Round 17 Preview

Top two junior spot still up for grabs
Warriors and Leopards will compete for the top two spot on the junior ladder in the final round of the Wimmera Hockey Association home and away season when they clash at Nhill’s Davis Park this Saturday.
Nhill Leopards are currently in second spot but with only a four-point buffer a win to Yanac Warriors could possibly see this order change. Warriors would need to win by at least two goals.
If Leopards win or the result is a draw Leopards will retain their second spot and the enviable double chance in the finals which start next week. Warriors would retain third spot.
In their round one encounter Leopards won 4-2 but by round eight Warriors were strengthening and the teams drew 2-2. Anything could happen this week in round 17.
Raiders will play top team Kangaroos and even though Kangaroos are the stronger team it will make no difference to Raiders’ fourth position, except perhaps to their level of confidence going into the finals next week.
In the other junior match Bombers play Kookaburras in a clash of the bottom of the ladder. Neither team will make the finals this year but will still play with determination in their final matches of the season.
Revengers finish in the middle of the junior ladder and have the bye this week.
Can Highlanders finish their 2008 home and away season unbeaten or will Warrack Women end their run in the final match before finals? Warrack are still on the improve while top Highlanders remain consistent. The Horsham side’s worst result so far this season has been one draw.
There is still a slim but unlikely chance that Kaniva Women could get a finals berth but they would have to either draw with Dimboola or hope Yanac would lose to Thunderbirds. Thunderbirds have struggled all year to field a consistent team let alone score many goals so Yanac will be the probable victors of their match. Dimboola should be too strong for Kaniva and will also be looking to gain a few more points to secure their top two spot considering Warrack is only two points behind them.
The order of the men’s ladder cannot change now. Kaniva Men play Dimboola Men who will play their last match for the season, also Nhill Men when they play top team Tigers. Hurricanes and Hoops will meet and they will possibly play in two weeks time in the preliminary final depending on next week’s results.
- Rachel Clark