2014 - Round 16 Preview
Round 16
Friday 8 August and Saturday 9 August 2014
At Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre
(hosted by Horsham Hockey Club)
PREVIEW
Friday night games hosted by Horsham
Wimmera Hockey Association round 16 matches will be played at Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre this weekend starting Friday night. Horsham Hockey Club will host the nine matches. With only three home and away rounds to go the competition is heating up, although the ladder order has not changed for two consecutive weeks and is not likely to change after this round either.
Juniors
Nhill Leopards will play another strong team game when they take on the Dimboola Kookaburras in the early game on Saturday. Kookaburras are fresh from a bye and will be keen to get back on the turf, although maybe not so keen if it’s another frosty start and the turf is slippery and difficult to negotiate, although this may also have the bonus of evening out the competition a little. Leopards defenders have been playing top hockey in recent weeks and will help the side to keep Kookaburra attacks at bay. Kookaburra’s captain Lachlan Schultz will need to rally his side and utilise the whole field to outmanoeuvre the Leopards.
Dimboola Kangaroos in the lower order meet top side Yanac Warriors who are surging further ahead on the ladder. With strength all over the field led by centre half back Zachary Dorrington and inner Todd Alexander the Warriors will be tough opponents. Kangaroos have strong defence in the Pilmore girls Zoe and Amy and should work to their strengths including Hayden Withers in attack mode following a good performance last week when he scored a quality goal after weaving through several defenders.
Horsham Bombers should play a competitive match against Kaniva Raiders. Raiders have won by comfortable margins in two previous encounters but the Bombers will put up a good fight. If the young Bombers keep passing well and using good team play like they have been this year and keep their consistent line up it will only be a matter of a couple of years of growing and maturing until they are on top. Bomber Traiyth Leffler and Raider Luke Shalders each played their debut match for their senior teams last week and each picked up a vote at the higher level, and will be confident players to watch.
Warracknabeal junior team Revengers has the bye.
Women
On Friday night the Nhill Thunderbirds will take on Warrack Women. Both teams are coming off losses from tough games last week. With finals just around the corner the Warrack Women must win this match if they are to keep their finals hopes alive. They will be hoping Linley Arnold-Wardle and Alana Argent will be playing at their best, together with the whole half back line which is where their strength comes from. The Thunderbirds have a strong half line also with Emma Janetzki in centre but have the bonus of a fast forwardline including Lauren Bendall who is equal second on the women’s goal scorer leader board.
On Saturday Horsham Highlanders will face top women’s team Yanac Women who has been dominating this season. The unbeaten Yanac have won the past three encounters by comfortable margins including a 9-0 demolition on grass a few weeks ago. Highlanders had their first win in a few weeks last week against bottom side Kaniva Women and will use that win and hope of having one of their strong half backs back in the side to go into this match with more confidence. Young Highlanders players Lucy O’Connor at centre half back and Mikaela Turvey at inner have been stepping up in recent weeks doing well to lead the side. Yanac have the women’s leading goal scorer in Louise Bone and together with solid performer Erin Alexander at centre half back will be hard to beat.
In the late game on Saturday Dimboola Women play Kaniva Women. Dimboola have won the past three encounters although the one match they played on turf saw Kaniva team well and pass well and they only lost a close 3-2. The turf suits the Kaniva women’s game play and they will be confident of playing some competitive hockey against the top two team. Dimboola have come off a solid 6-0 win against Warrack Women last week however and will be tough to beat.
Open
On Friday night the Nhill Rangers will face their second tough consecutive week when they face the second placed Warrack Hoops. The teams have only played once this year due to the Rangers forfeiting last time due to lack of numbers. Hoops won the first encounter 4-0. This match on turf should suit the Rangers and they will put up a good fight, starting with good defence from the back line led by Mont Miller and a half back line which is passing well. Hoops have the open competition’s leading goal scorer so far in Marcus Williamson, and plenty of others who can score goals.
In a prelude to finals action the Kaniva Cobras will play their most likely counterparts for semi finals in Dimboola Men. Although winning their three past encounters Cobras have come out in front in the last two by only one goal ahead. Dimboola are strengthening at the right end of the season and the Cobras will have to keep the pressure on, and hope they have their full side back in.
Home side Horsham Hurricanes will face top team Yanac Tigers. The unbeaten Tigers have won by comfortable margins in their past three encounters, although Hurricanes did have a shining moment last encounter when they scored a goal against the top team which has conceded only five goals for the season so far.
- Rachel Clark, WHA Records Secretary 2014
Round 16 Draw
At Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre
(hosted by Horsham Hockey Club)
Friday 8 August 2014
7.00pm Nhill Thunderbirds vs Warrack Women; 8.30pm Nhill Rangers vs Warrack Hoops.
Saturday 9 August 2014
9.30am Nhill Leopards vs Dimboola Kookaburras; 11am Dimboola Kangaroos vs Yanac Warriors; 12.30pm Horsham Bombers vs Kaniva Raiders; 2pm Horsham Hurricanes vs Yanac Tigers; 3.30pm Horsham Highlanders vs Yanac Women; 5pm Dimboola Men vs Kaniva Cobras; 6.30pm Dimboola Women vs Kaniva Women.
Hook in 2 Hockey: on the old hockey field, 12.30pm.
Bye: Warrack Revengers