Two Bull Sharks teams charge into preliminary finals this weekend, each a win away from a Grand Final berth.
Our Colts 2 boys take on University of Queensland on Saturday at 10.45am while our Second Grade men face Wests on Sunday at 1.30pm. Both games are at Sunnybank.
Interesting side fact: our Colts 2 are believed to be the first Bond Colts 2 side to reach the finals, and a win would set up the chance to have both Colts 1 and Colts 2 in premiership deciders.
Second Grade
The Opposition:
We played Wests in the last round of the competition a couple of weeks ago, and we played very well. Beat them quite convincingly. That doesn’t necessarily make this week a given, but it means the boys have a bit of confidence – they feel like they’ve got these guys’ measure.
The Challenge:
Last Sunday we started poorly, we were 21-nil down after about ten minutes before we caught our breath and opened up to win 35-21. If I’m honest, I think we went overconfident and didn’t respect the opposition early. Being confident isn’t a bad thing, but it can bite you. The second half we were excellent, so this week is about producing that second-half footy right from the first whistle.
Shuffling magnets:
We’re not looking to make too many changes. Our number 6, Fergus Gillan, picked up a bit of an injury over the weekend – he’s a genuine workhorse for us in the forward pack, so we’ll feel his absence if he can’t go. Otherwise, the side stays largely as is. The other one to watch is our fullback Ryan Nankivell - he’s an enigmatic attacker with all the skills.
The focus:
The focus is on playing the way we’ve played for most of the second half of the season. That is the standard we want to hit.
Final word:
This team has the ability to win the premiership. If they play their best, they’ll win this weekend.
with Sean Hedger, General Manager of Rugby
Colts 2 with some thinking to do after falling to Brothers in week one of finals (Image supplied)
Colts 2
The Opposition:
We’re playing University of Queensland, and we’ve had a draw and a loss to them in the regular season. We’re going into this knowing exactly the level we need to reach.
The Challenge:
The biggest challenge will be making sure we get back up from last week’s loss. That’s the job this week - to reset and go again.
The focus:
Preparation, on and off the field, is key. We let ourselves down last week in key areas in our preparation.
Final word:
It’s a family affair: I’ve got three kids at Bond, with Lachy in Second Grade, Matt in Colts and Abby in Premier Women’s, who’s injured. I coach Colts 2, so there’s a lot on the line for Dad to make sure he gets the win.
- with Daniel Smith, Colts 2 Head Coach
