Hockey
15 August, 2025
Clock ticking for hockey finals aspirants
The penultimate round of the Wimmera Hockey Association’s regular season this Saturday will feature pivotal matches in each division that could lock in the lineups for the semi-finals.
Second spot in the open competition could be confirmed with a Hoops victory, the Horsham Jets’ slim chances of making the women’s finals could remain alive for another week if they come out of the round with a win, and one of the last two places in the under 16 top four will be decided.
Open
The big clash in the open competition will pit second against third and could decide which earns the double chance alongside the minor premiers in the finals.
The Warrack Hoops currently hold second place by two points ahead of the Kaniva Cobras and with a win would clinch that place, but a Cobras victory would move them ahead by two points.
With the Hoops getting two points from the bye in the last round, for the Cobras to remain in the top two, they would then need at least a draw with the Hurricanes in the last round.
Last weekend the Hoops showed some spirited form in their narrow loss to the Tigers and the Cobras overcame the tenacious Rangers, so with the finals’ second chance on the line, the scene is set for a cracker of a game that could go either way.
The other open match features the Hurricanes and Rangers, and while the Horsham team excels on the artificial turf of their home ground at Dimboola, they are not as polished on a grass surface.
With the first two rounds of finals to be played on grass, they need to find some form away from home, but the Rangers also have the motivation to register their first win for 2025 after having come close on several occasions.
The Tigers have the bye and have already done enough to finish the regular season in first place.
Women
The match between the Nhill Thunderbirds and Horsham Jets could lock in the top four in the women’s division.
Yanac in the last round to sneak into the top four.
Recent form suggests the Thunderbirds should win this one.
The top two teams will clash in the opening women’s game of the round, and although Yanac has already claimed the minor premiership regardless of results in the last two rounds, the Dimboola Roos would dearly like to dent Yanac’s confidence before they meet again in the semi-finals.
After the high of their first win two weeks ago and the low of a loss to the ladder leaders last round, the Warrack Women could bounce back on their home ground against a Kaniva that has shown some patchy form over recent rounds due to the absence of several key players.
Under 16
Dimboola Kangaroos will struggle against the Yanac Warriors, although even with a loss the Kangaroos will remain a challenger for fourth place when they play the Revengers in the last round.
The Nhill Leopards should enhance their claim to the top of the ladder with a win over the Horsham Bombers.
