By Gary Stocks
It sounds so simple, it’s almost corny. A throwback to junior days if you like. But if you were to break down the reasons for a 56-point win by the O’Rourke Realty A-Grade team it would be put down as a ‘team effort.’
The perfect example of a contribution of all players to a winning cause.
The Beach needed a win, of that there was no doubt. And it would take a united, committed effort from all 22 players to get the job done against the highly regarded Trinity Aquinas. And get the job done, they did.
The emphasis going into the match was about the team ethos and it was evident early in the Beach psyche.
The way they hunted the ball – and the opposition when they could get their hands on it – was inspiring. In play after play, the Beach players found ways to win their personal battles, did everything they could to make life as comfortable as possible for the blokes alongside them.
So good were the first 25 minutes that at quarter-time, after a long bomb on the siren from debutant Sascha Kernut, that the Beach held a 26-point advantage – a lead that was extended at every break until locking away a 12.13 (85) to 4.5 (29) victory.
Of course, even in a complete team effort, there are individuals who glow slightly brighter than the rest and the effort of Kyle Holden in defence was exceptional, along with developing rookie Michael Schofield, tough midfielder Tim Nelli, captain Beau Witheridge, ruckman Alex Hack, half-back Scott Ward, forward Christian Bottechia and wingmen Steve Bandy and Mitch Dwyer.
Earlier the Credent Financial Services A-Reserves ran out of time as they were charging back into the contest against Trinity Aquinas.
After a sloppy first half, when they struggled for cohesion and couldn’t get their skills together, the Beach was starting to find synergy with their ball movement but fell short by 15 points, losing 6.9 (45) to 9.6 (60).
The experienced Michael Taylor was in eye-catching form and tried desperately to lift his teammates, Ned Melvin battled manfully in the ruck, key defenders Liam Vardy and Ben DeRosa could do no more while Mat Baker also played with heart and conviction.
The Coast to Coast Phil Scott Colts were never under any real threat and produced a polished four-quarter performance in winning 9.11 (65) to 4.9 (33).
Led by Mitch Cameron and Ryan Ekert up front, the Beach were always threatening, while Joel Brown, Sam Zehnder, Tonus and Hoskins were lively.
The Beach are a blossoming unit and with Csar and Rudrum also on top they out-pointed their opposition throughout.
The Cabling Network Solutions had an interesting start to the day, with only about eight players at Bill Grayden Reserve 10 minutes before the game – more than half the team caught in a traffic jam after a truck spilled its load on the Narrows!
After a request for a delayed star was granted, 15 players were there for the start of hostilities, trying to minimise the damage before the cavalry, in the form of their teammates, arrived.
Trinity Aquinas, as one would expect, dominated the first term, but kicked a wasteful 2.7, which helped to keep the Beach in the contest. But even at three-quarter time, North Beach trailed by 25 points, before a vintage Bill Duckworth burst sparked some action.
The team responded to charge home and win by nine points – a victory described by veteran Scott Holbrook, a former A-Grade premiership captain, to regard it among the best wins he had ever played a part in.
The Hybrid LiningsD1-reserves also clawed back from the brink, recovering from two goals down at three-quarter time to win by a point.
After kicking the first two goals in the first three minutes, North Beach thought they were in for another easy win and decided to ease back in all aspects of the game.
Entering the final quarter the Beach needed to lift, and lift they did; starting with Mike Bramley, who started in the ruck in the final term and was brilliant, John Turner’s gut running raised the team’s work rate and Shane Piggott and Chris Langsford showed great desperation repelling the repeated TA’s attacks.
In the end, the Beach escaped by a point and received a massive reality check in the process.
The Brett Jones Colts produced a convincing display against Trinity Aquinas, unleashing an exhilarating last quarter to win by 34 points.
It was tight at three-quarter time, but the Beach dominated the last 20 minutes of the game, kicking seven goals and producing an exciting win.
The Express Bins E2-Grade produced an inspired performance to thump Ballajura by 158 points, the victory set up by an amazing 10-goal second term.
Brett Anthony and Novak Smith were on fire up forward, kicking 13 goals between them, while Cameron Alco, Paul Cavanagh and Michael Missikos were also outstanding in what was a sublime team performance.
O’Rourke Realty A-Grade
North Beach 5.3 7.7 9.11 12.13 85
Trinity Aquinas 1.1 2.2 3.4 4.5 29
Goals – North Beach: Kernut 2; Alone, Billi, Dwyer, Hack, McDonnell, Nelli, Sajich, Scantlebury, Witheridge, Yakas 1.
Best – North Beach: Holden, Witheridge, Nelli, Hack, Ward, Schofield, Bottechia, Bandy.
Credent Financial Services A-Reserves
Trinity Aquinas 9.6 (60) def North Beach 6.9 (45)
Goals – North Beach: Wynne, Cownie, Taylor, Harwood, Melvin, Hall 1.
Best – Taylor, Melvin, Vardy, Baker, DeRosa.
Coast to Coast Phil Scott Colts
North Beach 3.3 4.5 7.8 9.11 65
Trinity Aquinas 0.2 2.4 3.6 4.9 33
Goals – North Beach: Cameron 3; Ekert 2; Brown, Irvine, Kennedy, Zehnder 1.
Best – North Beach: Tonus, Halley, Brown, Zehnder, Hoskins.
Brett Jones Colts
North Beach 3.2 5.4 8.4 15.6 96
Trinity Aquinas 1.2 3.3 7.8 9.8 62
Goals – North Beach: Brady, Collins 3; Damo 2; Batty, Chewy, Evans, Pickle, Jordan,, Zach, Plakakis.
Best – North Beach: Damo, Zach, Plakakis, Angus, Edwards, Batty, Pickle.
Cabling Network Solutions D1-Grade
North Beach 0.1 2.4 3.5 8.10 58
Trinity Aquinas 2.7 3.10 6.12 6.13 49
Goals – North Beach: Robinson 3; Christie, Cosgrove, Graham, Perkin, Riemann, Wilson 1.
Best – North Beach: Fitzroy, Wilkins, Wilson, Holbrook, Duckworth.
Hybrid Linings D1-Reserves
North Beach 3.2 6.5 8.6 12.7 79
Trinity Aquinas 4.0 7.1 10.5 12.6 78
Goals – North Beach: Bramley 3; Barry 2; Boys, Flynn, Holdman, Hurley, Tincknell, Turner, Vry 1.
Best – North Beach: Turner, Piggott, Bramley, C Langsford.
Express Bins E2-Grade
North Beach 6.4 16.7 23.14 27.15 179
Ballajura 2.0 3.1 3.1 3.3 21
Goals – North Beach: Anthony 7; Smith 6; Alco 3; Cavanagh, Luck 2; Humphry, Grapiglia, Retomal, Slatter, Elphick, Marchan 1.
Best – North Beach: Anthony, Alco, Smith, Cavanagh, Missikos.
