RESCHEDULED: Sapphire Series round 12: USC Thunder v Bond Bull Sharks
All netball Sapphire games have been cancelled this weekend with games to be rescheduled for the following weekend of July 10-11. Here is our PREVIEW of the upcoming USC Thunder v Bond Bull Sharks.
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All netball Sapphire games have been cancelled this weekend and will be rescheduled for the weekend of July 10-11.
Here is our preview of one of the games which will be rescheuled for the weekend of July 10-11.
Emotions will be high on court during this week’s round 12 of the Sapphire netball series, after the cancellation of the Under Age National Netball Championships in Tasmania.
Many players taking to Nissan Arena were expecting to be on flights heading to Hobart for the competition but will now miss out after the national competition was cancelled on Wednesday.
With the Covid lockdown not lifting in some parts of the southeast until Saturday, games will be rescheduled for the weekend of July 10-11. Players and teams should keep an eye on Netball Queensland’s website for details.
But the disappointment is expected to run over into a strong clash between fourth-placed USC Thunder (90) and fifth-placed Bond Bull Sharks (88).
Both sides need a win but Thunder has an easier run home playing the teams in the bottom four while Bull Sharks were pitted against teams in the top four.
Bond Bullsharks are a fairly young side.
They need a strong captain’s performance by one of the most experienced athletes Shanae Grant in defence.
USC Thunder are fortunate to have several Lightning training partners.
The main ones are Binnian Hunt and Sienna Allen.
If Binnian is shooting well she will be hard to stop as she contests the ball strongly.
Thunder coach Jessica Whitfort said her Sapphire team had two players — Chloe Bingham and Ashlee Barnett — who had to cancel their plans to head south after being chosen to play in the nationals.
Ava Black, Ash Ervine, Rylee Burns and Elsa Sandholt from Bull Sharks were also selected for the nationals.
“Both teams have players chosen for nationals so I expect it to be an emotional game as those players will be ready to give their all,” she said.
“It’s the second year in a row that nationals have been cancelled.
“It will be a different run home for both teams but anything could happen,” Ms Whitfort said.
Ms Whitfort said players to watch in the Thunder were goalshooter Chloe Bingham and centre Monique French, who had been “integral in the mid court” and a consistent player throughout the season.
Bond University director of Club Sport and Netball Stuart Allen said it was a “must-win” game for Bull Sharks.
“We really have to beat the Thunder to have a chance to qualify for the semi-finals,” he said.
“We do have a tougher road ahead of us than they do because we still have to play first and second on the ladder.
“We’ve been on a bit of a roll lately and have had a couple of good wins but the Thunder beat us soundly the first time out which was just after we had a changeover in coaches round three.
“We are one of the better defensive teams in the league and if we can convert all the turnovers into goals, we are in with a really good shot.”
Mr Allen said two young faces at either end of the court, goalkeeper Ash Ervine, 18, and Elsa Sandholt, 17, would keep the Bull Sharks on an even keel during the game.
He said Maddi Ridley was still out for the season after a ACL injury but Ava Black may make a return this week after an ankle strain.
He said the game would revolve around whether the Bulls scored enough goals and lived up to the team’s reputation for having strong defence.
Bull Sharks coach Linda Peterson said she wanted 60-minutes of high performance from her team.
“And it we do that consistently, we are in with a good chance,” she said.
“It’s the match of the season for us and if we are in form on the day, we can win and it will be hard for them to beat us.”
WATCH THE GAME LIVE HERE
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