REPLAYS: Carina Tigers vs Gold Coast Titans, Cougars vs Bull Sharks in Ruby Series semi finals (Sapphire Series)

They’ve been the dominant force in the Ruby Series for the best part of a decade, and the Carina Tigers have punched their grand final ticket. See the REPLAYS of the Ruby Series semi finals here.

The Carina Leagues Club Tigers have secured a ticket to their sixth straight Ruby Series grand final after knocking back the Gold Coast Titans 76-56 in their major semi final.

A super shot special from Hayley Matthew’s gave Titans an early edge, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Tigers from administering a hefty blow.

The east Brisbane favourites came out firing in the second quater, mid court smarts from Sarah Joyce initiating smooth transition from back-to-back turnovers reminiscent of the regular season.

“We changed our defensive end a bit because we felt like Titans goal shooter was ready our goal keeper well,” Tigers head coach Joeanne Hope said.

“We changed that do add a bit of height.”

Hesitancy under the post from Tigers’ Emily Gage was helped by near perfect accuracy at the hands of goal shooter Amber Yeates.

The second quarter surge then carried into the third as the chemistry between Tigers’ mid court and shooting circle flourished.

“(It was) really the connections.

“Coming down court we noticed they were zoning, so we started to look for the body and go at the ball to make that space.”

Wing attack Georgie Johnson went down injured (knee) with eight minutes on the clock, forcing Tigers to call a strategic timeout to reconvene.

“It’s a little niggle,” Hope said.

The blip made little difference to momentum as Tigers closed the deal convincingly.

Titans meanwhile will have to wait another week to earn their grand final spot, facing the winner of this evening’s minor semi final between the ACU Brisbane North Cougars and Bond University Bull Sharks.

Coach Erin Byrnes isn’t too phased about the extra step, instead confident her side with meet Tigers once again this season.

“Either or, we’re going to beat them,” she said.

ACU Brisbane North Cougars vs Bond University Bull Sharks - Ruby Series Elimination Final

The ACU Brisbane North Cougars have survived an almighty scare to keep their Ruby Series season alive with a 55-53 victory.

Leading by as much as double digits in their elimination final against the Bond University Bull Sharks at Nissan Arena, the Cougars almost let a nine-goal margin at halftime slip.

The Bull Sharks were able to cut the margin to just one late in the final quarter, before the Cougars pulled out enough to secure their spot in the preliminary final against the Gold Coast Titans next weekend.

PREVIEW

After dominating the Ruby Series for much of the season, Carina Leagues Club Tigers know ‘finals are a different game.’

The minor premiers face Gold Coast Titans in the major semi final on Sunday night after a near-undefeated season, which featured a 13-game winning streak.

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Shaking off a round 1 draw with the Sunshine Coast Thunder, the Tigers went on to win every match and claim their fifth minor premiership in six seasons.

Coach Joeanne Hope has guided the squad to their past two titles in 2022 and 2023, having finished runners up to the ACU Brisbane North Cougars in her first season in 2021.

“It is pressure, you feel like there’s a target on your back,” Hope said.

“But time will tell and I just want to enjoy it.”

Titans, meanwhile, will look to quash the Tigers squeaky clean record.

Coach Erin Byrnes, a former Tiger herself, coached the Ruby side to their first premiership in 2019.

“I really respect Erin as a coach ... and we know each other’s styles pretty well,” Hope said.

The Tigers were victorious 73-57 and 77-55 in their two round clashes with the Gold Coast side, though Hope knows the slate is wiped clean when it comes to finals.

“It doesn’t matter where you finish on the ladder, finals are a different game,” she said.

Sarah Joyce is an important part of the Tigers title push.

ougars v Bond Uni (3v4 Minor Semi)

The Cougars are out of Sapphire Series premiership contention for the first time in the competition’s history.

Their hopes of silverware have, instead, been left in the hands of their Ruby roster, who will face the Bond University Bull Sharks in their minor semi-final.

In round 5 of the regular season, Cougars came out on top with a comfortable 47-35 victory before a closer clash in round 11 when they won by nine points 59-50.

A 10-4 win record compared to Bond’s 6-8 record puts the northern club in a favourable position, though anything can happen in finals.

It’s a sudden death situation - the winner progressing to next week’s preliminary final while the loser bows out for another season.

Originally published as REPLAYS: Carina Tigers vs Gold Coast Titans, Cougars vs Bull Sharks in Ruby Series semi finals (Sapphire Series)