Our men, women and Colts all worked hard against strong Wests lineups on Saturday, but in the end fell just short of the mark.
Bull Sharks v Wests
Premier Women
Bull Sharks lost 32-25
Where was it lost:
Our game on the edge let us down. We let in too many tries out wide. Our defence wasn’t up to our previous standard and is one of our bigger let downs.
The highlight:
Charli Jacoby, our international prop returned from USA. She always brings a lot of enthusiasm and energy to the group. Her skill set is invaluable in our defensive line up.
What made you happy:
Our forward pack were really out to play. I ask a lot of those girls and they deliver above the expected every time. Their defensive nature and work rate was through the roof, they delivered an exceptional game.
The work to do:
Tackling, Tackling, Tackling! Our gaps in defensive level on the edge is where we struggle most. Our tackle height variations should be at a higher standard this far into the season. We will be needing to improve, and fast!
Trademark player:
I have said it before and I will say it again, Zoe Hanna has been a really strong player for us. I have no doubt Zoe will progress to higher honours. Her huge work rate paired with her dominant defence and powerful ball carries make her a player no one can overlook.
With Shannon Symon.
Premier Men
Bull Sharks lost 17-27
Where it was lost:
We had them at 17-all until the last 10 minutes of play which is a big feat against a team as strong as the Wests. Our discipline slipped at the end, and we gave away two penalties, followed by a yellow card. The Wests boys capitalised on these mistakes, taking position and possession to win it in the last few minutes of play.
The highlight:
The operation of our backline was a highlight form a coaching perspective. They effectively took on Wests who are some of the biggest and strongest defenders in the competition. We managed to land a few well executed tries - one that sticks in the forefront of my mind was set up by the skilful Hamish Roberts and scored by Adam Gaurder.
What made you happy:
The defensive effort was out of the park on Saturday - by far one of the strongest efforts of the season. Keeping a team like Wests down to only 17 points at 70 minutes is a sure sign of the boys’ efforts. Jake Winchester was particularly good in this regard.
The work to do:
Heading into a bye weekend we will be making the most of the opportunity to rest up. We will need to win majority of the final six games to make it through to finals, so we have a clear task in front of us. Our cohesion and teamwork will be what gets us to our goal. We have had majority of the players together for the full season so the connection between them is strong, but it is something we continue to work on, and we hope it brings us the results in this last third of the season.
Trademark player:
Rhys Sheriff started the game under an injury cloud but played really strongly. He succumbed to the injury later in the game, but pushed through a pain barrier until then to contribute to the team’s efforts while he was on the field.
With Mick Heenan.
Colts 1
Bull Sharks lost 24-19
Where it was lost:
After half time we allowed Wests to build their momentum by conceding two basic turn overs. Add the yellow card we received for poor discipline, and it was clear we were going to be down a peg for the remainder of the game.
The highlight:
We scored some ripper tries. Another highlight of our Saturday was how strong our pack was against a powerful Bulldogs side. We troubled them with our impactful scrum.
What made you happy:
It was terrific to see the energy and effort from the boys. Those are things you can’t coach. It was really great to see so much fire from our Bull Sharks out on that field. We played hard and gave ourselves a chance to win the game but, in the end, we fell a little short.
Bull Sharks Football:
Our connection out there was the reason for our great game. We created tries and used the talent of players like Kobe Waikato to our advantage. Waikato’s midfield game was strong again this weekend, aiding in the team's strong defense, creating opportunities for our boys to attack.
The work to do:
We will be looking to work on our discipline and leadership. Our tackle accuracy and consistency will be another target heading into the rest of the season. Continued work on our defensive abilities is needed.
Trademark player:
Nick Hilton remains a great player for us. He was truly in his element and at the best of his game on Saturday. He was a major ball carrier for us and very physical in his contacts.
With Rico Gear.