2014 - Round 15 Preview
Round 15
Saturday 2 August
At Davis Park, Nhill
PREVIEW
Round 15 at Nhill
Wimmera Hockey Association round 15 matches will be played at Nhill with all nine matches to be played at Davis Park.
Juniors
Dimboola Kangaroos and Nhill Leopards should play a competitive game. Kangaroos put up a good fight last encounter with good defence but Leopards are getting stronger as the season wears on.
Horsham Bombers and Warrack Revengers should play a competitive game, although Revengers may have the upper hand. The teams have won a game each in previous encounters and this could be a good match to watch.
Top two junior teams Kaniva Raiders and Yanac Warriors are neck and neck on points with Warriors just in front on goal difference. This match could separate the two, with Warriors having won the last encounter by a nine-goal deficit. Raiders should have a full team back in however and this could be a close contest.
Dimboola junior team Kookaburras has the bye.
Women
Horsham Highlanders and Kaniva Women have had a couple of good matches this year with Kaniva only losing the last by two goals. Highlanders will still be without three key players with Robyn Creek and Ellie Morrow injured, and solid half back Launa Schilling still overseas, and this will work in Kaniva’s favour and should make for a competitive match this week.
Yanac Women and Nhill Thunderbirds have played three very competitive games with Yanac just in front by two and one goals, and a one-all draw. This should be a close match with the battle of halfbacks and fast forwards, for both teams. Yanac can boast the top women’s scorer at the moment in Louise Bone on 13, although Thunderbirds have the second top scorer in Lauren Bendall on 12.
Dimboola Women have beaten Warrack Women comfortably by at least three goals in their two previous encounters, but Warrack will be riding high on the success of last week beating the Horsham Highlanders, and will play a tough match.
Open
Top meets bottom in the open competition when Yanac Tigers meet Nhill Rangers. Tigers should do well against the Rangers but Rangers will be boosted by some playing advice from Hockey Victoria CEO Andrew Skillern who played alongside them last week in the Fair Go, Sport round. Tigers have won by four, five and five unanswered goals in previous encounters, but this will still not be an easy match.
Horsham Hurricanes have played competitive games against Kaniva Cobras so far although still going down by up to four goals. Cobras played a strong game last week while Hurricanes will play their second tough match in row.
Dimboola Men will take on Warrack Hoops in what should be a fast and tough match. The margin was three goals in favour of Hoops last time but in recent weeks Dimboola with a slightly changed lineup have been passing the ball well around the field, getting the ball through to the wings on posts which saw Trevor Krelle snag two last week. Hoops can still boast the top scorer in the open competition in Marcus Williamson, who also does well in assisting others to score, and there are several players who are clever in front of goals.
- Rachel Clark, WHA Records Secretary 2014
Round 15 Draw
At Davis Park, Nhill
Saturday 2 August 2014
Field 1
9.30am Dimboola Kangaroos vs Nhill Leopards; 11am Horsham Bombers vs Warrack Revengers; 12.30pm Horsham Highlanders vs Kaniva Women; 2pm Yanac Tigers vs Nhill Rangers; 3.30pm Horsham Hurricanes vs Kaniva Cobras.
Field 2
11am Kaniva Raiders vs Yanac Warriors; 12.30pm Yanac Women vs Nhill Thunderbirds; 2pm Dimboola Women vs Warrack Women; 3.30pm Dimboola Men vs Warrack Hoops.
Hook in 2 Hockey: on the junior field, 9.30am.
Bye: Dimboola Kookaburras