It was a history making day for the Bond Bull Sharks Netball club on Sunday as the Sapphire and Ruby teams booked their place in the Hart Series finals.
The wins against the South Brisbane Wildcats at Gold Coast Indoor Sports Stadium ensured the two sides would contest finals together for the first time.
Bull Sharks v Wildcats.
Sapphire Series
Bull Sharks won 79-58.
Where was it won:
I wouldn't call it an easy win despite the final score. We maintained control throughout the game and steadily increased our lead, but it wasn't until the final quarter that we truly asserted our dominance.
The highlight:
Seeing the girls deliver a well-executed performance for the full 60 minutes was truly rewarding. Their progress throughout the season has been evident, and finishing the game so strongly was a definite highlight for me.
What made you happy:
It was a night full of emotions. There were nerves before our match, knowing how crucial the win would be. Then came the elation from such a strong result. After that, the anticipation and stress of watching and waiting for the final outcome of the Cougars/Titans game. Finally, there was the pure excitement of realising we were bound for the Finals.
Bull Sharks Netball:
Their focus and determination to take control of the first part of their destiny made me incredibly proud.
The work to do:
Planning, preparing, and executing our very specific and targeted game plan against the Thunder is crucial. We know what to expect since they beat us in the regular round both times by 6 and 9 points, respectively. Now, we all need to prepare mentally for our own 1-on-1 matchups and win those battles.
Trademark player:
It was, once again, a fantastic team effort. The connections within the various units and the linkage through the court are building beautifully. There's so much trust on the court, and the ability to communicate positively with one another is remarkable.
With Rebecca Stower.
Ruby Series
Bull Sharks won 51-41
Where it was won:
This game was our last must-win opportunity, and it was night and day in regard to our performance compared to our game last week. We were more consistent and valued possession of the ball more. However, there is still room for improvement.
The highlight:
Playing in front of our home crowd and taking the win was undoubtedly the highlight. The energy from our supporters fuelled our performance on the court.
What made you happy:
This was a very important win for us to keep our finals hopes alive. Even though the win wouldn’t guarantee a finals berth (we had to wait on the result between Jets and Thunder at 6pm), I was really happy to see our girls just focus on what was in our control, and that was our team's performance against the Wildcats.
Bull Sharks Netball:
As a squad, we have trained really hard this year and unfortunately, due to injuries, our season has been very inconsistent. But to see the girls able to pull through in this last game is a testament to the hard work they have done this season.
The work to do:
As we approach the semi-finals, our focus doesn’t change. It will be on maintaining consistency and delivering a strong, full-game effort from all 10 players.
Trademark player:
Our defensive circle of Tehya Hyssett and Harriet Nicholson were outstanding again and were able to turn over some really valuable ball for us. Ocean Karekare and Joesi Gisinger were both outstanding in the mid, with their connection in WA and C and C and WD really building and peaking at just the right time.
With Kim Boland