The Bull Sharks kicked off their Queensland Premier Rugby season at The Canal on Saturday.
The Gold Coast rugby community have clearly been waiting for this day and a great crowd turned out to see the Bull Sharks in action.
There has been a lot of change across the Premier Men’s and Women’s programs in the off-season, including new coaching structures, while an influx of talent has created a new-look Colts 1 side.
Here’s the Round 1 review:
Premier Men
Sunnybank 18 def Bull Sharks 15.
Try scorers: Roberts, Barrett.
Player of the match: Jordan Lenac.
WHERE IT WAS LOST:
“The youthful Bond team, featuring eight 1st Grade starting debutants, couldn’t match a much bigger Sunnybank team’s intensity at the contact zone early in the game and we conceded three tries in the first 20 minutes.
“Although we were able to peg the margin back, we can’t afford to give our opposition a head start like that.”
THE HIGHLIGHT:
“It came 20 minutes into the second half when a quick tap from Jordan Lenac found Fred Dorrough who put Hamish Roberts away on a 50m sprint to the line.
“Roberts was a constant threat during the game, with another potential try being called back for a marginal forward pass late in the game.”
WHAT MADE YOU HAPPY:
“It was pleasing to see the way the side fought their way back into the game after a poor start and with 10 minutes to go, the scores were level.
“A late penalty gave the visitors the victory.”
BULL SHARKS FOOTBALL:
“We were undersized, and our pack was very young and inexperienced and we challenged these boys to stand up.
“The scrum was a Bull Sharks positive with our starting and bench front rowers keeping the pressure on.”
THE WORK TO DO:
“It is hard to win games of footy with the number of errors we made.
“We have the bye this week which gives us a couple of weeks to regroup and prepare for a home game against a Wests team who put UQ to the sword 47-13.”
With Mick Heenan.
Premier Women
Bull Sharks 14 – Sunnybank 13.
Try scorers: Tupuola-Palale, Waight.
Player of the match: Evie Sampson.
WHERE IT WAS WON:
“The set piece was important for us as we were able to apply pressure on Sunnybank, especially at lineout with captain Elisha Godsiff disrupting their ball and winning a few turnovers there.
“Also the scrum was solid with Shelley Fox dominating up front.”
THE HIGHLIGHT:
“Seeing star winger Dianne Waight back in Bond colours and scoring a try.”
WHAT MADE YOU HAPPY:
“Young loose forward Ruby Power got through a " Power" of work throughout the game.
“Although she is relatively new to the 15s game at senior level she's improving very well.”
THE WORK TO DO:
“Our defence was very poor. We were passive and very ineffective and that is a huge work on for us.”
TRADEMARK PERFORMANCE:
“Shelley Fox personifies the values of our team. She gives everything she has for the team for every minute she is out there.”
With Shannon Symon.
Colts 1
Bull Sharks 26 - Sunnybank 15.
Try scorers: Cornelius 2, Smith, McCauley.
Player of the Match: Kobe Waikato.
WHERE IT WAS WON:
“The set piece was impressive especially at scrum time where Sunnybank struggled to contain the boys up front, resulting in two set piece scrum tries and multiple penalties."
THE HIGHLIGHT:
"Lachie Smith at hooker ripping down the side line. He had a great game up front in his Colts 1 debut. And the kid is still under 18s."
WHAT MADE YOU HAPPY:
"The set piece and the boys who stepped in there with a few guys away."
THE WORK TO DO:
“Our phase defence needs work along side speed into position from set piece."
TRADEMARK PERFORMANCE:
"Harry Bell set the tone upfront. He puts his body on the line, plays with passion and really cares for the team."
With Rico Gear.