It was a stellar weekend of Hart Premier Netball action for the Bull Sharks.
The Sapphire Series squad got their season underway with a 31-point hiding of the Carina Tigers while the Ruby Series squad recorded their first win over the reigning premiers since 2020.
Sapphire Series coach Rebecca Stower was nervous heading into the game after star goal shooter Kaylin van Greunen was a late withdrawal after suffering an injury playing with the Sunshine Coast Lightning in the SSN Reserves the previous evening.
Those fears proved to be unfounded as Mia Stower and Kirra Tappenden combined for a remarkable 94 points.
Not to be outdone, the Ruby squad muscled up in a hard-fought battle against the dominant side of the past three years.
Sapphire Wrap
Bull Sharks v Carina Leagues Club at Nissan Arena
Bull Sharks won 94-63
How it was won
After a slow start where the side found themselves trailing 10-2 after seven minutes, the Bull Sharks settled and never looked back. Because of limited time training together due to SSN Reserves absences, it took the girls a little while to find their groove, but once they did, their scoring power was phenomenal, even without tall target Kaylin van Greunen. Our through-court defensive pressure wore the Tigers down. We forced them to play more ball than necessary, which eventually led to a run of errors we were able to capitalise on. It was a steady build, our transitional attack was beautiful to watch, with excellent timing and ball speed.
What made you happy
I’ve always known we have significant depth in this squad. Despite limited numbers at training, the players are court-smart, open and honest in their communication, and respectful of one another. They problem-solve in the moment.
Bull Sharks Netball
We played with discipline. We set high expectations for ourselves, and did everything in our power not just to meet them, but to exceed them. We’ve been clear about our intent for this season, and we wanted an opening-round result that sent a message: the Bull Sharks are here.
The work to do
Our focus moving forward is consolidating connections. We need to take every opportunity to do this when players return to the fold. We’ll continue to be targeted and specific about what we want to achieve. Our game stats will guide us this week — identifying areas for improvement and shaping our training focus.
Trademark players
We had standout performances across the board, but I can’t go past the Mia Stower and Kirra Tappenden combination. They had never trained together let alone played together. I’ll admit, I was a little anxious after Kaylin was ruled out — both Mia and Kirra are traditionally GA’s, and it could’ve been messy. But I needn’t have worried, they combined for 94 points in a 60-minute game, which is remarkable. Both shot at a high percentage with Mia converting 14 of her 15 Super Shot attempts and Kirra 8-11. It gives us an exciting new dynamic to draw upon depending on the opposition. Jayden Molo was outstanding at WA, a strong, dynamic presence who connected beautifully with our shooters. Her vision and ball delivery into the circle was something special. Teyha Hyssett came on as GK in the second quarter and made an immediate impact. She disrupted the Tigers’ attack and sowed doubt in their minds.
With Rebecca Stower
Ruby wrap
Bull Sharks v Carina Leagues Club at Nissan Arena
Bull Sharks won 58-43
How it was won
It wasn’t the prettiest of wins, but as the saying goes—a win’s a win. After a sharp and well-drilled start, we lost focus and let the first quarter slip away. However, some stern words at the break helped us regroup. From there, we chipped away, winning the final three quarters.
What made you happy
Our defensive pressure across the court has been a major focus in training, and it’s starting to pay off. This week we saw strong defensive gains not only from our defenders but also from our attackers applying pressure high up the court.
Bull Sharks Netball
The Tigers Ruby team have been champions for the past three years, and this marks our first win against them since 2021. A great result for our Ruby team.
The work to do
While we’re winning a lot of ball, we need to place more value on possession. Too often, we’re giving it away after doing the hard work to win it. That’s something we’ll continue to focus on at training.
Trademark Player
Ocean Karekare was outstanding this week with six deflections and four pickups. Her one-on-one defensive efforts were crucial in helping us win ball and build momentum.
With Kim Boland