Hockey
22 May, 2024
Hockey returns for round four
After a week off to catch their breath after a hectic start to the Wimmera hockey season, the teams will gather at Davis Park in Nhill for round four, which includes several highly anticipated matchups.
There were no games scheduled locally last weekend while the Junior Country Championships were played in Melbourne when ten keep locals took the opportunity to gain the experience of playing at this higher level, representing other Associations as the Wimmera did not enter any teams this year.
Open
With three teams on six points filling positions two to four on the Open ladder, there will be considerable interest over the next few weeks as to how this logjam sorts itself out.
The match of the round this week will feature the Warracknabeal Hoops and Kaniva Cobras who are sitting in second and fourth, respectively. The winner will stay in touch with the competition-leading Yanac Tigers, while the loser will start to feel some pressure to hold their place in the top four.
The Yanac Tigers played out a rare draw last round against the Horsham Hurricanes, which was only the second match they haven’t won in their last 45 starts, and they will be keen to prove it was out of character when they take on the fifth-placed Nhill Rangers, who have yet to taste victory this season.
The other team on six points in the middle of the ladder is the Horsham Hurricanes, who will receive two points for the bye keeping them in the top three by Saturday evening.
Women
The Dimboola Roos face another big test when they take on Yanac, the reigning premiers. Both are coming off narrow losses in the last round and will be keen to bounce back and while recent form suggests Yanac might start slight favourites, Dimboola has impressed since their return at the start of this season and cannot be taken lightly.
Kaniva and the Nhill Thunderbirds are playing for a place in the top four by the end of the round. Both registered victories at their most recent games, and while Kaniva has the better form line that took them to the grand final last season, Nhill, on their home ground, will be a strong opponent.
After defeating the reigning premiers last round, the Horsham Jets should not have much trouble against the inexperienced, but improving, Warracknabeal team.
Under 16
With a significant gap already forming between the top three and the bottom three in the Under 16 competition, this week is an opportunity for the leaders to start to establish their pecking order and for the lower teams to make a bid to stay in touch with those above them.
The top two teams, the Nhill Leopards and Kanive Raiders clash in the opening match of the round.
If the Leopards win, they will remain clear on top of the ladder, but a Raiders’ victory could put them on top, depending upon the result of another match.
The third of the leading teams, the Yanac Warriors, take on the winless Dimboola Kangaroos, where a big win could see them finish the round on top and a Kangaroo’s win could see them move up into fourth place.
The Horsham Bombers and Warrack Revengers have not had great starts to their seasons, but a big win by either here could see them gain the confidence to challenger the top three.