Time is running out for a number of teams to stake their claim for the finals.
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This situation has set up a number of hard fought-games in round 11 of the Wimmera Hockey Association season at Warracknabeal on Saturday.
OPEN
The Yanac Tigers kept their unbeaten record intact, but only after pulling off another late game save, a converted penalty stroke in the last five minutes the only difference between them and the Nhill Rangers.
Yanac controlled much of the game, but Rangers' spirited defence kept them in touch until a late-game penalty.
The Dimboola Burras scraped out a one-goal victory over the Horsham Hurricanes to remain in the race for a top-two Wimmera Hockey Association finish.
Horsham opened the scoring in a very even first half, but Dimboola equalled five minutes later and the teams went into the break at one goal each.
Another goal to Dimboola early in the next half earned them the advantage, and although both teams created further scoring opportunities, neither added to their tally leaving the result as a win for the Burras.
In the biggest margin of the day in the association's open competition, the Warrack Hoops held off a tenacious Kaniva Cobras to record a three-goal win.
But they had maintain their pressure for the whole game to earn this result.
WOMEN
The closest game for the round in this competition was between Warracknabeal and Kaniva.
Kaniva set up victory with two goals in the first half.
In the second half they needed all of this advantage as Warrack put in one of their best games for the season, regularly mounting attacking moves, but unable to convert any of this into goals.
The Dimboola Roos will take their best form into their top-of-the-table clash with Yanac next week after they scored a comfortable 10-goal win over the Horsham Jets.
In a game that was more even than the five-nil score line suggests, Yanac maintained their grip on top place on the ladder with a hard-fought win over the Nhill Thunderbirds.
Yanac established this lead by the seven-minute mark of the second half and from there on the Thunderbirds matched their higher-ranked opponent on the field, if not on the scoreboard.
LADDER
Open
Pts GD
Yanac Tigers 38-25 933%
Warrack Hoops 28-19 480%
Dimboola Burras 26-11 173%
Nhill Rangers 12-14 36%
Kaniva Cobras 10-21 32%
Horsham Hurricanes 6-20 23%