The Bond University Bull Sharks Netball franchise will have both its Sapphire and Ruby teams contesting finals for the first time.
Bond’s teams worked hard in physically demanding final-round matchups with South Brisbane Wildcats at Gold Coast Indoor Sports Stadium yesterday to claim the pair of critical wins required to stay in the championship hunt.
Led by yet another outstanding defensive circle effort from Harriet Nicholson and Tehya Hyssett in the Ruby match, Bond fought hard to eventually overcome a fierce and determined Wildcats outfit.
A powerful performance from Joesi Gisinger at WD and C added some impressive grunt in a hotly contested midcourt.
Abby Boland showed plenty of poise in attack - often under intense physical pressure - to land clutch goals at critical times.
In a low scoring grind, Bond toughed out a hard-fought 51-41 victory.
The Sapphire fixture may have offered higher scoring, but it was an equally physical game featuring several bruising contests.
Maddie Ryan at GD was exceptional during a tireless, effort-laden four quarter performance. Sophie Westover was as tough as teak in the middle, and Mia Stower and Kaylin van Greunen were simply outstanding at the shooting end with Stower’s eye-catching long-range shooting ability again on show as Bond racked up an impressive 79-58 win.
Regardless of these results, Bond’s ability to stay in the top four of each competition would rest upon outcomes in games elsewhere.
If Brisbane North Cougars had jagged the points against the Gold Coast in their Sapphire clash, they would have leap-frogged Bond to claim fourth on percentage. But the Titans – motivated by the goal of finishing second on the ladder and earning a double finals chance – also had plenty to play for.
The Titans win not only ended the Cougars’ quest for a fifth straight Hart Sapphire Series win, but it also eliminated the perennial competition benchmark from Sapphire finals contention for the first time ever.
The path to finals was slightly less complicated for Bond’s Ruby team who enjoyed a handy ladder buffer courtesy of a healthy for-and-against.
Still, there would have been a few anxious Ruby players and officials refreshing the scores during the Ipswich Jets v Sunshine Coast fixture. In the end the blow-out required to bring things unstuck for the Bull Sharks never eventuated, and Bond claimed their place in the final four.
Bond University Head of Netball Kim Boland described a strange mix of pride and disbelief at the results.
“It’s an odd feeling when your fate is left up to others, so I’m rapt that both teams just focused on what was in their control, and that was their individual and team performances against the Wildcats yesterday,” she said.
“Both teams really turned up to play against tough, determined opponents. Each of our teams played really smart netball and didn’t take a backward step when the Wildcats girls found momentum. I’m extremely proud of us for staying on task.”
Boland says each team will approach finals knowing they can mix it with the best in the competition.
“We have worked so hard as a franchise to inspire trust our processes and to improve week-in, week-out,” she said. “Finishing top four is proof we belong.
“The players have done so much to earn this opportunity and I know they’ll attack it with everything they have.
“Both competitions are so ridiculously competitive. Anyone can beat anyone on their day.
“Our seasons now start again.”
Both Bull Sharks teams will line up in sudden death elimination finals next Sunday at Nissan Arena.
The Sapphire team will face Sunshine Coast Thunder and the Ruby side will tackle Brisbane North Cougars.