by Gary Stocks | Jun 18, 2021
They say the best teams in the game build from defence and the rest evolves from there.
For the Hybrid Linings C5-Grade, that has been an integral part of their season that so far sees them unbowed. The capacity to restrict the opposition’s scoring capacity has been a key, while also launching many successful offensives from the back half.
When the Beach played Curtin University-Wesley last week, they knew it was going to be a challenge with the Tigers of the south among the other contenders. But Glen Hinkley’s men had the answers, winning 10.11 (71) to 5.4 (34).
Curtin were only two wins behind the Beach and had already claimed a couple of big scalps in 2021 so were not to be underestimated.
After an even first quarter, however, North Beach found another level, Curtin could not go with them and if not for a couple of cheap goals in the dying stages it should have been closer to a 50 point result.
Riley Hinkley was resolute at centre half-back, while Matt Irvine provided great rebound and run from his flank in his best game for the season and Matt Seaton continued his great form in completely nullifying the Curtin small forwards.
The midfield combination of Alex Thompson and Tom De Courtenay, in his 150th game, also guided the team to their eighth straight victory. Thompson was superb in the midfield with plenty of smothers, tackles and blocks and capped off his game with his first goal in three seasons.
Brayden Quinn was dynamic on his wing and his skill by foot was cherished by the forwards, particularly Mitch Cameron who kicked four goals.
The Beast Carpet Cleaning C5-Reserves also faced their biggest challenge of the season, against the other undefeated team in the competition and responded emphatically.
In a re-match of last year’s grand finalists and on a day when another club stalwart, Alex Luck, played his 150th match, the Beach produced a dominant six-goal victory – 10.5 (65) to 4.5 (29).
Playing on the main oval, the endurance and youth of the Beach proved decisive. They switched on and ready for our biggest test of the year. Right from the first bounce the Beach controlled the tempo of the game.
Ryan Clapham and Adam Miotti put in huge performances against Wesley’s ruckman, nullifying his impact around the ground. Joel Brown and Dave Purser led from the front and won the contested footy all day, giving the likes of Ryan Samuels and Ben Pedulla the ability to really break the game apart on the wings.
The Indian Ocean Hotel Brett Jones Colts boys played with high intensity and pressure from the outset as they carved out an impressive 38-point win against Swan Athletic – 10.11 (71) to 4.9 (33).
After a tight first quarter, with just one goal apiece, the Beach built their game aroiund strong forward pressure from Sam Halley.
With that that defensive pressure as a key element of the performance, the Beach controlled the game after quarter-time, building on their advantage in each quarter.
After a rusty start, the Beyond Tools E2-Grade dominated the second half on the way to a 41-point win over Bullcreek Leeming – 11.8 (74) to 5.3 (33).
Tully Wickstein and Brayden Bowden kicked seven goals between them while Fletcher Cooke was again a key contributor.
The Project Ceilings A-Grade women produced a bold performance against the highly-rated University before going down by just seven points – 2.7 (19) to 2.0 (12).
Clare Dickson and Jasmine Hunneybun were outstanding while Tessa Anderson produced a trademark performance and Elysia Burvill was strong and resolute.
The Peak Body Fitness C4-Grade suffered a little through the recent injury rate and lost by 40 points to West Coast, but they never stopped working for each other.
One of the highlights of the day was the performance of the Grange Residential Integrated Rules who produced a dominant 49-point victory over Wembley.
Details
Hybrid Linings C5-Grade
North Beach 2.2 5.4 8.8 10.11 71
Curtin-Wesley 1.1 1.2 2.4 5.4 34
Goals – North Beach: M Cameron 4; Brooks 2; De Courtenay, Corbett, Thompson, Rollo.
Best – North Beach: Thompson, DeCourtenay, Seaton, Quinn, Irvine, R Hinkley.
Beast Carpet Cleaning C5-Reserves
North Beach 2.3 6.3 8.3 10.5 65
Curtin-Wesley 0.0 2.1 3.4 4.5 23
Goals – North Beach: Cuzens, Purser, J Cameron 2; Miotti, Cahill, Tobin, Pedulla.
Best –North Beach: Purser, Brown, Clapham, Samuels, Pedulla, Gardiner, Vardy, Miotti.
Indian Ocean Hotel Brett Jones Colts
North Beach 1.0 5.4 8.7 10.11 71
Swan Athletic 1.1 1.4 2.8 4.9 33
Goals – North Beach: N/A
Best – North Beach: Moreschini, O’Malley, McLeod, Halley.
Beyond Tools E2-Grade
North Beach 1.1 3.4 8.7 11.8 74
Bullcreek-Leem 1.2 3.3 4.3 5.3 33
Goals – North Beach: Wickstein 4; Bowden 3; Franklin 2; Cooke, Ingleby.
Best – North Beach: Cooke, Wickstein, Shepley, Franklin, Collins, Paul.
GJ Osplumb E3-Grade
Coolbinia 14.10 (94) def North Beach 2.2 (14)
Project Ceilings A-Grade Women
University 1.2 1.3 2.6 2.7 19
North Beach 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 12
Goals – North Beach: Dickson, Davies.
Best – North Beach: Dickson, Hunneybun, Anderson, Burvill, McKenry, Pianto.
Peak Body Fitness C4-Grade Women
West Coast 6.4 (40) def North Beach 0.0 (0)
Grange Residential Integrated Rules
North Beach 3.2 6.3 9.4 11.5 71
Wembley 1.1 1.1 1.2 3.4 22
by Gary Stocks | Jun 16, 2021
Mitch Gill…a prime mover for the O’Rourke Realty A-Grade against University
It was half time at McGillivray Oval and University had edged their collective nose in front of the O’Rourke Realty North Beach A-Grade team.
The Scholars had been cleaner with their ball use, capitalised on a number of North Beach turn-overs that had been the catalyst for their slender four-point advantage at the main break.
The Beach was far from out of the contest but they needed to address a few issues, eradicate some sloppy errors and improve efficiency if they were to maintain their unbeaten record. They responded brilliantly.
With experienced midfielders Mitch Gill, Sam Lamont, Steve Mansfield and Craig Hoskins leading the way – with ruckman Kyle Cranley who took on the highly talented ruck duo of Nathan Blakely and Hamish Murray – they gradually worked their way on top.
With young swingman Oskar Tothill offering a target up forward, finishing the game with four goals, and defensive stars Luke Symonds, Matt Murray and Liam Catalfamo doing their thing down back, the Beach eventually emerged 21-point victors – 11.9 (75) to 8.6 (54).
Other key figures in the victory included Daniel Leishman and Joey Deegan, whose run, dash and commitment to the contest were important.
Earlier, the Lifenet A-Reserves faced a similar situation against University.
Seriously challenged in the first half they, too, had the answers and were too slick, kicking 10 goals to one after the long interval, to win by 65 points – 15.4 (94) to 4.5 (29).
The Scholars were highly competitive to the break, trailing by just 10 points, but they could not sustain the effort as the Beach found another gear.
James Canty and Nic Bowe were exceptional through the middle while Jordan Webster and Caolan O’Connell provided terrific offensive pressure, while Jarrod Chapman maintained his outstanding form in defence, with Matt Raynor.
Just as importantly Mitch Mackenzie, in his first game for the club after breaking his wrist in pre-season, emerged unscathed and kicked three goals as he impacted more the deeper the game travelled.
And Kade McKenzie was also lively in the midfield after working his way into the A-Reserves line-up.
The Plasterwise Phil Scott Colts, who did so much to set up victory over University, but saw it slip through their grasp in the last 10 minutes.
Leading by five goals early in the last quarter after playing a sustained and impressive brand of football, they fell away as momentum swung University’s way and eventually endured a heart-breaking two-point defeat.
The 10.6 (66) to 10.8 (68) loss came despite the efforts of Joshua Moses and Matt Coleman, who were combative in the midfield, Petr Coles who was dangerous up forward, and the classy Corey Belouard.
Other good contributors included Flynn Rose and Tai Kirkpatrick, but the loss was a tough lesson in closing out a match having done so much good work against the top team in the competition.
Results, Round 8
O’Rourke Realty A-Grade
North Beach 3.3 5.3 8.5 11.9 75
University 2.0 6.1 7.4 8.6 54
Goals – North Beach: Tothill 4; Garcia, McGuinness, Gill 2; Leishman.
Best – North Beach: Gill, Lamont, Mansfield, Tothill, Hoskins, Cranley, Murray, Symonds.
Lifenet A-Reserves
North Beach 3.0 5.1 10.2 15.4 94
University 1.2 3.3 4.3 4.5 29
Goals – North Beach: C O’Connell, M Mackenzie 3; Adler, Edwards 2; K McKenzie, Hall, McColgan, Canty, N Wells.
Best – North Beach: Webster, C O’Connell, Jarrod Chapman, Canty, Raynor, Bowe, Edwards.
Plasterwise Phil Scott Colts
University 1.3 2.6 4.8 10.8 68
North Beach 4.0 6.0 9.3 10.6 66
Goals – North Beach: Coles 3; Rose 2; Kirkpatrick, Moses, Bothe, Martin, O’Shea.
Best – North Beach: Moses, Coles, Belouard, Kirkpatrick, Coleman, Rose.
by Gary Stocks | Jun 4, 2021
Steve Mansfield….won the Gary Tait Medal with a best-on-ground performance.
Past players day is always an occasion to celebrate at North Beach.
It brings together those warriors of a previous time who have helped to make our club what it is. It also provides them with the opportunity to connect with the present and cast an eye over the current team.
They would have left Charles Riley Reserve last Saturday night, content that this year’s senior squad is in good shape. Challenged by Trinity Aquinas, particularly in the first half, the O’Rourke Realty A-Grade found another gear when required and posted an impressive 31-point victory.
To mark this occasion the annual Gary Tait Memorial Medal is presented to the best player afield.
Talk to those who were around in the 80s and Tait was a man of great influence both on and off the field. He would have been pleased to see pugnacious midfielder Steve Mansfield presented with the medal in the rooms post game.
Mansfield relished the slippery conditions where body-lining the ball is so important and combined with fellow midfield bulls Mitch Gill and Craig Hoskins to set the Beach in motion. Kyle Cranley also continued his good form in the ruck while Dan Leishman played with his usual verve and composure.
Additionally, Luke Symonds was a rock down back, eliminating the influence of one of the Boomers most dangerous forwards.
The Lifenet A-Reserves have had few challenges to this point in the season, but they responded to the questions asked of them by Trinity Aquinas, eventually winning by 40 points.
Again the contest was hot in the first half, but when required the Beach ramped up their output, kicking five goals to one in the second half as they maintained their unblemished start to the year, winning 10.9 (69) to 4.5 (29).
Mainstays in defence – Ben Sweeny and Jarrod Chapman – continued their stellar starts to the season while Chris Wells evolves further each week and seasoned campaigners Tim Edwards, Josh Stott, Nic Bowe and Simon Tunbridge steered the ship at times of crisis.
The Plasterwise Phil Scott Colts ran head-long into an accomplished Trinity Aquinas outfit, but trailed throughout and despite a highly competitive effort, fell to a 24-point defeat – 9.4 (58) to 5.4 (34).
Egan Brooks set the bar high for his teammates while Matt Coleman always impresses with his competitive streak, doing what he can to inspire his teammates. Harry Quayle, Corey Belouard, Flynn Rose and Chris Papadopoulos were also strong contributors.
The Indian Ocean Hotel Brett Jones Colts were impressive victors over North Fremantle at Gil Fraser Reserve, again emphasising the depth of young talent at the club.
Always in control and with an edge in class they romped to a 113-point triumph – 19.11 (125) to 2.0 (12).
Dylan Male produced an eye-catching performance and finished off his work with four goals, while James Celenza, Jonas Rocke and Josh Smith all contributed three goals. James O’Malley was best afield with a polished performance.
O’Rourke Realty A-Grade
North Beach 1.1 4,4 6.7 9.13 67
Trinity Aquinas 1.2 3.2 5.5 5.6 36
Goals – North Beach: Cownie 2; McIntosh, M Dwyer, Ekert, Gill, Garcia, Lucassen, Scurria.
Best – North Beach: Mansfield, Symonds, Hoskins, Gill, Cranley, Leishman.
Lifenet A-Reserves
North Beach 3.2 5.2 8.3 10.9 69
Trinity Aquinas 2.1 3.1 4.4 4.5 29
Goals – North Beach: Brooks, Adler, Johnson, Edwards 2; Webster, McColgan.
Best – North Beach: Sweeny, Jarrod Chapman, C Wells, Edwards, Stott, Bowe, Tunbridge.
Plasterwise Phil Scott Colts
Trinity Aquinas 3.0 5.1 6.2 9.4 58
North Beach 2.2 3.2 5.4 5.4 34
Goals – North Beach: Kirkpatrick 2; Foley, Bothe, O’Shea.
Best – North Beach: Brooks, Coleman, Quayle, Belouard, Rose, Papadopoulos.
Indian Ocean Hotel Brett Jones Colts
North Beach 3.4 8.5 11.9 19.11 125
North Frem 0.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 12
Goals – North Beach: Male 4; Celenza, Rocke, Smith 3; O’Malley 2; Castoglioni, Huggins, Budmir, McLeod.
Best – North Beach: O’Malley, Rocke, Male, Huggins, Budmir, McLeod.
Hybrid Linings C5-Grade
North Beach 1.3 4.4 5.4 8.8 56
Trinity Aquinas 4.0 4.3 6.5 6.5 41
Goals – North Beach: Rollo 3; McKenzie, Corbett, Seaton, Irvine, Torre.
Best – North Beach: O’Gorman, Thompson, Seaton, Hopkins, Schofield, Quinn.
Beast Carpet Cleaning C5-Reserves
North Beach 3.0 3.1 7.2 8.5 53
Trinity Aquinas 0.1 2.1 2.3 2.3 15
Goals – North Beach: J Cameron 4; Purser 2; Quinlan, Goodin.
Best – North Beach: Brown, Purser, Vardy, Hunter, J Cameron, Clapham, Lang.
Beyond Tools E2-Grade
North Beach 4.3 5.3 7.5 12.7 79
Kingsway 1.0 1.0 1.0 3.0 18
Goals – North Beach: Smith 3; Bryce 2; Carroll, Osborne, Persichitti, Franklin.
Best – North Beach: Alco, Persichitti, Shepley, Bryce, Cavanagh.
E3-Grade
Gosnells 1.3 4.3 7.7 10.6 66
North Beach 2.0 3.0 4.1 7.5 47
Project Ceilings A-Grade Women
North Beach 1.0 1.0 2.4 2.6 18
Quinns Dist 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0
Goals – North Beach: Delfante, Elliott.
Best – North Beach: Duncan, Burvill, Shearman, Davies, Anderson, Jones.
Peak Body Fitness C4-Grade women
Rossmoyne 1.0 1.0 2.1 3.2 20
North Beach 0.2 1.3 1.3 2.3 15
Goals – North Beach: Edwards.
Best – North Beach:
Grange Residential Integrated Rules
High Wycombe 4.2 7.3 9.6 9.8 62
North Beach 0.0 2.0 4.1 6.6 42
by Gary Stocks | Jun 3, 2021
Hayden Marchetto makes a point to his charges on Saturday
For a few years now we have watched the renaissance that is women’s football accelerate at a remarkable rate.
And that progress was seen on two fronts at Charles Riley Reserve on Saturday morning.
Firstly, the Project Ceilings A-Grade women kicked things off on the main oval against Quinns Districts and scored a stirring victory.
In the worst of the conditions for the day, they toiled throughout and despite the greasy football and the soft, shifting surface the Beach girls showed poise and skill to score a meritorious 18 point victory – 2.6 (18) to 0.0 (0).
Ellen Duncan, a stalwart of this team since inception, led the way while Elysia Burvill, Kate Shearman, Amelia Davies, Tessa Anderson and Rachelle Jones were also key contributors.
On the northern oval, starting a little later, The Peak Body Fitness C4-Grade women did battle with Rossmoyne.
The Beach girls had their moments and their opportunities to win, but Rossmoyne were a little more efficient with their ball use when it mattered.
That said, this team kicked its first goal in competition a couple of weeks ago, and on Saturday kicked two more on the way to a 3.2 (20) to 2.3 (15) loss.
This squad is gaining momentum, Hayden Marchetto and his coaching staff are genuinely excited and the second half of the season presents opportunities for growth. That is not merely about winning and losing, but acquiring a deeper understanding of the game, developing skills and, most of all, having fun.
That sense of enjoyment was clearly evident on Saturday.
Project Ceilings A-Grade Women
North Beach 1.0 1.0 2.4 2.6 18
Quinns Dist 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0
Goals – North Beach: Delfante, Elliott.
Best – North Beach: Duncan, Burvill, Shearman, Davies, Anderson, Jones.
Peak Body Fitness C4-Grade women
Rossmoyne 1.0 1.0 2.1 3.2 20
North Beach 0.2 1.3 1.3 2.3 15
Goals – North Beach: Edwards.
by Gary Stocks | Jun 2, 2021
Lower Grade all-rounder Novak Smith celebrated his 350th game in style.
British Petroleum, or BP as we know it, used to run an advertising campaign with the tag line ‘the quiet achiever.’
The synergy between that petrol pedlar and North Beach legend Novak ‘Jesus’ Smith is undeniable.
Smith, a champion of the lower grades, surreptitiously crept to the 350-game mark on Saturday against Kingsway – a major achievement that was celebrated appropriately with a victory for his Beyond Tools E2-Grade combination.
Smith is not only the coach of this team; he is the glue, the manager, the recruiter and the central player.
In his typically under-stated fashion – he remains incognito except when wearing his dress shoes and socks with his footy shorts – Smith kicked three goals as the Beach eked out a 61-point victory 12.7 (79) to 3.0 (18).
James Bryce also chipped in with a couple of goals while Cam Alco was a powerful force through the midfield, and other solid performances came from Zane Persichitti, Drew Shepley and Paul Cavanagh.
Meanwhile, the Hybrid Linings C5-Grade maintained their unbeaten record with a gritty 15-point victory over Trinity Aquinas at Bill Grayden Reserve – 8.8 (56) to 6.5 (41).
The Beach arrived to see three massive puddles in the middle of the ground and they took a while to adjust as TA, who had set themselves for a mini grand final, were fast out of the blocks and had three goals on the board before the Beach could blink.
Slowly, the Beach began to acclimatise to the conditions, found their groove and started to dominate time in possession.
With a few tweaks and greater reward for control, the Beach turned a point to the good at half-time. Leading the revival was Michael Schofield in the ruck who was completely dominant and gave Alex Thompson, Jamie Bennett and club debutant Kade McKenzie, first use of the footy.
The outside run was provided by Nathan Torre and Brayden Quinn and between them all they continued to pump the ball forward. Up forward Mason Rollo was dangerous and finished with three goals but it was Matt Seaton, playing as a defensive half-forward, who was instrumental in getting the Beach back in to the contest.
Down back, Jack O’Gorman was constantly repelling TA’s forward forays as he intercepted in the air while Luke Hopkins, Riley Hinkley, Ben Litchfield, Shane Duckworth, Matt Holden and captain Aran O’Connell kept the Boomers to just two goals in the last three quarters.
The Beast Carpet Cleaning C5-Reserves also faced one of their most testing matches of the season and emerged victorious, knuckling down after a tight first half, taking it up a notch and Trinity Aquinas could not stay with them.
Leading by just six points at the main break, the Beach held the Boomers to just two behinds thereafter and won 8.5 (53) to 2.3 (15),
Josh Cameron was dangerous up forward and kicked four goals, finishing off the work of captain Joel Brown, David Purser and Liam Hunter while hard nuts like Trevor Lang, Liam Vardy and ruckman Ryan Clapham were important as the Beach imposed their will on the contest.
The GJ Osplumb E3-Grade were involved in an engrossing battle with Gosnells at Charles Riley Reserve (2), but could not get the job done despite a spirited effort.
Eventually they fell by just 19 points, losing 10.6 (66) to 7.5 (47).
Hybrid Linings C5-Grade
North Beach 1.3 4.4 5.4 8.8 56
Trinity Aquinas 4.0 4.3 6.5 6.5 41
Goals – North Beach: Rollo 3; McKenzie, Corbett, Seaton, Irvine, Torre.
Best – North Beach: O’Gorman, Thompson, Seaton, Hopkins, Schofield, Quinn.
Beast Carpet Cleaning C5-Reserves
North Beach 3.0 3.1 7.2 8.5 53
Trinity Aquinas 0.1 2.1 2.3 2.3 15
Goals – North Beach: J Cameron 4; Purser 2; Quinlan, Goodin.
Best – North Beach: Brown, Purser, Vardy, Hunter, J Cameron, Clapham, Lang.
Beyond Tools E2-Grade
North Beach 4.3 5.3 7.5 12.7 79
Kingsway 1.0 1.0 1.0 3.0 18
Goals – North Beach: Smith 3; Bryce 2; Carroll, Osborne, Persichitti, Franklin.
Best – North Beach: Alco, Persichitti, Shepley, Bryce, Cavanagh.
E3-Grade
Gosnells 1.3 4.3 7.7 10.6 66
North Beach 2.0 3.0 4.1 7.5 47
