Australian Rugby Club Championships

You just can't keep a good thing down. 

The Bond University Bull Sharks’ era of dominance in women’s rugby continued when they wiped the floor with Shute Shield champions Warringah 24-0 to claim a second Australian Rugby Club Championship. 

Bond coach Setu Naseri described the win as a complete team - performance. 

“We knew we were walking into some pretty fired-up opposition today,” Naseri said.

“We set some pretty clear markers before we arrived here, and I thought that our preparation had set us up well. 

“The past few weeks of trials allowed us to nail our selection for this game, and the score today reflected that. 

“It was a really good team performance. We weren’t clinical, but what’s been a hallmark of this team is the ‘never say never ’ attitude.

 “The girls always turn up for each other, and today was another example of that.” 

A new-look Bull Sharks side started slowly and had to rely on solid defence and the boot of 2025 Cheyenne Campbell medal winner and fullback Zara Colless to build a 9-0 lead over the opening 30 minutes of the match. 

The first try didn’t come until the dying moments of the half when centre Eva Doblo broke through the line to send the Bull Sharks to halftime ahead 16-0. 

Cobie-Jane Morgan made an immediate impact in the second half, crossing for a try to push the lead to 21-0. A penalty goal sealed an emphatic 24-0 victory. 

Lock Lucy Thorpe impressed and was supported well by flanker Paris Mohr and No.8 Karlee Cruickshank. The side was superbly led by captain Elisha Godsiff. 

“Elisha Godsiff led from the front,” Naseri said. 

“Cobie-Jane Morgan, Zara Colless, Imogen Hei and Evie Sampson just had us playing in the right end of the park.” 

It wasn’t the same fairytale finish for the Bull Shark men who conceded 24 unanswered points to lose the Bernard Power Trophy to Warringah 34-19. 

Bond led 19-10 going into the first break after Deon Evans-Ao-Leifi, skipper Tyler Campbell and Harrison Usher all put tries on the board. 

But they couldn’t hold on, with Warringah hitting back in the second half with two tries in the first 10 minutes to swing the momentum and take the lead 24-19. Bond struggled to respond from there and the Sydneysiders ran away with the win.