There were mixed results in the Bull Sharks’ match-up against the Sunshine Coast Thunder.
In what has been the story of their season, the Sapphires suffered another close defeat, 53-56.
On the other hand, the Bull Sharks’ Ruby team secured a crucial victory, defeating the Thunder 54-49.
With only two games remaining in the 2023 season, the Sapphires have fallen out of finals contention.
The Rubies must win the rest of their season’s games to have a chance at reaching the finals.
How it unfolded
Sapphire
The Bull Sharks struggled to maintain possession of the ball during crucial moments, which proved costly.
Despite this, they remained in the lead for a significant portion of the game.
It wasn’t until the second half of the match that the Thunder gained momentum and took a small lead.
The Bull Sharks fought hard to regain the lead in the final quarter and were doing well, causing Thunder to call a timeout.
Shortly after this, Bond’s captain and star shooter Hannah Le Sage suffered an ankle injury which upset the Bull Sharks’ rhythm.
Le Sage had been playing an excellent game and the substitution of Natasha Robinson into the goal attack position was challenging given her limited playing time.
Despite the Bull Sharks’ best efforts, the game shifted in favour of the Thunder who managed to secure a three-goal lead.
Ruby
Despite the absence of their head coach Kim Boland, the Bull Sharks’ Ruby team showed great consistency to secure a much-needed win.
The Rubies had faced some tough weeks leading into this match, making their success even more significant.
Although the Bull Sharks built a commendable lead, at one point going 12 goals ahead of the Thunder, the opposition consistently fought back.
The Bull Sharks steadied themselves and maintained focus, ultimately securing their five-goal victory.
Standout performers
Sapphire
Several players stood out in the Sapphires’ overall performance.
Despite facing off against tall shooters, goalkeeper Maddie Ryan held her own and exerted immense pressure on the opposition.
Midcourt players Ocean Karekare, Dakota Newson and Monique Piunti played exceptional games despite facing physically stronger and more experienced opponents.
Ruby
In the Ruby side, goalkeeper Harriet Nicholson won numerous balls and executed clean intercepts outside the circle.
On the Bull Sharks’ offensive end, Abby Boland displayed great accuracy and was responsible for the majority of the team’s 54 goals.
Comments from the coach
Coach Stower said that while the Sapphires are out of finals contention, the team’s growth and experience gained will be critical in future seasons.
“Whilst it’s unfortunate, this whole year has really been about building the experience that we need to handle the pressure that the Sapphire series brings,” Stower said.
“We’ve learned some hard lessons this season and I think they are going to stand us in very good stead for next year.”