2014 - Round 14 Preview
Round 14
Friday 25 July and Saturday 26 July 2014
At Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre
PREVIEW
Hockey Vic CEO to visit Wimmera for Round 14
Hockey Victoria CEO Andrew Skillern will visit the Wimmera this Friday night during Wimmera Hockey Association round 14 matches to help promote the ‘Fair Go Sport’ initiative. Following a meet and greet session at the Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre from 7pm, Mr Skillern will play part of the Friday night open match wearing ‘rainbow socks’ as part of the Fair Go gender diversity promotion. Nhill senior teams will also wear rainbow socks.
Mr Skillern will present a medallion to a ‘Player of the Match’ from each of the women’s and open teams playing Friday night who “upheld the true spirit of fair play”, as chosen by each opposition captain.
Medallions will be available to all senior teams playing on Saturday to be presented by the opposition captains.
Juniors
Warrack Revengers will play Dimboola Kangaroos in the early game on Saturday. Revengers put up a good fight last week going down to the top two team Kaniva Raiders and will look to score this week. Kangaroos have good defence and this will not be an easy match.
Yanac Warriors will play Horsham Bombers. Taking on the ladder leaders can be a challenge but if Bombers full backs and half backs work together and keep the ball wide they may be able to bypass some of the stronger players in Warriors.
Kaniva Raiders play Dimboola Kookaburras. Despite a loss to the top two team last encounter Kookaburras scored a few goals and should use that confidence going into this match.
Nhill junior team Leopards has the bye.
Women
Friday night sees home side Dimboola Women take on Nhill Thunderbirds who are fresh from a couple of solid wins. After only their second loss last week at the hands of the top side Yanac Women, Dimboola will be looking to make amends. Bighitting Dimboola will work together well on their home turf but Nhill’s fast forwardline will ensure some attacks of their own.
Horsham Highlanders and Warrack Women should enjoy an even match on Saturday. Highlanders have won the previous two encounters comfortably but without a couple of key players this could have a closer result. Warrack’s strong half back line pushing forwards could do some damage.
Top meets bottom again when Yanac Women play Kaniva Women. The teams have only met once so far and that was on grass. Kaniva plays well on turf and perhaps the margin will be a little less than the six-goal difference of last encounter. Yanac are playing some good solid hockey however and this could be a tough match. And bring on the piggy-tail challenge!
Open
Dimboola Men and Nhill Rangers should play an even match on Friday night. Dimboola put in a top performance last week against top side Yanac Tigers only losing by a goal in the dying minutes and will look to keep that momentum using strength all over the field. Rangers have great defence and will need to push forward in the fast match. This match will include a brief on-field appearance by Hockey Victoria CEO Andrew Skillern and should be quite entertaining.
Horsham Hurricanes enjoyed a high-scoring win by five goals last week but will find a tough opponent in Warrack Hoops. Hoops are quick in front of goals and this should be a fast match on the turf.
Yanac Tigers and Kaniva Cobras have only met once so far and the result was a nil-all draw. Generally the top three open teams have played even matches against each other with several draws and a few narrow scorelines making the difference on the ladder. With not much in it on that level this could be a close fast game with lots of action, accurate passing and clever plays, and an exciting game to watch.
Everybody - play hard, play fair, share the ball around, and play nice!
- Rachel Clark, WHA Records Secretary 2014
Round 14 Draw
At Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre
Friday 25 July 2014
7.00pm Dimboola Women vs Nhill Thunderbirds; 8.30pm Dimboola Men vs Nhill Rangers.
Saturday 26 July 2014
9.30am Warrack Revengers vs Dimboola Kangaroos; 11am Yanac Warriors vs Horsham Bombers; 12.30pm Kaniva Raiders vs Dimboola Kookaburras; 2pm Horsham Highlanders vs Warrack Women; 3.30pm Yanac Women vs Kaniva Women; 5pm Horsham Hurricanes vs Warrack Hoops; 6.30pm Yanac Tigers vs Kaniva Cobras.
Hook in 2 Hockey: 12.30pm Saturday on the grass hockey field.
Bye: Nhill Leopards