Hockey
1 May, 2026
Hockey blasts through opening round
If the quality of hockey on display in the opening round last weekend is a taste of what is to come in the 2026 Wimmera Hockey Association season, we are in for some great hockey over the next 20 weeks.
If the quality of hockey on display in the opening round last weekend is a taste of what is to come in the 2026 Wimmera Hockey Association season, we are in for some great hockey over the next 20 weeks.
OPEN
In the Open competition, the Warrack Hoops and Kaniva Cobras played out an enthralling, scoreless draw in a fast-paced game in which both teams displayed explosive attacking moves, all of which were nullified by solid defence at both ends of the field.
Both teams had some new faces since they last played, with the players nominated as Kaniva’s best in the game, including Tim Jorgensen, playing his first game for his new club, having lined up for the Hoops for the last few seasons, and Clint Beattie, who was playing his first match since an injury curtailed his participation mid-way through the 2025 season.
Centre forward Ben Williamson stood out for Warrack, as did Hunter Knoop, who was playing his first game for the Hoops.
It appears that the Nhill Rangers might be the team to watch in the Open competition this year after an impressive first-up performance against the reigning premiers, the Yanac Tigers.
teams this year.
The Rangers put in one of their best performances of recent seasons, keeping the Tigers scoreless for the first half, but while they were matching the reigning premiers around the field, none of their players could impose themselves on the game in the same manner as several Tigers’ players can.
The Tigers took control of the game with a goal within seconds of the start of the third quarter by Rourkey Croot and another seven minutes later by Archie Zanker, two of their younger players, highlighting the depth in their team.
While the Rangers defended solidly and prevented any further scoring, the damage had been done.
While the Nhill team didn’t get the win, they made a statement to the rest of the competition that they will be more of a more challenging adversary this season than in recent years.
The Horsham Hurricanes remain a mystery, as they had the bye this week and will make their first appearance of 2026 in round two at Nhill next Saturday.
WOMEN
The three Women’s division matches ended with predictable results, but this did not mean that they weren’t absorbing contests.
The Dimboola Roos scored a comfortable win over their co-tenants at the Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre, the Horsham Jets, by six goals.
The Roos dominated the game right from the start and had established a two-goal lead by quarter time, which they extended to five goals by the half-time break.
Although they were held to just one goal for the remainder of the game, the Jets couldn’t gain control of the ball often enough to take the pressure off their defenders, which was highlighted by the penalty corner count, with the Roos earning eleven without conceding any.
Jennie Hauselberger had a good individual start to her season, with three goals and the top votes as the Roos’ best player, ahead of Brooke McMaster and Tamara Clark, and it was no surprise that the players who caught the eye of the umpires as the Jets’ best were defenders, including full-back Sarah O’Connor, midfielder Kiesha Besselar, and goalkeeper Jenny Taylor.
The Nhill Thunderbirds, who narrowly missed the Women’s division finals last season, started strongly in their encounter with Yanac, the reigning premiers, earning a one-goal lead by quarter time.
Yanac had to work hard to draw even by halftime, and although they had the better of the second half, to finish with a comfortable win, the ‘Birds were not disgraced.
Warrack Women’s season did not start with the result they were after, but they were playing Kaniva, one of the form teams over recent seasons.
Kaniva came away with a comfortable win, suggesting they will still be a serious contender this year. Sharon Williams led the scoring with two goals, and Lisa Stimson was named as Kaniva’s best, while midfielder Eillie Williamson put in a polished performance for Warrack.
UNDER 16
The Under 16 Dimboola Kangaroos and the Horsham Bombers opened the season on Friday evening with an evenly fought match won by the former team by two goals, and in the rematch of the 2025 grand final, the Yanac Warriors turned the tables on the Nhill Leopards with a one-goal victory.
On Saturday, the Warrack Revengers, who struggled to fill a full team for most of last season, started on a positive note with a strong six-goal win over the Kaniva Raiders, who may be in the inevitable rebuilding phase after the loss of several key players from last season.
Next Saturday, round two will be played at Davis Park in Nhill in front of their new grandstand, which was formally opened several weeks ago.
Read More: Dimboola