By Jordan Hughes
Bond University’s premier men’s side will round out the season back at The Canal in a final showdown against Easts with fifth place on the line.
The Batty-Bremner-Thomas Trophy, currently held by the Tigers, will again be up for grabs. Bond will be eager to finish the year with some sort of silverware after Brothers quashed their finals hopes last weekend.
Bond women’s premiership team hasn’t disappointed Bull Sharks faithful desperate for finals action, they can lock in a top two finish on Saturday.
LAST TIME THEY MET
It was a game to forget last time the men’s premier sides met, it was Easts who blew Bond off the park in a 47-19 romp in Round 9.
This time around the Bull Sharks are back at the Canal which has been a fortress for the side this year winning five of their seven games at home this season.
WHERE WILL IT BE WON
Heading into the final game of the season captain Dan Boardman had a clear message for his troops.
“The message is to keep it simple, reduce our errors, show up physically and be ready to compete for the full 80 minutes,” he said.
The 28-point drubbing back in round 9 was the most disappointing Bull Sharks result this season, gifting the Tigers the Batty-Bremner-Thomas Trophy.
“That’s been at forefront of everyone’s preparation, we got embarrassed, we weren’t prepared,” he said.
“I think we owe it to ourselves; we are at home and it’s our last game.
“We want to put in a good performance, and we know we can play good footy and score quick tries and defend for our lives.”
Last week Brothers got out to a 20-point lead late in the second half before the Bull Sharks were forced to come back, falling short at the final hurdle.
“We just beat ourselves and were a bit lazy in our defensive shape, it’s been more of us letting teams back into the game rather than the opposite.” said Boardman.
“We are really focused on us playing our game, keeping the penalty count to under double digits and fronting up defensively for the full 80.”
TEAM NEWS
Fortunately, Bond University came out of the Brothers battle unscathed on the injury front and will head into the final round with close to a full-strength side against the Tigers.
Hayden Sargeant will finish the year as he started in the flyhalf jersey alongside inside centre Tyler Campbell. Their partnership continues to develop with Campbell scoring two tries and setting up a third last week against Brothers.
AROUND THE GRADES
The second placed women’s premier side sit in second position, just above Easts in third. A win for the Bull Sharks will guarantee them a place in the top two.
Women’s captain Elisha Godsiff said last weekend’s 43-10 victory over Brothers was extra sweet, given a range of hurdles facing the team.
“The girls knew we had to get around each other. We’ve had heaps of our younger girls playing in other leagues and competitions,” she said.
“We’ve also had heaps of injuries especially in our front row. We didn’t even have a front row sub that day, so the girls have been putting in lots of work.
“To possibly end up in a top two spot and then have an extra go at making the grand final is massive.”
The finals hopes of the premier men’s side may be lost, but it’s a season defining week for other grades.
It doesn’t get much closer for second grade who need to win to cement their place in the top four. Bond’s second grade side are currently in fourth on 50 points with GPS nudging them on 49 points.
Both of Bond’s Colts sides are also playing for survival, needing a win to book their place in week one of finals.
Bond V Easts Round 18 Match Day Information
Saturday August 27 – The Canal
Colts Two- 10:00am
Third Grade- 11:20am
Colts One- 12:40pm
Second Grade- 2:00pm
First grade- 3:35pm – Live on Stan Sport
Premier Women- 5:30pm