Hockey
29 July, 2024
Entertaining hockey at Yanac
On a day that presented splashes of sunshine mixed with showers, hail, and cold winds, some entertaining hockey was played at Yanac on Saturday, with some predictable results amongst some surprises that have kept the interest in the make-up of the finals alive as the competition moves towards the finals.
The Tigers and Hoops continued their decades-long rivalry with another top exhibition of
hockey, the Nhill Thunderbirds kept their late-season run for the finals alive with a victory
over the Roos, and the Jets showed that they are serious challengers when they can field
close to their best team by overcoming Kaniva.
- Open -
The results in the Open competition reflected ladder positions, but the winning teams still
had to play hard to earn the points.
The Yanac Tigers confirmed they are favourites for another premiership with a hard-fought
victory over their closest challenger, where it was just a thirty-second lapse in the third
quarter by the Hoops’ defence that saw the Tigers pounce with a long pass to forward Brad
Alexander, who scored what would be the only goal for the match.
For the rest of the game, it was a very even contest. Although the Tigers dominated the
penalty corner count, the Hoops defenders were up to the challenge and repelled them all,
and when the Hoops mounted an attack, the Tigers also held firm in defence.
Shaun Alexander and Zach Dorrington played well for the victors, and Tim Jorgensen and
Hamish Wagenknecht served the Hoops well.
After a four-goal win over the Horsham Hurricanes, the Kaniva Cobras are now equal on
points with the second-placed Hoops but remain in third spot on goal difference.
Kaniva got off to a flying start, converting a penalty corner just four minutes into the game,
but Horsham was not to be outdone when Paul Mackereth replied, also from a penalty
corner, to have the scores equal by quarter-time.
The Cobras regained the lead just before halftime and held it through a very even third
period of play, and they kept up the pressure into the final quarter and extended their lead to
three with another two more goals.
Jordan Clark finished with a hat-trick of goals, and Josh Bedford scored the other, and
Lachie Mills joined these two as their best players. The Hurricanes’ goal scorer, Mackereth,
was named their best player, with Maddy Spano and Lee Marra, on loan from Nhill for the
game, also playing well.
With the bye, the Nhill Rangers avoided the rough weather, and they would be happy with
the Cobras’ win as it keeps their slim chances of making the finals alive for another week,
setting up a big game on Saturday against the Hurricanes, the team that they could overtake
for a place in the finals.
- Women -
The Nhill Thunderbirds remain in the race for the finals after a victory over the Dimboola
Roos, which has put them just two points outside the top four.
Nhill controlled most of the play against an understrength Roos, but it was not until there
were just seven minutes of play remaining that they scored their first goal, which they quickly
followed with another to finish with two goals.
Jessica Rowe and Nancy Rowe scored the goals, with Chyna Kessler and Cally Shurdington playing well for the ‘Birds and Jennie Hauselberger and Elizabeth Klinge standing out for the Roos.
The Horsham Jets are issuing a challenge to the dominance of the top two with a fighting
one-goal victory over the second-placed Kaniva.
Having been unable to take advantage of a penalty stroke in the first quarter, the Jets did not make the same mistake when given another opportunity in the second, and Hannah Werner put the Jets ahead by halftime.
Throughout an even second half in which both teams created opportunities, neither team
could score, leaving the Jets with the win, but it was not all bad news for Kaniva, as their
defence held firm in field play and successfully defended twelve penalty corners for the
match.
Werner played a solid game at centre half-back, and Maddy Spano gave the Jets some
spark in the forward line, while Imogen Williams and Lisa Stimson played tirelessly in the
forward line for Kaniva.
Yanac maintained their grip on the top of the ladder with a win over Warracknabeal, with
Caitlyn Alexander leading the goalscoring with three goals and Erin Alexander contributing
two. For Warrack, Ellie Williamson has assumed a leadership role in their midfield and is
now regularly appearing amongst their best players. Clarice Bennett and Eddie Bull also put
in determined performances.
Yanac is well-placed to remain on top of the ladder in the lead-up to the finals, but there is
potential for the following four teams to finish anywhere from second to fifth. Warrack is out
of the race for the finals but can still gain valuable experience for next season and influence
where the teams above them finish.
- Under 16 -
The top three Under 16 teams continued their dominance over the lower half of the ladder,
all recording comfortable victories.
The Kaniva Raiders defeated the Horsham Bombers, with Logan Krelle scoring three goals.
The Yanac Warriors overcame the Warrack Revengers, with Archie Zanker and Sean Pedie scoring three goals each. Deegan Clark was the leading goal scorer when the Nhill Leopards beat the Dimboola Kangaroos.
Although not much can now change on the Under 16 ladder, the minor premiership is still up for grabs. The Warriors and Raiders will fill the top two positions, but their meeting next Saturday will decide which one finishes on top.
The Leopards and Bombers have confirmed that they will make up the top four, and the Kangaroos and Revengers are now out of the running for the finals and will play off in a big game this Saturday to decide what order they will finish in.
Wimmera Hockey Association - Round Eleven Results
- Open -
Kaniva Cobras 4 (Goals - J Clark 3, J Bedford; Best - J Bedford, J Clark, L Mills) defeated
Horsham Hurricanes 1 (Goal - P Mackereth; Best - P Mackereth, M Spano, L Marra)
Yanac Tigers 1 (Goal - B Alexander; Best - S Alexander, Z Dorrington, R Croot, B Alexander)
defeated Warrack Hoops 0 (Best - T Jorgensen, H Wagenknecht, S Schultz, O Bennett)
Nhill Rangers - Bye
Pts GD
Yanac Tigers 34 29
Warrack Hoops 26 11
Kaniva Cobras 26 1
Horsham Hurricanes 14 -17
Nhill Rangers 10 -24
- Women -
Horsham Jets 1 (Goal - H Werner; Best - H Werner, M Spano, C Lawson) defeated Kaniva 0
(Best - I Williams, L Stimson, H Pearse)
Yanac 11 (Goals - C Alexander 4, E Alexander 2, S Hedt 2, M Mackley, A Farmers, E
Wheaton; Best - E Alexander, C Alexander, M Mackley) defeated Warracknabeal 0 (Best - E
Williamson, C Bennett, E Bull)
Nhill Thunderbirds 2 (Goals - J Rowe, N Rowe; Best - C Kessler, C Shurdington, K Clark)
defeated Dimboola Roos 0 (Best - J Hauselberger, E Klinge, R Hadzig)
Pts GD
Yanac Women 36 52
Kaniva Women 28 22
Horsham Jets 26 7
Dimboola Roos 22 -3
Nhill Thunderbirds 20 6
Warrack Women 0 -84
- Under 16 -
Kaniva Raiders 5 (Goals - L Krelle 3, C White 2; Best - C White, L Krelle, F Dodson)
defeated Horsham Bombers 0 (Best - J Di Pietro, H Mackereth, C Blake)
Yanac Warriors 11 (Goals - Archie Zanker 3, S Pedie 3, I Hedt 2, H Zanker 2, Annabella
Zanker; Best - Archie Zanker, Annabella Zanker, S Pedie) defeated Warrack Revengers 0
(Best - E Williamson, M Bentley, R Bish)
Nhill Leopards 4 (Goals - D Clark 2, C Bone, B Clark; Best - B Clark, D Clark, T Bee)
defeated Dimboola Kangaroos 0 (Best - A Pretorius, J Ward, R-M Williams)
Pts GD
Yanac Warriors 40 56
Kaniva Raiders 38 47
Nhill Leopards 28 25
Horsham Bombers 18 -18
Dimboola Kangaroos 4 -51
Warrack Revengers 4 -59
- Under 12 Development Program -
Kaniva Rampagers 1 (Goal - L Williams) v. Horsham Black Hawks 2 (Goals - J Mackereth, H
Mitchell)
Yanac Lowan Stars 3 (Goals - M Dart, S Farmers, Z Rethus) v. Warrack Avengers 0
Dimboola Kookaburras 3 (Goals - L Hauselberger 3) v. Nhill Bandits 2 (Goals - J Bee, N
Krelle)