Hockey
28 July, 2026
Hockey leaders lock in finals spots
Another cool, dewy morning greeted players at Anzac Park in Warracknabeal on Saturday for round eleven of the Wimmera hockey season. While the damp conditions influenced play in the early matches, the teams soon adapted, and some entertaining hockey was played throughout the day.
While the damp conditions influenced play in the early matches, the teams soon adapted, and some entertaining hockey was played throughout the day.
The two leading teams in the Open competition drew a little further ahead of the rest of the field with the first-placed Yanac Tigers defeating the Nhill Rangers and second-placed Warrack Hoops holding on for a narrow win over the Kaniva Cobras.
The two victorious teams are now assured of playing finals.
Still, the other three teams are only separated by two points, guaranteeing some intense hockey over the coming weeks as three fight it out for the remaining two places in the finals.
The closest game saw the Cobras push the Hoops for the entire match before going down by just one goal.
The first three quarters were very even with both teams creating opportunities, and it was the Hoops who took the advantage with a field goal early in the last quarter and then held off their opponents to finish with the win.
The other Open match was also a close encounter for the first three quarters before the Tigers scored a couple of goals in the final period, extending their narrow three-quarter-time lead to a more comfortable result on the scoreboard than it was on the pitch.
Across the first half of the match, the Nhill Rangers put together some solid hockey, but the Tigers were still controlling most of the play, and neither scored before the long break.
A field goal and one from a penalty corner saw the Tigers take the lead midway through the third quarter, but the Rangers were not to be intimidated and replied with a field goal of their own just before three-quarter time to keep the game alive.
Another field goal extended the Tigers’ lead late in the last quarter, and a converted penalty corner as the last play of the match extended the margin to four goals to one.
Women
The leading two Women’s teams also enjoyed comfortable wins, which have not only confirmed their places in the finals, but they are locked in a tight battle for the minor premiership, as they are equal on both points and goal difference after eleven rounds.
In a game where the victors did not have it all their own way, Yanac scored a win over the Nhill Thunderbirds, with three goals in the last quarter that made this result look comfortable.
They were one goal ahead by half time and the result was still in the balance at the next break, with Yanac only holding a two-goal advantage, and it was a flurry of scoring in the last that extended the final margin to five.
Two goals in the first quarter and another three in the second set up the Dimboola Roos’ big win over the Horsham Jets, with the final margin being eight goals by the final whistle.
This combination of results has Yanac and the Roos tied at the top of the ladder, and as they have identical points and goal differences, it is the Roos who are just ahead this week with a marginally better percentage.
These two have been alternating in the top two places on the ladder in recent weeks, with goal difference the deciding factor, making every score count as the end of the season approaches.
As they are so evenly matched, the psychological advantage of finishing on top at the end of round fifteen may be a big factor in the finals.
Kaniva has almost claimed third place, but still had to work hard against the sixth-placed Warracknabeal to win by six goals eventually.
Despite their loss this week, the Thunderbirds are out of danger of missing the finals as they currently hold fourth place with a big enough buffer that the Horsham Jets are unlikely to make up the ten points they are adrift over the remaining four rounds.
However, there are still enough points on offer for them to do so if they were to win all their remaining games and have some other results fall in their favour.
Under 16
The ‘musical chairs’ amongst the leaders in the Under 16s competition continued this week with all four teams finishing the round in a different position than where they started.
The Nhill Leopards rose to the top after a solid win over the Yanac Warriors, who dropped from third to fourth, and the Kaniva Raiders moved from fourth to third with a one-goal win over the Warrack Revengers, who slipped from first to second.
Only six points separate these four teams, and with sixteen points still on offer and all capable of beating one another in this group, the final order is far from settled.
The Horsham Bombers earned their second win for the season by defeating the Dimboola Kangaroos.
While both teams are out of the running for the finals, they could still influence the final ladder positions of those above them, as they have both previously defeated teams from the top four this season.