Bull Sharks out for redemption

A supercharged round against the high-flying Ipswich Jets at the Springfield Central Sports Centre awaits the Bull Sharks in round eight. 

A red-hot Jets Sapphire team towelled up the powerful Gold Coast Titans last week. Their Ruby side also put the highly regarded Titans to the sword. 

Bond’s Sapphire team is coming off a heart stopping one-goal loss to the Tigers – the same side that humbled the ladder-topping Jets the week before.  The Ruby squad will look to rebound after an uncharacteristically listless effort against Carina Leagues Tigers. 

Sapphire

There is plenty going right at the Bull Sharks defensive end. 

Ella Spencer was rightly adjudged Bond’s best last week with 6 rebounds, 4 centre pass receives, 2 intercepts and a deflection. Maddi Ryan’s outstanding footwork, determination and craftiness at GK saw her lower the colours of a much bigger opponent. Ocean Karekare was excellent in the WD bib and Allanah Penny was on fire until forced to leave the court due to a nasty head clash. 

 If Bond’s Sapphire defensive rotation brings the same desperate heat this weekend, and the midcourt’s confidence continues to grow, there’s no reason Bond’s shooting end can’t score freely enough to rattle the Jets. 

 From the coach 

 “We have targeted our focus areas that needed attention the last time we took on Jets,” Sapphire Head Coach Bec Stower said. 

 “We have improved greatly with consistency and will look to keep building in this next match.

 “Our defensive connections are steadily building and we will need to work hard for the 60 minutes to slow down and disrupt ball going into (Queensland and Australia U19 representative) Elsa Sandholt. 

“With (Queensland Firebird) Hulia Veve back on board for Jets, we will be looking at her connection with the experienced Steph O'Brien through the middle. Our mid court connections with our shooting circle have had plenty of attention this week as we look to minimise wasting ball in attack transition.”

Ruby

 Despite the brave efforts of injury replacement Jorja Gisinger at GS and another stoic defensive effort from Harriet Nicholson (4 intercepts, 3 rebounds, 3 deflections and 2 pickups), the Ruby team copped a reality check from the Tigers last weekend after a sluggish effort - especially early. 

The Bull Sharks will look to make amends this week by hitting the gas from the get-go against the Jets. 

From the coach

“We have had a long, hard look at last week’s performance, and we’ve identified the key areas in training this week that needed attention,” Ruby Coach Kim Boland said.

“It will take a full team effort and a full consistent game from all 10 players this week which unfortunately we were missing last week against Tigers.

“With the inclusion of Sapphire Shooter Naomi Solomona into the Jets’ Ruby team we will need our mid court to slow the ball coming into the circle to allow our defensive duo of Tehya Hyssett and Harriet Nicholson the opportunity to win ball. 

“We’ve improved immensely since our last appearance against Jets and I fully believe in this team that they a capable of taking the win. We just have to turn up and be ready to play right from the very first whistle.”

Where and when

Both games will be played this Sunday at the Springfield Central Sports Complex. 

Centre pass for the Sapphire game is at 3.00pm. The Ruby game follows at 5.00pm.