Most results in round seven of the Wimmera Hockey Association season reflected the relative ladder positions of the teams, with the most notable exception being the victory by the Dimboola Burras over the Warrack Hoops in the Open competition.
Open
The Dimboola Burras have begun to show what they are capable after impressive performances against the top two teams over the last two weeks. They remain in third place on the ladder but are putting themselves in a good position to vie for a place in the top two before the end of the season.
After narrowly missing a draw with the undefeated Yanac Tigers last week, they went into Saturday’s game against the second-placed Hoops full of confidence.
After a hectic start to the match it was James Paley of the Burras who goaled with a hit that bounced over a sliding Hoops’ goalkeeper mid-way through the first half to put his team ahead.
The Hoops controlled more of the play throughout the game, but they were unable to capitalised on any of their scoring attempts and Paley’s gaol remained the only score in the game, and with this result the Burras moved to within four points of the Hoops.
Full back Daniel Danisch and centre half back Tim Jorgensen were the best players for the Burras, and defenders Cameron Bardell and Hamish Wagenknecht who stood out for the Hoops
The Kaniva Cobras’ mid season revival continued with a two goals to one victory over the Nhill Rangers which has seen them break into the top four for the first time in 2019.
A goal to Clint Beattie in the first halve put the Cobras ahead and Duncan Shalders doubled their lead twenty minutes into the second half.
Although Kaniva dominated the game early, late in the second half the Rangers picked up their game and a goal to Rodney Reichelt with three minutes of play remaking put them on the scoreboard, but time ran out and the game finished as a Cobras’ victory.
This result moved the Cobras into fourth place and has seen the Ranges slip to fifth.
Five goals in the first half was enough for the Yanac Tigers to record yet another win, with the Horsham Hurricanes the latest team to struggle to combat the skill and teamwork of the reigning premiers.
The Hurricanes were able to keep the Tigers scoreless in the second half but they were unable to reduce the five goal margin before the final whistle.
Todd Alexander scored twice and was voted as the second best Tigers’ player, behind his brother Shaun, and Simon Trigg and Cade Dodson played well for the Hurricanes.
Women
In what was expected to be one of the closest matches in the Women’s competition this round was played out between the Nhill Thunderbirds and Kaniva Women, with the former taking the points in a tight game.
These two teams are jostling for third place on the ladder which comes with the opportunity to challenge the leading two teams should one of them slip up over the next eight rounds.
Ellie Murden and Kendra Clark both scored in the first half to give the Thunderbirds the lead, and another to Kellie Farquharson early in the second half established what would be the eventual winning margin in an otherwise close game.
Yanac Women saw off a challenge from the Horsham Jets when they finished with a three goal win.
Despite some solid Jets’ defence by goalkeeper Isabella Gulline and the evergreen Launa Schilling and Roby Creek, Erin Alexander goaled in the first half, and Natalie Harding followed with two in the second half to make up the three goal score line.
Warracknabeal was no match for the in-form Dimboola Roos who finished with eight goals, which keeps them firmly in second place and maintains pressure on the current ladder leaders, Yanac.
Sisters Elizabeth and Jennifer Klinge both scored two goals each to make up half of the Roos’ score and Brooke McMaster controlled the game from centre half back and was named as their best player.
Ruth McNamara played the same position on the field for Warracknabeal and was named as her team’s best player, ahead of full back Tasha Engelbrecht and half back Asha Davidson.
Under 16
The closest game in the Under 16 competition pitted the Kaniva Raiders and the Nhill Leopards who went into the round in second and third places on the ladder respectively.
In a very close game it took until the last fifteen minutes of the game before Max Goodwin got the ball past the Leopards goalkeeper to put the Raiders ahead, which remained as the only score for the match.
Goodwin was named as the Raiders best player, along with full Jacob Dixon and Skye Braisby and Lance McBride, Kendra Clark and Troye McBride were the standout performers for the Leopards.
Another even game was played out between the Warrack Revengers and Dimboola Kangaroos who despite playing one short took the game right up to the Revengers.
A field goal by Heath Johns with just three minutes remaining in the first half gave the Revengers the lead at the break after an otherwise competitive half of hockey.
Dimboola continued to perform well in defence but continued attacking moves resulted in field goals to Faith Eilola and Clarice Bennett to take the margin to three goals.
This strong performance by the Kangaroos suggest that their first win for the season is not too far away, with brothers Tom and Logan Krelle playing well in defence and Sean Pedie competing well up forward.
Regulars Ben Williamson, Heath Johns and Faith Eilola were the better players for the Revengers.
The Yanac Warriors continued their dominance with a big win over the Horsham Bombers. Jasper Croot and Mikayla Farmers both scored three goals each and despite the score line, the tireless work of Bombers’ goalkeeper Kai Dodson and half back Bonnie Brooks prevented the score being much higher.
Under 12 Development Program
Under 12 Development Program continues to be very popular with the next generation of hockey players, regularly seeing fifty players taking to the field for social games alongside the completion games in the other divisions.
This week the Warracknabeal Avengers overcame the Dimboola Kookaburras, the Nhill Bandits defeated Kaniva Rampagers and the Yanac Lowan Stars won their game against the Horsham Black Hawks.
Round Seven Results
Open
Dimboola Burras 1 ( Goal J Paley; Best - D Dahisch, T Jorgensen, L Schultz) defeated Warrack Hoops 0 (Best - C Bardell, H Wagenknecht, R Bennett)
Kaniva Cobras 2 (Goals - C Beattie, D Shalders; Best - L Mills, D Shalders, M Goodwin) defeated Nhill Rangers 1 (Goal - R Reichelt; Best - Mont Miller, B Miller, J Reichelt)
Yanac Tigers 5 (Goals - T Alexander 2, J Croot 2, S Alexander; Best - S Alexander, T Alexander, S Farmers) defeated Horsham Hurricanes 0 (Best - S Trigg, C Dodson, T Roberts)
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Tigers | 28 | 18
| | Warrack Hoops | 18 | 14
| | Dimboola Burras | 14 | 5
| | Kaniva Cobras | 10 | -10
| | Nhill Rangers | 8 | -12
| | Horsham Hurricanes | 6 | -15
|
Women
Dimboola Roos 8 (Goals - E Klinge 2, J Klinge 2, J Hauselberger, A King, K Smithyman, C Finley; Best - B McMaster, J Klinge, K Smithyman) defeated Warracknabeal Women 0 (Best - R McNamara, T Enbelbrecht, A Davidson)
Nhill Thunderbirds 3 (Goals - K Farquharson, E Murden, K Clark; Best - E Murden, K Farquharson, B Cuming) defeated Kaniva Women 0 (Best - C Shurdington, J Wallis, H White)
Yanac Women 3 (Goals - N Harding 2, E Alexander; Best - E Alexander, M Farmers, C Beattie) defeated Horsham Jets 0 (Best - L Schilling, R Creek, I Gulline)
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Women | 24 | 26
| | Dimboola Roos | 20 | 12
| | Nhill Thunderbirds | 16 | 7
| | Kaniva Women | 14 | -3
| | Horsham Jets | 10 | -5
| | Warrack Women | 0 | -37
|
Under 16
Warracknabeal Revengers 3 (Goals - F Eilola, H Johns, C Bennett; Best - B Williamson, H Johns, F Eilola) defeated Dimboola Kangaroos 0 (Best - T Krelle, L Krelle, S Peddie)
Kaniva Raiders 1 (Goal - M Goodwin; Best - M Goodwin, J Dixon, S Braisby) defeated Nhill Leopards 0 (Best - L McBride, K Clark, T McBride)
Yanac Warriors 16 (Goals - J Croot 3, M Farmers 3, N Colbert 2, R Croot 2, C Zanker 2, A Farmers, H Pedie, C Hassall, H Trenery) defeated Horsham Bombers (Best - K Dodson, B Brooks, J Crockford)
| | Pts | GD
| | Yanac Warriors | 28 | 64
| | Kaniva Raiders | 20 | 8
| | Warrack Revengers | 16 | -7
| | Nhill Leopards | 12 | -4
| | Horsham Bombers | 8 | -27
| | Dimboola Kangaroos | 0 | -34
|
Under 12 Development Program
Warracknabeal Avengers 6 (Goals - Z O’Connor 3, S Williamson 2, H Zwar) defeated Dimboola Kookaburras 0
Nhill Bandits 5 (Goals - V Malony 3, T Maloney, K Chequer) defeated Kaniva Rampagers 0
Yanac Lowan Stars 6 (Goals - H Toet 5, A Trenery) defeated Horsham Black Hawks 1 (Goal - J Toet)
|
