By Gary Stocks
South African golfing great Gary Player, a nine times major winner, coined the famous quote “the harder you work, the luckier you get.”
And that resonated with the O’Rourke Realty North Beach A-Grade team last Saturday. That – and a little bit of richly deserved luck.
It would come as a complete surprise to learn that North Beach senior coach David Hynes is a religious man. But he must have a direct line to the footy Gods, because they smiled on the Tigers mentor – and his team – at Charles Riley Reserve last Saturday.
Hynes has tried everything this year to build some momentum and consistency into his senior team, so maybe he did get down on bended knees last Saturday morning, clasp his hands together, point them skyward and ask for a slice of luck.
There has been precious little good fortune fall the way of the Beach this year, but there was an element of it on display as the Beach fell over the line by a solitary point against Fremantle CBC.
The luck came in the inability of CBC to make the most of their opportunities in front of goal in the first term. From 23 inside 50 entries and 11 scoring shots, the Port side kicked just three goals. The Beach trailed by 18 points when the carnage could have been much worse. Even irretrievable.
That was the lucky part of the game. The rest was good management, a commitment to the contest and a fierce desire to serve up a palatable performance for the North Beach faithful on the terraces.
It took something special from the likes of Lewy Davies, who produced his best performance of the season, Arran Goddard-Nash was similarly steadfast, while Kyle Cranley, Jamie Sajich and Michael Italiano imposed themselves physically and youngsters Jack O’Gorman and Joel Brown were terrific.
The result was an outstanding victory, perhaps the best of the season, and a great filip for Hynes and his players who have been committed to the cause all season and deserved the success.
The Credent Financial Services A-Reserves produced a remarkable performance against CBC, a team which clubbed them first time around, but found the Beach far too classy on the return bout.
Scott Holbrook and his boys carved out a disciplined and precise execution of the game plan to win by 46 points.
The Coast to Coast Imports Phil Scott Colts continued their terrific form and completely dominated CBC, winning by six goals in a game in which they were never threatened.
Craig Dalton has his team tracking nicely and will be looking to consolidate a top three finish – and possibly secure top spot – should University falter in the run home.
After setting up the victory by holding Fremantle CBC goalless in the first half, the Beach pounced and bounded away with a solid all-round effort. Liam Pardini, Ned Halley, Jack Dalton, Ben Harbers, Josh Tinckner and Matt Holden were all terrific contributors.
The Cabling Network Solutions D1-Grade cemented a top three finish with an emphatic victory over North Fremantle. In what was expected to be a tight contest, the Beach made light of their arch rivals to win by 103 points.
Shane Duckworth, Khalil Campbell and Mitch Christie each kicked four goals and were also among the group who led the assault from the outset.
The Hybrid Linings D1-Reserves turned five-point half-time deficit into a comprehensive 40-point win with a sublime second half performance, scoring eight goals to one.
Full forward Cale Potts led the way with seven goals while Matt Allan, Brett Rice and Michael Collins were also in exceptional touch.
The Red Hill Brett Jones Colts started the trend for a spectacular day at Gil Fraser Reserve, despatching their Magpies opponents with a dominant performance all over the ground on the way to a 113-point drubbing.
The Express Bins E1-Grade was the only team to lose on the day, but they produced a commendable effort against ladder leader Roleystone.
It was always going to be a tough journey to the Hills, against Roleystone’s senior team, but the Beach did the club proud with a gallant performance that ultimately fell 22 points short of victory.
Jordan Kickett kicked three goals, Daniel Veitch, Brett Anthony, Mark Ferreri and Jordan Dye were all solid performers for the Beach. It will be tough to qualify for finals now, but not impossible and coach Novak Smith is confident his boys fight it out to the end.
Results
O’Rourke Realty A-Grade
North Beach 1.2 5.4 9.4 12.5 77
Frem. CBC 3.8 6.8 9.14 10.16 76
Goals – North Beach: Davies, Bottechia, Cranley, Fishlock 2; Griffiths, Holdman, Italiano, Reid.
Best – North Beach: Davies, Goddard-Nash, Cranley, Sajich, O’Gorman, Brown, Italiano.
Credent Financial Services A-Reserves
North Beach 12.8 (80) def Fremantle CBC 7.4 (46)
More details to come.
Coast to Coast Imports Phil Scott Colts
North Beach 2.2 3.2 6.5 8.6 54
Frem. CBC 0.4 0.6. 1.7 2.7 19
Goals – North Beach: Doyle, Holden 2; Adler, Halley, Lownes, McCarthy.
Best – North Beach: Pardini, Halley, Dalton, Harbers, Tickner, Holden.
Cabling Network Solutions D1-Grade
North Beach 6.0 10.4 15.5 20.7 127
North Frem 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 24
Goals – North Beach: S Duckworth, K Campbell, Christie 4; Bryce 2.
Best – North Beach: S Duckworth, Campbell, Christie.
Hybrid Linings D1-Reserves
North Beach 3.3 5.6 8.8 13.10 88
North Frem 3.2 6.5 7.6 7.6 48
Goals – North Beach: Potts 7; Allan, B Boys 2; Callow, Turner.
Best – North Beach: Potts, Allan, Rice, M Collins.
Red Hill Brett Jones Colts
North Beach 4.7 9.8 15.15 20.18 138
North Frem 1.0 2.0 2.0 4.1 25
Goals – North Beach: Rollo, Hinkley 5; Borszeky 3; Reidy, Raynor, Elliott, Warner, Petterson, Brooks, Frawley.
Express Bins E1-Grade
Roleystone 4.6 5.11 6.13 9.19 73
North Beach 1.0 3.1 6.3 8.3 51
Goals – North Beach: Kickett 3; Smith 2; Missikos, Cavanagh, Staniforth.
Best – North Beach: Veitch, Ferreri, Kickett, Anthony, Dye.
