Hockey
5 May, 2026
Tigers dominate grand final rematch
After just two rounds of the Wimmera Hockey Association season, the Women’s division is starting to take on a familiar look, with the top three teams from last season all remaining undefeated so far in 2026, but there are signs that some changes might be developing in the other two competitions.
The rematch of the 2025 Open grand final was the feature game of the round of matches played at Nhill’s Davis Park on Saturday, but due to some off-season player movements, it was a much different Horsham Hurricanes team that lined up on Saturday to attempt to avenge their loss to the Yanac Tigers.
Unfortunately, this meant the game was not as close as it had been when they last met, and the Tigers more than doubled their winning margin to seven goals.
It was not just on the scoreboard that the Yanac team dominated, earning 15 penalty corners, five of which they converted into goals, while not conceding any.
However, the score could have been greater if it had not been for some solid defence, led by Horsham’s goal keeper, Lars Simmons, who was named as their best, along with midfielder, Jack Di Pietro.
Yanac forwards Brad Alexander, Todd Alexander, and Shaun Alexander were their team’s best players and, between them, contributed just over half of their team’s goals.
The Nhill Rangers continue to impress, fighting out a one-all draw with the Kaniva Cobras.
Former Cobra, Lachie Mills, opened the scoring for his new team with an early field goal to put the Rangers ahead within minutes of the start of the game, a lead they still held at halftime after a very even half of play that saw both teams earn two penalty corners each, but neither could translate these into goals.
Kaniva had the better of the third quarter, earning two penalty corners, one of which was converted onto the scoreboard by Jordan Clark to tie the scores.
Nhill controlled more of the play in the last period of play but was unable to penetrate the Cobras’ defence, and the match ended in a draw.
At the end of this round, the Tigers sit undefeated atop the ladder, ahead of the rest of the field that so far appear to be reasonably well matched, which bodes well for some entertaining hockey as they all plot to challenge the dominance of the Tigers.
The Hurricanes' ongoing form remains a bit of a mystery, as although their first outing on Saturday did not end as well as they would have wanted, we need to see them play against another team to get a better opinion of their form, and the Warrack Hoops had the bye on Saturday, so have only played once and are also a bit of an unknown.
Women
The closest match in the Women’s competition saw Kaniva overcome the Nhill Thunderbirds by three goals to two.
After a scoreless first quarter, a converted penalty corner put Kaniva on the
scoreboard soon after the start of the second, but this was matched by a Nhill field goal just before
halftime.
Kaniva again drew ahead early in the third quarter with another penalty corner goal, but Barrett Clark kept Nhill in the game with his second field goal for the match midway through the last quarter.
The game looked to be heading for a draw until Nyree Hutchins scored her second goal from a penalty corner with just under four minutes of play remaining to give Kaniva the lead.
Despite some spirited play, Nhill was unable to reply in what little time remained, and Kaniva maintained their undefeated start to the season.
The other two matches were not quite as close, with the Dimboola Roos and Yanac both registering solid wins.
Yanac controlled their game against the Horsham Jets right from the start, but if it wasn’t for some solid defence, the margin could have been larger than five goals. Erin Alexander and Mikayla Mackley scored two goals each, and Caitlyn Alexander the other, while midfielders James Mackereth and Lorna Schilling were named as the Jets’ better players.
Six of their players shared the goals in the Dimboola Roos defeat of Warracknabeal.
Ash Baker scored three, and Amelia Rintoule and Naomi Kuhnell scored two each as the major contributors to their total of ten goals.
Warrack did not breach the Roos’ defence at any stage, but midfielders Ellie Williamson and Faye Johns, goalkeeper Kate Ward, and borrowed player Ruby Stimson all played well.
These results have the top three teams undefeated, eight points ahead of the rest of the field, all of which are yet to register a win.
This should see some entertaining hockey over the coming weeks as both groups begin to play each other.
Under 16
After a second consecutive victory by the Dimboola Kangaroos to open their season, they find themselves in unfamiliar territory, undefeated at the top of the ladder, ahead of perennial finalists, the Yanac Warriors, and the team they defeated this week, the Warrack Revengers.
The Kangaroos took the lead in the first quarter, and while the Revengers matched them on the field for much of the rest of the game, it was only three more quick goals in the last quarter by the Dimboola team that saw the result blow out to four goals.
The Yanac Warriors also kept their perfect opening to the season with a three-goal win over the Horsham Bombers, and in the closest match of the round, the Nhill Leopards held on for a one-goal victory over the Kaniva Raiders.