Bond Bull Sharks Ruby v Redlands Coast Eagles
53-52 (W)
Defensive brilliance from Harriet Nicholson and a late cameo from a sharpshooter Evie Stower saw Bond's Ruby netballers surge to thrilling Wednesday night win and a perfect 3-0 start to their 2026 campaign.
Ruby Head Coach Gavin Clarke fills in the details:
How it played out...
'Wow...can I breathe yet!"
Mid-week games are a tricky challenge. Change to routines for high performance athletes can sometimes play havoc. We came ready and willing for the contest, but so did the Eagles. The game was punctuated with small lapses in skill execution and timing that the Eagles swooped on and made us pay. Still, we continued to make adjustments and kept ourselves in the game going into half time with a one point lead. The third quarter saw us down by three, even though we had a lot of opportunities and were just not quite able to execute but we were in the game and putting them under immense pressure. Entering the final five minute super shot period we were trailing but an astute timeout enabled the team to reset, breathe and reaffirm our belief in our processes. Like last year's Sapphire Grand Final the team executed under immense pressure to turn over ball, transition it down court then not once, but five times in a row in the space of less than three minutes. The team went from eight behind to be up by one then hold them off final seconds to win a heart stopper.
What we liked
Without a doubt we showed grit ... true grit. We didn't play our best netball, but no team wants to be playing their best netball at this time of the season. We want to build and develop, and the girls are doing just that. They showed character last night and that's what truly matters in sport and in life.
Who looked the goods
Harriet Nicholson - last year's Hart Ruby Series Player of the Year - was a machine at GK with nine intercepts, five tips, two pickups and seven defensive rebounds. She, along with a strong defensive lineup, worked tirelessly to get ball that enabled our shooters to execute at crucial times. In attack, young goal attack Evie Stower had ice in her veins shot the final two super shots to give us the win. It is pleasing to see such a young player step up with confidence and execute their skill set under immense external pressure.
What it means
After three games and three wins we sit on top of the ladder with Cougars who we play in two weeks time. We have a solid foundation for a great season developing and a truly wonderful group of athletes and staff that make training an absolutely joyous experience. The coaching staff will now fastidiously review the video footage, players will reflect and we together will learn and grow.
What will you do with the week off?
We have had a very strong start to the season, so this weekend is an opportunity to get some rest, recover and enjoy a weekend with friends and family. It's a long season with 18 rounds plus finals, so these mini breaks afford us the opportunity to manage the load of players and enjoy life outside of netball. I'm sure there will be some itchy feet but time off is paramount to our growth and progression this season.
What's next?
Our next game against the Carina Leagues Club Tigers will be a testing game. They are young, spirited and athletic and have a knowledgeable coaching staff. We learnt a lot about them in our preseason trial game, but they also learnt about us...not too much we hope! But we have an array of strategies and players to unleash. For now, we breathe, enjoy the win, learn from it and get better.