Hockey
27 June, 2025
Premiership aspirants turn for home
As the Wimmera hockey season crosses over the halfway point, several teams are facing increasing pressure to make a statement of their intentions in the premiership race while others have almost done enough to start refining their strategy for the finals.
The pivotal round eight games will include the battle for second place on the open ladder between the incumbent Warrack Hoops and the in-form Horsham Hurricanes, and a rematch of last year’s Women’s grand final between Kaniva and Yanac.
Open
A victory for the Hoops will see them earn some space between themselves and third place while a successful outcome for the Hurricanes will draw them level on points with the Hoops but their superior goal difference would see them rise to second.
The Warrack team has displayed some patchy form over the last month but bounced back with a win last weekend, but will be under pressure to improve further against a Hurricanes team that put in an impressive effort in their loss to the Tigers last Saturday.
The Kaniva Cobras go into this round in third place on the ladder and face the daunting task of taking on the undefeated Tigers.
As the only team in the top four with a negative goal difference, even if they fail to inflict the Tigers’ first defeat in six years, they cannot afford to suffer a big loss if they are to stay in the race for a top-two finish.
Women
The women’s division will also feature some big games.
In a replay of last season’s grand final, Yanac and Kaniva will clash.
Yanac is yet to be defeated this season, and after a slow start Kaniva finds itself in third place, battling with the resurgent Dimboola Roos for a top-two finish.
A win here would keep Kaniva in with a chance to overtake Dimboola but a loss could create a gap they may struggle to overcome before the finals.
The Roos, who had a tough hit-out in round six when they played out a draw with Kaniva, won’t have an easy day as they plan to keep their grip on second place against a Nhill Thunderbirds team coming off a confidence-building win over Warracknabeal.
This will be a captivating encounter that could go either way, with either result having far-reaching consequences for the losing team and its final position on the ladder.
A bit is also riding on the game between the lower two teams on the ladder, where the Horsham Jets need a convincing win if they have ambitions of returning to the top four, while with nothing to lose, the Warrack Women could spring a surprise.
Under 16
There is also potential for some influential results in the under 16 division.
The Kaniva Raiders are challenging to break into the top four but may have their progress slowed by the undefeated Yanac Warriors, and the Warrack Revengers could use a win to consolidate their place in the top four but will have to work hard despite meeting the sixth-placed Bombers, who were gallant in defeat to the Warriors last week.
The Dimboola Kangaroos will have to be at their best if they are to take the points off the team above them on the ladder, Nhill Leopards.
– SIMON KING
