Hockey
2 July, 2025
Dimboola defeats Nhill
Several big games highlighted the Wimmera Hockey Association’s first visit to Yanac for the season.
In the women's competition, the game between the Dimboola Roos and Nhill Thunderbirds was another close encounter decided by one goal, and although the result has seen the ‘Birds drop out of the top four, they pushed the higher-ranked Roos for the whole game.
The Roos opened the scoring early in the game with a goal by Jenni Hauselberger, but by halftime, the scores were deadlocked after Rachel Clark scored a field goal in the second quarter.
Midway through the third period of play, Hauselberger scored another goal to give the Roos the lead, and despite some very even play, Nhill was unable to equalise.
This keeps Dimboola in second place on the ladder, eight points ahead of Kaniva in third and six points behind Yanac, their opponent in the next round.
At this midway point of the season, the under 16 ladder has settled, with the Yanac Warriors a game clear at the top ahead of the Nhill Leopards, and the Horsham Bombers are in sixth place, and losing touch with those above them who are challenging for a spot in the finals.
The most interest is in the battle for places three to five, with the Warrack Revengers and Dimboola Kangaroos currently in the top four, but the Kaniva Raiders are not far behind and have a real chance of claiming a place in the finals.
This week, the only movement was the Warrack Revengers rising to third after a win over the Horsham Bombers, and the Dimboola Kangaroos dropping one place when they found the Nhill Leopards too strong.
The Yanac Warriors remain on top, one win ahead of the second-placed Leopard, after they overcame the Kaniva Raiders.
Looking to this weekend, the focus of the Women’s competition will be on the match between ladder leaders Yanac and their closest rival, the Dimboola Roos.
With a win, Yanac will extend their lead to ten points, which will be almost unassailable in the race for the minor premiership, while a Roos victory would see them move to just two points adrift, which will keep them in with a chance of rising to the top.
In the under 16s, the big game in the Under 16 division will see the Kaniva Raiders eager to overcome the Warrack Revengers, which could see them re-enter the top four for the first time since round one if other results are favourable, but the Revengers have been in some good form recently and a win here could be enough to all but assure them a place in the finals.
of confidence from a narrow loss.