By Jordan Hughes
Bond will create history this weekend when the University hosts the Queensland Premier Rugby preliminary finals for the first time.
The Bull Sharks red-hot premier women’s side are the only Bond team playing on Super Sunday- they will battle the GPS Gallopers for a chance to play in the grand final at Suncorp stadium next weekend.
LAST TIME THEY MET
The two sides have met twice this year, the first in round 3 resulting in a dominant 36-19 victory to the Gallopers.
In round 12 it was a complete performance from the Bull Sharks in a 46-0 drubbing of GPS which included three tries to speedster Dianne Waight.
Sunday’s decider is a case of history repeating: the two teams went head-to-head in last year’s preliminary final with the Gallopers advancing. Nine Bull Sharks players who featured in that heartbreaking loss are playing on Sunday.
WHERE WILL IT BE WON
After a brutal match up against Sunnybank, the Bull Sharks are nursing a number of sore bodies ahead of the knockout final against GPS.
Flanker Grace Baker, who has been a cornerstone of the Bull Sharks lineout this season and a consistent performer, was proud of the team's efforts against Sunnybank.
“We really bought our physically into the game and played with our heart, we never gave up and got the result,” she said.
The Bull Sharks are a slightly smaller side compared to Brisbane clubs but the skill level and speed they possess has been a point of difference which they will rely on this weekend.
“We will look to utilise our backline a bit more this week, a lot of our play on the weekend was forward dominant. We know GPS will come hard at us with their big pack, so we want to use our speed we have out wide,” said Baker.
Bond will cherish being back at home this weekend having only lost twice at The Canal this season.
“It’s really exciting, having all our families and a home crowd. To get the win and pass that final hurdle into next week would be awesome," said Baker.
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Following the women’s game there will be three blockbuster match ups including the first grade fixture between University of Queensland and Brothers at 3:10pm.
Both sides will be featuring a number of Wallabies including James ‘O’Connor and Harry Wilson for Brothers and Jock Campbell for UQ.
MATCH DAY INFORMATION
Bond University – Sunday 11th September
10:30am – Premier Women – Bond V GPS
12:00pm – Colts One – Brothers V Easts Tigers
1:30pm – Second Grade – Brothers V GPS Gallopers
3:10pm – First grade - Brothers V University of Queensland