The Bull Sharks’ Sapphire and Ruby netball squads stepped up their preparations for the upcoming season with solid hit-outs against the Suns’ men’s teams at Runaway Bay last night.
The Sapphire side went down to the Suns’ Open Men’s side by 70-31 while the Ruby girls pushed their U23’s squad all the way in a 51-40 loss.
Sapphire coach Bec Stower said the trial was the perfect way to test the side’s systems against faster and more powerful men who would quickly capitalise on any structural shortcomings.
It was also an opportunity to compare their strength and fitness levels.
Stower and director of netball and Ruby coach Kim Boland were both thrilled with the grit, determination and team spirit shown by the players and their ability to adjust their game style to a different level of opposition.
And they were both thrilled with the level of conditioning throughout both squads.
“The men are extremely fit and strong, and our girls held their own against them,’ Boland said.
“GC (strength and conditioning coach Glenn Corcoran) has done a wonderful job with the girls strength wise and I was very pleased with their ability and strength to take ball under pressure from the men.”
The Suns’ Open Men’s side regularly play trial matches against Super Netball clubs the Queensland Firebirds and Sunshine Coast Lightning which Stower said gave the Bull Sharks coaching panel a valuable insight into the squad’s progress.
“The Firebirds and Lightning use this team for game play, so I am actually really excited by what we put out on court,” she said.
“I think a lot of our decisions in situations where the men turned over the ball we would pull off playing against females.”
“For our first real hit out, there are so many positives.
“The men are fast, strong and athletic and I wanted to test ourselves in this environment to see how we could put our systems in place but be able to adjust to what was in front of us when things don't go to plan.”