It was a big win in the Sapphire Series but the Bull Sharks lacked their customary hunger in a frustrating loss to Ruby Series newcomers the Moreton Bay City Pulse.
From the opening whistle the Bull Sharks struggled to find the intensity and sharpness that has fuelled recent form.
A third-quarter surge brought them within four goals, but they couldn’t sustain the momentum.
Despite the result, there were glimpses of trademark Bull Sharks netball — fast, connected and tough through the middle — with Elka Macaulay a standout.
Coach Kim Boland admits it wasn’t the side’s best performance but says the group will reset and refocus on the week ahead.
In the Sapphire Series, our defenders stood tall against a towering Scottish international.
Bull Sharks v Moreton Bay City Pulse
Sapphire
Bull Sharks won 74-54
How it was won
It was a convincing win built on sharp attacking play, great shooting and structured relentless defence. Our midcourt set the tone early with fast, direct ball movement, feeding tall target Kaylin van Greunen and sharp-shooter Mia Stower with precision. The attacking duo proved difficult to contain.
The challenge
Pulse added 6’5” Scottish shooter Emma Barrie to their lineup late, but our defenders rose to the challenge. With smart positioning and pressure both in and outside the circle, they made it tough for Pulse to capitalise on her height.
What made you happy
Despite a disrupted lead-up—with several players unwell and our SSNR athletes away in Melbourne for finals—the team adapted well to the midweek match. Shifting focus from study and work to game mode was a key challenge, but we were determined to match our energy with intent and on-court discipline, and we largely delivered. With our full squad now returning to training, we’re excited to strengthen connections and build greater cohesion moving forward.
Bull Sharks Netball
Bold decision-making and a fearless approach are core values we’re continuing to cultivate within the team. We saw strong glimpses of that throughout the game, and we’re confident it will keep growing in the weeks ahead.
The work to do
We pride ourselves on discipline and precise execution, and while there were strong moments of this throughout the game, we also saw patches of rushed play and unforced errors. Our defensive two-point structures continue to improve and, alongside growing connections through the midcourt and shooting circle, will be key to maintaining momentum as we push toward the finals.
Trademark Players
Bond Netball is built on teamwork and bold, brave skill execution—and this week, our defensive effort showcased the results of recent hard work. Facing a towering international shooter, our circle defenders executed a clear game plan with relentless footwork and smart positioning. Goal keeper Lauren Aubey was outstanding with 5 intercepts and 9 tips and her combination with Madi Ryan was a standout.
With Gavin Clarke
Ruby Series
Bull Sharks lost 60-43
How it was lost
This week’s game was a tough and disappointing loss for our Ruby Team. From the first whistle, we struggled to find the intensity and focus that have been key to our success in recent weeks. It was clear that we weren’t at our best, and the result reflected that.
What made you happy
There were moments where we produced our brand of netball throughout the game. And the girls fought hard to bring the score to within 4 goals in the third quarter. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to maintain that momentum, and the game slipped away again.
Bull Sharks Netball
We acknowledge that this was not our finest performance. But as always, we regroup, refocus, and return to training with purpose as we prepare for the weekend ahead.
The work to do
Our slow start has been an issue in our last few games. And we continue to make too many unforced errors. These are two key areas we must address.
Trademark Players
Elka Macaulay stood out in the midcourt this week. He impressive performance included 22 feeds, 11 centre pass receives (CPRs), 3 deflections and 1 intercept. Elka’s work rate and vision made a real impact.
With Kim Boland