Junior Rugby
The newest school of Bull Sharks has made an immediate mark on Queensland Rugby with the U18s side advancing to the Lightning Series grand final against Souths.
The side went through the six-week tournament undefeated to finish on top of their pool and advance to Sunday’s grand final at Easts Rugby Club.
The competition featured sides from Sunnybank, Wests, UQ Junior Heavies, GPS, Brothers, Easts and Souths, as well as Wynnum, the Nerang Bulls and St Peters.
It is the first time the Bull Sharks have fielded an U18s side which has drawn the best talent from southern Gold Coast school and junior clubs.
Previously, the club had refrained out of a concern that the introduction of a side for the annual six-week series might prohibit local clubs from entering the competition.
But when several seasons passed with minimal involvement from Gold Coast Districts Rugby Union clubs, the decision was made to enter a side coached by Jonny Bentley.
Bond University Director of Rugby Luca Liussi said the establishment of the team was a natural extension of the club’s long-running Pathway to Premier program that was designed to prepare school leavers for the step up to Queensland Premier Rugby.
“We have some excellent U18s talent on the Gold Coast through the various school programs,” he said.
“The 2024 Lightning Series was a great opportunity for Bond Rugby to welcome some of the best players on the Gold Coast into our premier pathway through this competition.
“We are proud to be able to offer these boys this experience and we believe their time with us will benefit them as players and also their school and club programs as well as prepare them for the step up to premier grade Colts with the Bull Sharks.”
Grade Rugby
The Bull Sharks took a step forward in their preparation for the Queensland Premier Rugby season with a strong showing against Uni North Owls at Duntroon.
The side appeared to be in better form since their opening trial against Souths. In that game they faded and allowed the Magpies to score a late try to seal the win but in the nation’s capital they finished strongly to run out comfortable winners 29-19.
Coach Mick Heenan was again impressed with the physicality, which he clearly intends to be a trademark of his side.
And he was excited by the performances of a handful of Colts who made the step up to First Grade.
“It was a wonderful opportunity for some young players to experience 1st grade rugby,” he said.
“Fergus Gillan, Oliver Barrett, Harry Bell, Zeb Misios and Ieuan Cornelius, who are all still eligible for Colts, acquitted themselves well.”
Heenan will look for improvements in the fundamentals in the Bull Sharks’ final trial against Wests.
“We need to tidy up the basics,” he said.
“We gave the opposition too many opportunities and wasted too many of our own to beat good sides in our competition.
“On the positive side our goal line defence held up well under sustained pressure and we were able to create a lot of scoring opportunities.”
Women's Rugby
The women prepared for their first trial against Wests next week with an intra-club game on Saturday.
Coach Shannon Symon said it was hard to gauge how the premiership defence was shaping up when you are playing internally but he was thrilled to see the benefits of hard work over the pre-season.
“We were very pleased with the fitness and skill level at this early stage,” he said.