the feature game when the three games in this division are played at 12.30 pm, but the games featuring Warracknabeal and the Kaniva Rampagers and then the Nhill Bandits and Dimboola Kookaburras will also be close contests.
Round Four Fixture - Friday 12 May & Saturday 13 May
- At the Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre
Friday Evening
7.00 pm - Women - Kaniva Women v. Warrack Women
8.30 pm - Open - Kaniva Cobras v. Warrack Hoops
Saturday
9.30 am - Under 16 - Nhill Leopards v. Dimboola Kangaroos
11.00 am - Under 16 - Kaniva Raiders v. Warrack Revengers
12.30 pm - Under 12 - Nhill Bandits v. Dimboola Kookaburras
12.30 pm - Under 12 - Kaniva Rampagers v. Warracknabeal
12.30 pm - Under 12 - Yanac Lowan Stars v. Horsham Blackhawks
1.30 pm - Women - Nhill Thunderbirds v. Dimboola Roos
3.00 pm - Under 16 - Yanac Warriors v. Horsham Bombers
4.30 pm - Women - Yanac Women v. Horsham Jets
6.00 pm - Open - Nhill Rangers v. Dimboola Burras
7.30 pm - Open - Yanac Tigers v. Horsham Hurricanes
Round Three Results
Open -
Kaniva Cobras 1 (Goal - C Beattie; Best - L Clark, B Jewell, C Beattie) defeated Dimboola Burras 0 (Best - C Halsall, B Lovett, B Tischler)
Horsham Hurricanes 3 (Goals - J Bannan 2, T Hunt; Best - T Hunt, J Bannan, S Hoffman) defeated Nhill Rangers 0 (Best - M McCarthy, J Farquharson, L Wilde)
Yanac Tigers 2 (Goals - B Alexander, J Cramer; Best - S Croot, T Alexander, L Reichenbach) defeated Warrack Hoops 0 (Best - S Schultz, R Bennett, T Krahe)
Open Ladder
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Tigers | 12 | 5
| | Warrack Hoops | 8 | 4
| | Kaniva Cobras | 8 | 1
| | Dimboola Burras | 4 | -1
| | Horsham Hurricanes | 4 | -1
| | Nhill Rangers | 0 | -8
|
Women -
Horsham Jets 2 (Goals - C Barnett, S Robnison; Best - S Robinson, C McFarlane, E Burgess) defeated Nhill Thunderbirds 1 (Goal - D Cook; Best - A Rintoule, K Farquharson, W Crowhurst)
Dimboola Roos 2 (Goals - E Murden, K Smithyman; Best - R Lovett, E Woods, E Murden) defeated Kaniva Women 1 (Goal - L Stimson; Best - L Stimson, R Clark, S Braisby)
Yanac Women 1 (Goal - E Alexander; Best - M Farmers, H Honeyman, S Pipkorn) defeated Warrack Women 0 (Best - T Roche, F Eilola, K Krahe)
Women's Ladder
| | Pts | GD
| | Dimboola Roos | 12 | 4
| | Horsham Jets | 8 | 6
| | Kaniva Women | 6 | 0
| | Yanac Women | 6 | -1
| | Nhill Thunderbirds | 4 | 1
| | Warrack Women | 0 | -10
|
Under 16 -
Warrack Revengers 0 (Best - S Schultz, O Bennett, L Hicks) defeated Yanac Warriors 0 (Best - M Farmers, J Croot, C Zanker)
Dimboola Kangaroos 5 (Goals - D Danisch 3, T Haines, C Baker; Best - D Danisch, L Krelle, R Albrecht) defeated Kaniva Raiders 3 (Goals - T Mitchell 2, L Shalders; Best - T Mitchell, L Shalders, M Goodwin)
Nhill Leopards 9 (Goals - E Murden 3, B Miller 3, S Delaney, C Koop, E Koop; Best - B Miller, E Murden, J Reichelt ) defeated Horsham Bombers 1 (Goal - S Hallett; Best - C Dodson, J Schwarz, T Roberts)
Under 16 Ladder
| | Pts | GD
| | Nhill Leopards | 12 | 13
| | Dimboola Kangaroos | 10 | 5
| | Warrack Revengers | 6 | 4
| | Yanac Warriors | 4 | -2
| | Kaniva Raiders | 4 | -4
| | Horsham Bombers | 0 | -16
|
Under 12 -
Horsham Blackhawks 1 (Goal - not recorded) drew with Nhill Bandits 1 (Goal - I Deckert)
Dimboola Kookaburras 3 (Goals - K Clark 2, L Krelle) defeated Kaniva Rampagers 1 (Goal - C White)
Yanac Lowan Stars 2 (Goals - L Farmers, C Zanker) defeated Warracknabeal 1 (Goal - L Eilola)
Under 12 Ladder
| | Pts | GD
| | Horsham Blackhawks | 10 | 2
| | Nhill Bandits | 8 | 4
| | Yanac Lowan Stars | 8 | 4
| | Kaniva Rampagers | 6 | 0
| | Dimboola Kookaburras | 4 | -4
| | Warracnabeal | 0 | -6
|
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