By Gary Stocks
Five North Beach teams went in to battle. Only one was victorious. That’s the bad news.
The good news is that all of the vanquished live to fight another day. They earned the luxury of a double chance and now they have used that lifeline.
It means that on Saturday four teams play in cut-throat finals, while the Hybrid Linings D1-Reserves earned a week off after the remarkable victory against University in last Saturday’s second semi-final.
Those in action on Saturday include the Credent Financial Services A-Reserves, who lost to Fremantle CBC in the qualifying final, the Cabling Network Solutions D1-Grade, who lost their second semi-final by a point to Trinity Aquinas, and both colts teams.
The Coast to Coast Imports Phil Scott Colts lost another classic encounter with Mt Lawley in the qualifying final while the Red Hill Brett Jones Colts saw University reverse the result of their previous battle to run out comfortable winners.
The D1-Reserves held University goal-less in the second half with an inspired performance against the Scholars. Fuelled by an incident in the second quarter, the Beach responded strongly to book a place in the grand final courtesy of their 26-point win.
Matt Allan kicked three goals in a best-on-ground performance while Michael Collins, Cam Alco and Joe Boys, who on Monday night won the fairest and best medal in this grade.
The A-Reserves produced a disappointing performance at McGillivray Oval against CBC while the D1-Grade led against the undefeated Trinity Aquinas in the last few minutes before conceding two scores and falling by a point.
The Phil Scott Colts did all the hard work against Mt Lawley, recovering from three goals down in a low-scoring game at three-quarter time, to hit the front in the final quarter only to be denied by a flukey long bomb in the dying seconds to lose another heart-stopper.
Unfortunately the Brett Jones Colts were outclassed by University, losing by eight goals, but they have the chance to remain in the premiership hunt by winning on Saturday.
Results
Credent Financial Services A-Reserves
Fremantle CBC def North Beach
Cabling Network Solutions D1-Grade
Trinity Aquinas 8.7 (55) def North Beach 8.6 (54)
Hybrid Linings D1-Reserves
North Beach 10.6 (66) def University 5.10 (40)
Goals – North Beach: Allan 3; Vardy, Orr-Young 2; Zehnder, Potts, L Quinlan.
Best – North Beach: Allan, M Collins, Alco, B Boys.
Coast to Coast Imports Phil Scott Colts
Mt Lawley 2.4 3.5 5.8 7.8 50
North Beach 1.0 3.1 3.2 7.5 47
Red Hill Brett Jones Colts
University 10.13 (73) def North Beach 2.11 (23)
Goals – North Beach: Raynor, Baty.
