2014 - Round 9 Preview
Round 9
Friday 20 June and Saturday 21 June 2014
At Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre
PREVIEW
Round 9 - half way mark in the home and away season
Wimmera Hockey Association will feature Friday night games this week again as Dimboola Hockey Club hosts round 9 at the Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre. Dimboola and Warracknabeal senior teams will play Friday night while the remaining seven matches will be played on Saturday. This will be the half way mark for the home and away season.
Juniors
Nhill Leopards and Dimboola Kookaburras should have a good contest in the early match on Saturday. Leopards are a little bit ahead of the Kookaburras on the ladder with several consistent players in the mix but the Dimboola side will have their share of attack especially if captain Lachlan Schultz has a good game and another more senior player Danny Moore also defending well. Both sides will need to use their whole team to get the ball in the goals.
Dimboola Kangaroos with the home turf advantage will need to work together as a team to combat new ladder leaders Yanac Warriors who put in a sterling performance last week against the reigning premiers Kaniva Raiders. If Kangaroos aim for their wings who are consistently at their posts they may get some good opportunities. Kangaroos should try to pass wide around the Warriors experienced players.
Horsham Bombers and Raiders will play a later game and the lights will be coming on to showcase a good contest. Although they lost Bombers played well last week against Warrack Revengers and have proven they play well on the turf. Raiders will be missing a few players again this week and this could be an even match.
Warrack Revengers have the bye.
Women
Dimboola Women meet Warrack Women on Friday night under lights. The teams have played once so far this year with Dimboola the victors but Warrack did score twice. With the home turf advantage Dimboola should have the edge. Dimboola’s Elizabeth Klinge and Warrack’s Alana Argent and Linley Arnold-Wardle have been top contributors for their sides so far and will be ones to watch.
Nhill Thunderbirds will be buoyed by a strong goal scoring performance against Kaniva last week and will use that when they face ladder leaders Yanac Women on the turf on Saturday. The previous two encounters have been close with the latest a 1-1 draw. Each team can boast high scoring capabilities with Nhill currently having the highest women’s goal scorer in Lauren Bendall who scored three times last week to take her tally to 9. Louise Bone for Yanac scored three last match to be the second highest women’s scorer with 8, and Nhill’s Stephanie Daly scored twice to be third with 7. Both sides also have good defence so this should be a great match to watch.
Horsham Highlanders will provide a tough game for Kaniva Women but Kaniva relish playing on the turf and despite still losing they proved they can score against the Horsham team in their last encounter, scoring twice. If Kaniva can keep several key players including Ellie Morrow and Lucy O’Connor to minimal activity they may do well.
Open
Dimboola Men will meet Warrack Hoops on Friday night. Hoops played well last week matching it with the top team Yanac Tigers and will be on a high. Dimboola Men also played well securing a win in the lower order which boosted them into the top four once again. Centre half back Tim Jorgensen may need to put in another top performance for Dimboola to keep the Hoops at bay. The fast turf may open things up for both teams and this should be a fast match.
Nhill Rangers will face a tough opponent in Yanac Tigers on Saturday afternoon. Rangers played a good team game last week against Kaniva Cobras but will need to lift the pace a little to match the ladder leading Tigers.
Horsham Hurricanes play Kaniva Cobras in the evening game on Saturday. Cobras have been winning consistently but not with big scorelines. They will need to keep the pressure on through half backs Braden Clark and Clint Beattie when they play Hurricanes and make the most of scoring opportunities. Hurricanes have good defence in David Jochinke and goalie Stuart Hoffman who will hold the team in good stead.
- Rachel Clark, WHA Records Secretary 2014
Round 9 Draw
At Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre
Friday 20 June 2014
7.00pm Dimboola Women vs Warrack Women; 8.30pm Dimboola Men vs Warrack Hoops.
Saturday 21 June 2014
9.30am Nhill Leopards vs Dimboola Kookaburras; 11am Dimboola Kangaroos vs Yanac Warriors; 12.30pm Nhill Thunderbirds vs Yanac Women; 2pm Nhill Rangers vs Yanac Tigers; 3.30pm Horsham Highlanders vs Kaniva Women; 5pm Horsham Bombers vs Kaniva Raiders; 6.30pm Horsham Hurricanes vs Kaniva Cobras.
Hook in 2 Hockey: 12.30pm on the old hockey field.
Bye: Warrack Revengers