Hockey
6 August, 2024
Hockey matches go down to the wire
In a season where predicting the weather has been as tricky as predicting results, the players took to the Kaniva hockey fields on Saturday in mild and sunny conditions in stark contrast to the wind and rain experienced the previous week, with several teams playing for their place in the finals.
Both senior Nhill teams kept their slim chances of playing finals with favourable results, and the competition-leading Yanac Warriors made a statement in the Under 16 competition by defeating their nearest rival.
- Open -
Two very close games featured in the Open competition, with the Yanac Tigers victorious over the Kaniva Cobras by one goal in a fast and skilful match, and the Horsham Hurricanes and Nhill Rangers played out a scoreless draw.
When playing at their best, the Yanac Tigers and Kaniva Cobras both play a fast-moving, exciting brand of hockey and when they come together, they put on an entertaining display.
On this occasion, a Shaun Alexander goal within five minutes of the start of the game suggested that Yanac might dominate the game, but after a further sixty minutes of intense hockey, this remained as the only score, and while the Tigers did control more of the play, the Cobras looked dangerous when they had the chance.
In such a low-scoring encounter, the defenders on both sides played a crucial role in the outcome, with Simon Farmers, Shaun Alexander, Luke Reichenbach, and Jaidyn Honeyman standing out for the Tigers, and Lachie Mills, Clint Beattie, Ryan Smith, and Thomas Krelle kept the Cobras in the game with some solid defence.
With their 2024 prospects under pressure, the Nhill Rangers took on the Horsham Hurricanes in a game in which both teams needed a win to gain some clarity on the direction of their seasons.
Horsham controlled more of the play and led the penalty corner count with seven to Nhill’s two, but neither team could gain an advantage on the match's most significant statistic, goals, and after four solid quarters of play, the game ended in a draw.
Charles Hassall and Paul Mackereth were the best players for the Hurricanes, and David Reichelt and Brett Tischler defended well for the Rangers.
While this is not the worst result for both teams, the Rangers’ opportunity to break into the top four is fading with each result that is not a win, and the Hurricanes still have the pressure of not yet confirming their place in the top four.
The Tigers have now done enough to finish on top of the ladder, and while the Rangers are still within reach of a place in the top four, having to play the top three teams over the next three weeks suggests that it will be a big challenge.
The biggest position still up for grabs in this division is second place, with the Warrack Hoops currently holding it and can’t afford to drop another game before the finals, as the Cobras are just two points behind and ready to pounce if the opportunity arises.
The fifth-placed Nhill Rangers remain a threat to the Horsham Hurricanes for the last place in the finals, and although the Horsham team are in the best position to stay there, it would only take another surprise result by Nhill to make things interesting.
- Women -
This weekend, the focus was again on the Nhill Thunderbirds, who continued their late-season run toward the finals. Needing a win to remain in contention, they took on the Horsham Jets, who are also under pressure to remain a serious contender for the finals.
Horsham started strongly, dominating most of the play in the first quarter, but they could not convert this into a lead on the scoreboard. After the break, the balance of the play swung in Nhill’s favour, and they were able to earn the lead going into half-time.
The third quarter was very even, with the ball regularly moving from one end of the ground to the other, but neither team could capitalise on the chances they created. The last period was also close, with Nhill adding another goal while preventing the Jets from scoring.
Zalia Wilson and Cally Shurdington scored the goals for the Thunderbirds, and Kendra Clark and Chyna Kessler were their better players. Hannah Werner put in a best-on-field performance, dominating the Jets' midfield, with Launa Schilling and Hunter Knoop also making significant contributions.
The match between the top two teams would always be competitive, and they did not disappoint on this occasion. Yanac opened strongly, earning four penalty corners in the first twelve minutes of the game, before the momentum swung in Kaniva’s favour, yielding them twelve corners up until halftime, but neither team had gained the advantage by this break.
Three minutes into the third quarter, Kaniva’s Lisa Stimson goaled to put her team ahead before the play again swung, with Yanac earning the next seven penalty corners, but it was a penalty stroke earned just before the three-quarter time whistle, that Erin Alexander converted, that made the score equal again.
Yanac had the better of the last quarter with five more penalty corners, but they could not break the deadlock, and the game finished in a tie.
The umpires nominated Imogen Williams and Haley Pearse as Kaniva’s best players, and Mikayla Mackley and Erin Alexander earned that accolade for Yanac.
Warracknabeal’s perseverance is beginning to pay off with their best performance for the season, and although they didn’t get the points against Dimboola, there were plenty of signs of improvement.
The first goal of the game came in the first quarter when Pamela Pretorious put the Roos ahead, but unlike previous games when this may have heralded the first of many, the Warrack defence held firm, repelling four penalty corners in the second quarter and another three in the third.
The game came alive early in the last quarter when Sam Williamson scored a field goal to equalise the scores, but Pamela Pretorius scored her second for the game minutes later to put Dimboola back in front, a lead that they held for the rest of the game.
Pamela Pretorius joined Jennie Hauselberger and Ashlee Baker as the Roos’ best players, and three younger players for Warracknabeal, Ellie Williamson, Sam Williamson, and Ben Cannell, on loan from Nhill, joined Eileen Eichberger as their best.
One more win will see Yanac confirm the minor premiership, but with only four points separating the following three teams, there will be some big games over the next three weeks as Kaniva, Jets, and Roos battle it out to decide who will earn the second chance in the finals. With one more win, Kaniva will also confirm they will play in the finals, but they will need more than that if they are to lock themselves into second place.
The Horsham Jets and Dimboola Roos are both on twenty-six points and hold third andfourth places on the ladder, but with the Thunderbirds just two points further back and with the best goal difference of the three, they will be putting plenty of pressure on the teams above them and have a real chance of breaking into the top four at the business end of the season.
- Under 16 -
Barring a dramatic drop in form by any of the leaders, the Under 16 ladder has now been set, with the Yanac Warriors staking their claim for the top spot with a comfortable win over
the Kaniva Raiders.
A goal to the Warriors in each quarter was only matched by one Raiders score, within minutes of the final whistle, which gave them their tenth victory for the season. Trinity Rethus and Sean Pedie scored two goals each for Yanac, and Lola Doyle was the sole scorer for Kaniva.
The Nhill Leopards confirmed they will finish in third place after a win over the Horsham Bombers, who, despite the loss, will still finish in fourth place and play finals. Barrett Clark and Oliver Bone both scored twice, and Deegan Clark scored Nhill’s fifth goal.
The big game in this division was the meeting of the two teams outside the top four, and the Dimboola Kangaroos claimed the points with a narrow win over the Warrack Revengers. Jasper Ward scored a field goal towards the end of the first quarter and added another midway through the last quarter to establish the two-goal margin.
Next week, the action will take place at Davis Park in Nhill and will feature several pivotal matches. The home teams in both the Open and Women’s competitions will be playing for the last chance to qualify for the finals when they take on their Warracknabeal counterparts, and Kaniva Women can almost assure themselves of a top-two finish if they can defeat the Dimboola Roos.
Wimmera Hockey Association - Round Twelve Results
- Open -
Yanac Tigers 1 (Goal - S Alexander; Best - S Farmers, S Alexander, J Honeyman, L
Reichenbach) defeated Kaniva Cobras 0 (Best - L Mills, C Beattie, R Smith, T Krelle)
Horsham Hurricanes 0 (Best - C Hassall, P Mackereth, T Werner) drew with Nhill Rangers 0
(Best - D Reichelt, B Tischler, D Clark, C Shultz)
Bye - Warrack Hoops
Pts GD
Yanac Tigers 38 30
Warrack Hoops 28 11
Kaniva Cobras 26 0
Horsham Hurricanes 16 -17
Nhill Rangers 12 -24
- Women -
Kaniva 1 (Goal - L Stimson; Best - I Williams, H Pearse, L Stimson) drew with Yanac 1 (Goal
- E Alexander; Best - M Mackley, E Alexander, A Farmers)
Nhill Thunderbirds 2 (Goals - C Shurdington, Z Wilson; Best - K Clark, C Kessler, C
Shurdington) defeated Horsham Jets 0 (Best - H Werner, H Knoop, L Schilling)
Dimboola Roos 2 (Goals - P Pretorius 2; Best - J Hauselberger, P Pretorius, A Baker)
defeated Warracknabeal 1 (Goal - S Williamson; Best - E Eichberger, B Cannell, E
Williamson, S Williamson)
Pts GD
Yanac Women 38 52
Kaniva Women 30 22
Horsham Jets 26 5
Dimboola Roos 26 -2
Nhill Thunderbirds 24 8
Warrack Women 0 -85
- Under 16 -
Yanac Warriors 4 (Goals - T Rethus 2, S Pedie 2; Best - Archie Zanker, Annabella Zanker, S Pedie) defeated Kaniva Raiders 1 (Goal - L Doyle; Best - C White, L Krelle, F Dodson)
Nhill Leopards 5 (Goals - O Bone 2, B Clark 2, D Clark; Best - D Clark, B Cannell, Z Wilson)
defeated Horsham Bombers 0 (Best - H Mackereth, J Schwarz, O Knoop)
Dimboola Kangaroos 2 (Goals - J Ward 2; Best - J Ward, V Ward, L Hauselberger) defeated
Warracknabeal Revengers 0 (Best - J Nuske, E Williamson, S Williamson)
Pts GD
Yanac Warriors 44 59
Kaniva Raiders 38 44
Nhill Leopards 32 30
Horsham Bombers 18 -23
Dimboola Kangaroos 8 -49
Warrack Revengers 4 -61
- Under 12 Development Program -
Kaniva Rampagers 1 (Goal - R Williams) v. Yanac Lowan Stars 6 (Goals - M Campbell 2, C
Alexander, M Zanker, P Dart, R Dickinson)
Horsham Black Hawks 2 (Goals - A Neumann, J Mackereth) v. Nhill Bandits 0
Dimboola Kookaburras 5 (Goals - R Hadzig 2, R Wallace, L Hauselberger, L Elliott) v.
Warrack Avengers 1 (Goal - M Peters)