Bull Sharks v Cougars
The Bull Sharks went head-to-head with the Brisbane North Cougars for the second time this season on Sunday afternoon at Nissan Arena.
The Sapphires were looking to repeat their thrilling round five take down of last year’s champions but fell short.
The Rubys tried to redeem their round five loss to the Cougars, but they also walked away disappointed.
![Hannah Le Sage, Sapphire team captain, taking a shot on goal.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-06/Hannah%20Le%20Sage%20.jpg?itok=CBKqPUdr)
Sapphire
Bull Sharks lost 58 - 79.
Where was it lost:
The momentum was lacking from the get-go unfortunately and the game was lost evenly over the four quarters. Mia Stower was out with injury and Jayden Molo played her first game back since round two but on restricted minutes. We won plenty of ball, which highlighted our potential, however ultimately we made too many errors.
The highlight:
Despite injury and illness, the girls came together and rallied around each other to make it through the game, demonstrating their perseverance as a team and showing off the flexibility and teamwork we have been working on all season.
What made you happy:
We are still on a chase for a finals place, and we’re happy to have all our girls available to play next week. We will be focusing on knuckling down for the next three weeks to put ourselves in the best position going into finals.
Bull Sharks Netball:
The girls keep pushing on with discipline and determination despite the past two games being a bit of a rough ride. We will continue to play our game, mentally switching on each round and working together in our individual roles.
The work to do:
As we move forward, we need to adjust the different tactics which our opponents will throw at us. Fourth place was up for grabs so we knew Cougars wouldn’t give up without a fight. We need to be able to stay in the game mentally for the full hour even when under immense physical pressure.
Trademark player:
Hannah Le Sage, our team captain, has done it again. She came out with an impressive 10 super shots which kept us alive. Georgie Bodle also had a solid game at Centre and was the workhorse of the team.
With Rebecca Stower.
Ruby
Bull Sharks lost 50 - 59.
Where was it lost:
The first quarter saw us make a few mistakes that the Cougars then capitalised on. We fought hard to narrow the gap over the next three quarters, but we couldn’t quite close it out despite our girls' best efforts.
The highlight:
Our girls’ tremendous resilience and commitment really shone on the court. We have had a disrupted few weeks with injuries, illness and student commitments but the girls powered through their circumstances and played a great game. Everything was left on the court and the team showed a significant amount of improvement in comparison to previous games. I am so proud of the Rubys coming together and rallying around one another to put their best foot forward throughout the entire game.
![Tehya Hyssett, Ruby team member, defending.](https://bond.edu.au/sites/default/files/styles/wysiwyg/public/2024-06/Tehya%20Hyssett.jpg?itok=mwbUVSFT)
What made you happy:
I am always happy when we have our full list of ten players fit and ready to play. We were fortunate enough that all our team were available to the take the court for the entire game. This was the first time all season! Their unity and collective efforts were very uplifting and contributed positively to our overall performance.
Bull Sharks Netball:
The team remains determined to finish the season on a strong note, we will be chasing the next few victories with everything we have in our arsenal. We have faced some disappointing results, but our commitment and unwavering dedication will be what brings us out the other side.
The work to do:
We will be working on adapting to the physicality of our opposition. The past few games have showed us the importance of being strong enough to stand our ground. It is crucial we embrace this challenge head on for the remainder of the season in order to move our way back up the ladder.
Trademark player:
Our defensive end has been moving well as a united front. The skills and effort from Harriet Nicholson, Tehya Hyssett, and Abi Houston has been the driving force for many crucial turnovers. Their consistent performances have not gone unnoticed.
With Kim Boland.