By Gary Stocks
In a season where the performance graph of North Beach has reached some wonderful peaks, but also dipped to some disheartening lows, coach Bill Duckworth and his brains trust will be looking for a week of consolidation.
That started at the selection table last night when, for the first time this season, the A-Grade team remained unchanged.
On the back of a 40-point victory against Wesley-Curtin last week, Duckworth has kept faith in the 22 who got the job done at South Oval and will be looking for the boys to back up a similar performance against the well-credentialed Mt Lawley combination.
Mt Lawley are coming off a convincing 38-point victory over North Fremantle at Gil Fraser Reserve and with former Swan Districts players Garth Taylor and the McKinlay brothers, will be full of confidence as they prepare to tackle the reigning premiers.
Last week wingman Steve Bandy found some form and along with the experienced Andrew Nunan, Dean Brennan and Aaron Jarvis ensured that popular defender Anthony “Chooka” Ingham celebrated his 200th game appropriately. Lively midfielder Rob McComiskie was also prominent.
Duckworth will be looking for a similar output from his charges and will insist on a four-quarter effort. The Tigers have been a little sporadic in the opening four rounds, but will need to pull together 100 minutes of football to thwart this quality opposition. The A-Reserves remain unbeaten after another convincing display against Wesley-Curtin, winning by 70 points last week and will be looking to continue to build momentum. One of the highlights last week was the elevation of Colts captain Kris Hackett, who backed up and played another match after doing his best in the Phil Scott match earlier.
Hackett and Kade Golisano will play on Friday night in the West Coast Eagles State Colts team while a number of senior players will also represent the club and their State in the WA Under-23 match. Both games will be played in Pinjarra.
The Phil Scott Colts have been playing well without getting over the line in recent weeks, but will need to start to convert opportunities against Mt Lawley. A number of players are unavailable, so it represents a strong challenge for the under-19s who, like the seniors, are looking for a sustained four-quarter effort.
The Brett Jones Colts face a bus trip to North Fremantle against a strong and traditional rival, while the E and E1 teams play Mt Lawley at Kramer Park. Peter Panagopolous will have his fifths in action at Percy Doyle, so wherever you might be tomorrow there is an opportunity to catch the Tigers in action.
Match details May 7, 2011
A-Grade
North Beach 14.10 (94) def Wesley Curtin 8.6 (54)
Goals – North Beach: Brennan 3; McComiskie, Harwood 2; Stott 2; Boys, A Nunan, Wilson, J Nunan, Griffiths 1.
Best – North Beach: Bandy , Jarvis, McCmskie, A Nunan, Brennan.
A-Reserves
North Beach 4.2 6.5 11.9 15.14 104
Wesley Curtin 0.2 2.4 4.6 4.6 30
Goals – North Beach: Pires, Sitters 4; Irvine, Hackett 2; Scantlebury, Perkin, Hiolbrook 1.
Best – North Beach: Sitters, Waldock, Robinson, Hackett.
Phil Scott Colts
Wesley Curtin 2.1 4.3 5.5 7.7 49
North Beach 0.2 2.5 2.12 4.14 38
Goals – North Beach: Foreman 2; Bottechia, Foreman 1.
Best – North Beach: Barden, Pullella, Hackett, O’Brien.
Brett Jones Colts
North Beach 5.6 8.11 11.12 15.18 108
Wesley Curtin 0.0 0.2 0.2 1.2 8
Goals – North Beach: Kickett 6; Gomer 5; Davis 2; Clarke, R Carter 1.
Best – North Beach: Duke, Ostle, Grapiglia, Kickett, Gomer.
D1 Division
North Fremantle 10.11 (71) def North Beach 4.6 (30)
Best – North Beach: Boys, Keely, Niblett, Hogg.
D2 Diviion
North Fremantle 9.23 (77) def North Beach 3.1 (19)
E2 Division
Wesley Curtin 11.9 (75) def North Beach 7.9 (51)
LADIES DAY
The annual ladies day at Charles Riley Reserve will be held tomorrow as the club embarks on the challenge of tackling Mt Lawley in the Phil Scott Colts (10.45am), A-Reserves (12.35pm) and A-Grade (2.30pm) fixtures.
Mothers, wives, partners and girlfriends, indeed female friends generally, are most welcome to attend as the club pays thanks for your support which plays such an important role in the success of the North Beach Football Club.
The marquee will be in operation and $30 will cover expense for the day. We look forward to seeing you all there.
