The second round of the Wimmera Hockey Association season was shared between two venues, with games played under lights at Davis Park in Nhill after a day of football and netball, and the remaining games played on the synthetic turf at Dimboola.
The hockey division of the Nhill and District Sporting Club took the opportunity to showcase their sport to their football and netball colleagues when they hosted the Yanac senior teams in twilight games following a full day of these other sports.
Yanac remain the early leaders in the Women's competition after scoring a three goal win over the Nhill Thunderbirds, and the reigning premiers in the Open division had little trouble finishing ahead of the Nhill Rangers, with the Yanac Tigers also scoring three goals whilst keeping the Rangers scoreless.
Open
The feature game of the Open completion was the clash between the Kaniva Cobras and Warrack Hoops.
These teams always put on a good display of hockey and this week was no exception, with a converted penalty corner by Mat McDonald of the Cobras the only difference between the two teams after a fast and even game. Both teams created further opportunities but solid defence at each end of the field prevented any further scores.
The struggling Horsham Hurricanes had no answers to the swarming attack of the Dimboola Burras who had too many options for the Hurricanes to shut down.
The final score was seven goals to none, with Trevor Krelle scoring three, Zack Slater-Collard two and Jarryd Williams and Lachlan Schulz one each.
Reliable Hurricanes' centre half back Paul Mackereth was voted as his team's best player.
Women
The Warrack Women continued their positive start to the season with a win over the Kaniva Women.
Warrack established a match winning lead by half time with Ruth McNamara and Alysha Genn both scoring before the break.
The second half saw 35 minutes of even play, with both teams creating opportunities but neither able to find the goals.
Above - Kayla White of the Kaniva Women attempts to control the ball ahead of Donna Rigby of the Warrack Women.
The Dimboola Roos have once again announced themselves as a pace setter in the competition with a hard fought two goal victory over the Horsham Jets.
It took only three minutes for the Roos to earn a short corner from which a solid hit by Elizabeth Klinge was deflected in by Kelly Smithyman, and they extended this lead half way through the second half when Klinge converted another short corner.
Alice Langley, Mia Guest and Ash Allen were the best players for the Jets.
Under 16
The Horsham Bombers registered their first win for the season in the Under 16 competition and now find themselves in an unaccustomed position in the top four, when the overcame the Dimboola Kangaroos.
Evie Simpson opened the scoring for the Kangaroos only six minutes into the game, but goals to Josh Schwarz and Lars Simmons for the Bombers allowed them to go into the half time break with a one goal advantage.
Lachlan Geery evened the scores mid-way through the second half, and it was a converted penalty stroke by Schwarz late in the game that broke the deadlock and allowed the Bombers to score a rare win. This could be the start of a season where they surprise in more than a few games.
The Warrack Revengers are back on the top of the ladder after they recorded a one goal win in a very close game with the Kaniva Raiders.
The Revengers' forward line led by centre forward Oskar Bennett controlled much of the play in the first half, but the Raiders' defenders held their own and repelled may attempts to score.
The Kaniva forwards worked their way into the game after half time but were not able to penetrate the solid Warrack defence.
It was a successful penalty stroke taken by Bennett that finally separated the teams and allowed the Revengers to remain the only team to take full points from their first two games.
A draw was played out between the Nhill Leopards and the Yanac Warriors with both teams scoring twice.
An even first half saw both teams scored once, with Archie Zanker finding the goals for the Warriors and Ellie Murden for the Leopards.
Caleb Zanker put the Warriors ahead with a goal minutes into the second half and the game looked to be heading towards a second win for the Warriors in as many rounds when with only seconds of play remaining the Leopard's Ellie Murden scored for the second time to draw the game.
Under 12 Development Program
Three close games were contested in the Under 12 Development Program with no more than two goals separating the teams in each game.
The Horsham Black Hawks and the Dimboola Kookaburras played out a two all draw whilst the Yanac Lowan Stars scored six goals to the Nhill Bandits five.
The Kaniva Rampagers, with the help from some surplus Warrack players, scored two goals and held the Warrack Avengers scoreless.
Round Three Preview
Despite only being the third round of games for the season, a number of teams are already jostling for prime ladder positions.
Kaniva will host games for the first time this year when the Dimboola teams make the journey west to take on the home teams.
Both the Under 16 Kaniva Raiders and Dimboola Kangaroos are yet to win a game in 2018, so this is a pivotal games for both teams as the prize for the winners will be to remain in touch with the leaders.
In the Women's game form would suggest that Dimboola should take the points, but having had a taste of the finals last season, the Kaniva team will not give up easily.
After both recorded confidence building wins last round in the Open competition, the Kaniva Cobras and Dimboola Burras will play out the match of the round in what should be a close game that could go either way.
The remaining games will be played at Anzac Park in Warracknabeal, with a couple of games vying for match of the day.
In the Under 16s the two leading teams, the Warrack Revengers and Nhill Leopards, will clash with the top place on the ladder to go to the winner, and the Horsham Bombers, fresh from a good win last weekend, have the opportunity to judge where they stand in the competition when they take on the Yanac Warriors who are always a challenging team to play.
In the Women's division the Warrack Women have the chance to back up their good form in the early rounds when they take on the Nhill Thunderbirds.
The Horsham Jets will not be comfortable with their winless start to the season and will be looking to get their season back on track when they take on the Yanac Women in the late game, whilst Yanac will be striving to get the points and remain on the top of the ladder.
In the Open division the Yanac Tigers' juggernaut will continue to roll on when they take on the Horsham Hurricanes who will need a significant turnaround in form to challenge the perennial competition leaders.
The final game will see the Warrack Hoops take on the Nhill Rangers, and although the Hoops finished one goal behind the Cobras last week, if they are to be a serious challenger for the title this year they will be looking to record a comfortable win.
Round Three Fixture
- at Kaniva
11.00 am - Under 16 - Kaniva Raiders v. Dimboola Kangaroos
12.30 pm - Under 12 Development Program - v. Kaniva Rampagers Dimboola Kookaburras
2.00 pm - Women - Kaniva Women v. Dimboola Roos
3.30 pm - Open - Kaniva Cobras v. Dimboola Burras
- at Anzac Park, Warracknabeal
Field One
9.30 am - Under 16 - Warrack Revengers v. Nhill Leopards
11.00 am - Under 16 - Yanac Warriors v. Horsham Bombers
12.30 pm - Under 12 Development Program - Warrack Avengers v. Nhill Bandits
12.30 pm - Under 12 Development Program - Yanac Lowan Stars v. Horsham Black Hawks
2.00 pm - Women - Warrack Women v. Nhill Thunderbirds
3.30 pm - Women - Yanac Women v. Horsham Jets
Field Two
2.00 pm - Open - Yanac Tigers v. Horsham Hurricanes
3.30 pm - Open - Warrack Hoops v. Nhill Rangers
Round Two Results
Open
Kaniva Cobras 1 (Goal - M McDonald; Best - M McDonald, D Shalders, L Mills) defeated Warrack Hoops 0 (Best - H Wagenknecht, M Williamson, S Schultz)
Dimboola Burras 7 (Goals - T Krelle 3, Z Slater-Collard 2, J Williams, L Schultz; Best - J Lovett, T Dent, Z Slater-Collard) defeated Horsham Hurricanes 0 (Best - P Mackereth, B Tischler, D Jochinke)
Yanac Tigers 3 (Goals - T Alexander, Shaun Alexander, M Dart; Best - B Alexander, S Farmers, Shaun Alexander, T Alexander) defeated Nhill Rangers 0 (Best - S Bone, B Miller, M Miller, D Reichelt)
Open Ladder
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Tigers | 8 | 7
| | Dimboola Burras | 4 | 5
| | Warrack Hoops | 4 | 1
| | Kaniva Cobras | 4 | -3
| | Horsham Hurricanes | 4 | -6
| | Nhill Rangers | 0 | -4
|
Women
Warrack Women 2 (Goals - A Genn, R McNamara; Best - K Krahe, D Rigby, T Bull) defeated Kaniva Women 0 (Best - S Williams, O Williams, J Braisby)
Dimboola Roos 2 (Goals - E Klinge, K Smithyman; Best - E Klinge, R Albrecht, K Smithyman) defeated Horsham Jets 0 (Best - A Langley, Mia Guest, A Allen)
Yanac Women 3 (Goals - N Jones, S Alexander, S Hedt; Best - S Alexander, N Jones, L Bone) defeated Nhill Thunderbirds 0 (Best - E Koop, G McLeod, B Cuming)
Women's Ladder
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Women | 8 | 6
| | Dimboola Roos | 8 | 3
| | Warrack Women | 4 | 1
| | Thunderbirds | 4 | -2
| | Horsham Jets | 0 | -3
| | Kaniva Women | 0 | -5
|
Under 16
Horsham Bombers 3 (Goals - J Schwarz 2, L Simmons; Best - K Dodson, C Dodson, J Schwarz) defeated Dimboola Kangaroos 2 (Goals - E Simpson, L Geary; Best - K Bamford, L Geary, T Krelle)
Warrack Revengers 1 (Goal - O Bennett; Best - B Williamson, O Bennett, H Johns) defeated Kaniva Raiders 0 (Best - O Williams, J Mitchell, N White)
Nhill Leopards 2 (Goals - E Murden 2; Best - J Reichelt, E Murden, I Deckert, D Clark) drew with Yanac Warriors 2 (Goals - C Zanker, A Zanker; Best - M Farmers, C Zanker, A Zanker, R Croot)
Under 16 Ladder
| | Pts | GD
| | Warrack Revengers | 8 | 2
| | Nhill Leopards | 6 | 11
| | Yanac Warriors | 6 | 2
| | Horsham Bombers | 4 | -10
| | Dimboola Kangaroos | 0 | -2
| | Kaniva Raiders | 0 | -3
|
Under 12 Development Program
Horsham Black Hawks 2 (Goals - O Nuske, T Batchelor; Best - H Mackereth) drew with Dimboola Kookaburras 2 (Goals - L Krelle, Leo; Best - J Clark)
Yanac Lowan Stars 6 (Goals - H Pedie 2, Archie Zanker 2, A Trenery, C Zanker; A Trenery) defeated Nhill Bandits 5 (Goals - V Maloney 3, J Clark 2; Best - C Rowe)
Kaniva Rampagers 2 (Goals - C White, C Bennett; Best - L Williams) defeated Warrack Avengers 0
Under 12 Ladder
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Lowan Stars | 8 | 2
| | Dimboola Kookaburras | 6 | 6
| | Horsham Black Hawks | 6 | 1
| | Kaniva Rampagers | 4 | 1
| | Nhill Bandits | 0 | -2
| | Warrack Avengers | 0 | -8
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