The Bull Sharks Ruby squad were left to rue a missed opportunity to push into the top four when they fell to the Thunder at Nissan Arena on Sunday.
Coach Kim Boland says the side is good enough to win the competition if they can just become more adept at playing to their strengths.
On Wednesday the Sapphire Series also went down to the competition benchmark but coach Bec Stower also saw enough to believe her side can still challenge for the title.
Sapphire
Bull Sharks lost 75-66
Where it was lost:
We started off poorly, which boosted the Thunder's confidence. By the end of the first quarter, we were trailing 23-10. We then concentrated on gradually reducing the deficit to avoid being under pressure during the super shot period.
The highlight:
We won the 2nd and 3rd quarters by 5 and 3 goals respectively. Unfortunately, we couldn't maintain our momentum during our scoring runs to effectively consolidate and reduce the lead.
What made you happy:
When we're on, we're outstanding. I must highlight that this Thunder team is the Lightning Bolts' SSN Reserves team, which includes five Lightning training partners. They have benefited from consistent high-level match play over the past month in the SSN Reserves competition, along with training opportunities with the SCL. They should be considered a benchmark team in the HSS competition. Although we had plenty of opportunities, we just weren't consistent enough in this game.
Bull Sharks Netball:
I was proud of the girls' efforts to keep pushing back against the Thunder. At one point, the deficit exceeded 20 goals. Reducing that to under 10 demonstrates what the girls are truly capable of.
The work to do:
We need to improve our response when the opposition goes on a scoring run. We tend to lose momentum, and against teams of this calibre, it becomes difficult to recover.
Trademark Players:
Hannah Le Sage and Mia Stower made 15 successful super shots, totalling 30 points, which significantly helped us reduce the deficit.
Ruby
Bull Sharks v Thunder.
Bull Sharks lost 52-45
Where it was Lost.
In simple terms, we didn't play well this week. The game was very physical, and Thunder really stepped up their efforts against us. We need to be flexible and adjust our style of play when necessary, and we also need to stick to the game plan. We've been drifting away from it during the game, which makes us lose focus.
What made you happy:
There were moments of excellent netball that highlighted the team's potential. These instances demonstrated our skill, teamwork, and ability to execute plays effectively. They showed that when we are focused and cohesive, we can perform at a high level and compete strongly.
Highlight:
We have 10 incredible athletes with the potential to win this Ruby competition. This week presents an opportunity to shift the narrative of our season so far. By focusing on our strengths and making necessary adjustments, we can turn things around and showcase our true capabilities.
The work to do:
Our biggest challenge appears to be our inconsistency, both within individual games and from week to week, which is holding us back from reaching the top 4. We need to return to training and focus on the areas that need improvement, particularly our through-court attack and our connections with the shooters to create scoring opportunities.
Trademark Player:
Ella Spencer filling in for Harriet Nicholson in defence made some significant contributions with turnovers and through court transition.