The Bull Sharks have maintained their position atop the QFA ladder with a commanding 64-point victory over the Tweed Coast Tigers in their round 15 match on Saturday.
The scoreline of 13.16 (94) to 4.6 (30) ensured Bond retained a healthy percentage of 190.83 which keeps them ahead of arch-rivals the Burleigh Bombers who are 44 points with 11 wins but hold a slightly inferior percentage of 180.76.
With only three games remaining for the regular season, the Bull Sharks have officially secured their position in the QFA finals however every game will be vital in their pursuit of a top-two finish and the chance to host a home ground final.
How it unfolded
The match began as a slow burner.
The Bull Sharks didn’t properly open their campaign until the seven-minute mark when Morgan Ferres secured the first goal of the game.
It was a hard-fought battle for possession but the Bull Sharks led when the quarter time siren blew, 20-7.
The Bull Sharks turned up the heat in the second quarter and added an impressive 27 points to their scoreline.
Although the Tigers were able to hit the scoreboard on multiple occasions, the halftime score stood at 47-19.
The third quarter saw another low-scoring period with both teams struggling to find their rhythm.
After a lot of back-and-forth play, the Bull Sharks managed to extend their lead, bringing their third quarter scoreline to 65-28.
Heading into the final quarter coach Luke Mansbridge insisted that the Bull Sharks play without hesitation and show more aggression around the ball.
Responding to the coach’s call, the Bull Sharks wasted no time and kicked a quick goal within seconds of the first centre bounce.
Nathan Rataj received a red card for rough play, forcing the Bull Sharks to play with one man down.
Despite this setback, Bond maintained control of the game and managed to keep the ball within their half of the field for the majority of the quarter.
The Bull Sharks managed an additional 29 points before the final siren blew, closing out the game at 94-30.
Standout performers
With key forward Jack Tilley missing, Matthew Smith and Morgan Ferres stepped up in attack.
Oliver Burrows-Cheng had another excellent game, showing tenacity and determination in the midfield.
In Bond’s backlines, Wyatt Bacon and Grant Trew were also instrumental in maintaining control and denying opportunities to the Tigers’ forwards.
What they said
Head coach Luke Mansbridge said he was particularly pleased with the Bull Sharks’ fourth quarter performance, however emphasised the need for consistency and aggressiveness.
“I felt like we sort of played in patches,” he said.
“We went after the ball a lot harder in the final quarter which I was really happy with. They’ve just got to be a lot more aggressive.”
In other games
The senior women claimed a much-needed win in their clash against the Yeronga Devils, finishing with an impressive score of 13.15 (93) to 0.4 (4).
The reserves women also emerged victorious, winning convincingly with a scoreline of 11.15 (81) to 1.0 (6).
The reserves men also took a clutch win in their clash against the Tigers, 4.12 (36) to 5.2 (32).