BY GARY STOCKS
Ever tried swimming with someone holding your legs? Kicking hard to break free of their clutches before finally escaping their grasp and moving smoothly into your stroke.
Metaphorically speaking it was a bit like that for the O’Rourke Realty A-Grade against Bassendean on Saturday.
Bassendean came with a plan to prevent freedom of ball movement by the slick Beach outfit, frustrated the host for a half, before the Beach wriggled free and produced a quality second half on the way to a dominant 74-point victory – 16.12 (108) to 5.4 (34).
Once the Bassendean resistance was broken and their defensive structure disintegrated, the floodgates opened and the Beach rattled on 11 goals to four in the second half.
With ruckman Kyle Cranley dominant at stoppages and around the ground, the Beach controlled the game with midfielders Jack Beverley, Craig Hoskins and Brayden Lawler winning plenty of the ball.
That translated to copious opportunities up forward where Tom Hooper was a ubiquitous marking presence and in concert with Shannon Lucassen, Ben Johnson, James Garcia and Riley Saunders they had the Bassendean defence on the run.
In defence, Matt Murray continues to mature into a quality and consistent performer while Egan Brooks also came under notice.
Similarly, the Lifenet A-Reserves were never threatened by the Swans as they marched to a 76-point triumph – 15.13 (103) to 4.3 (27).
Pleasingly, a few new faces injected into the team grabbed their opportunities with Isaac Seidner, Liam Hunter and Cooper Blackburn all making significant contributions.
Combined with the class of Chris Wells, Liam Catalfamo and Tim Edwards the Beach controlled territory and ensured the ball lived in their attacking half.
Again, Nathan Adler was a strong focal point up forward kicking five goals.
The Plasterwise Phil Scott Colts are usually kicking the dew off the ground with their early starts, on Saturday they were soaking up the latent water sitting on the surface of Charles Riley Reserve.
It made for a challenge, reading the tide rather than the breeze, but the Beach prevailed to win 7.11 (53) to 5.8 (38).
Ruckman Kobi Martin ensured the Beach had an edge around the stoppages while wingmen Luis Caccamo and James Cameron produced polished performances and Finn Nichols finished off their work in attack.
O’Rourke Realty A-Grade
North Beach 3.4 5.6 11.11 16.12 108
Bassendean 1.1 1.3 3.3 5.4 34
Goals – North Beach: Hooper 4; Lucassen, Johnson 3; Saunders 2; Scurria, Lamont, Swain, Hoskins.
Best – North Beach: Cranley, Murray, Beverley, Hooper, Hoskins, Saunders, Lawler.
Lifenet A-Reserves
North Beach 3.5 4.7 10.11 15.13 103
Bassendean 0.0 1.3 1.3 4.3 27
Goals – North Beach: Adler 5; Edwards, Canty 2; O’Connell, J Webster, Wickstein, Catalfamo, Seidner, Josh Chapman.
Best – North Beach: C Wells, Adler, Edwards, Josh Chapman, Catalfamo, Wickstein.
Plasterwise Phil Scott Colts
North Beach 2.4 3.6 5.7 7.11 53
Bassendean 0.0 2.5 3.6 5.8 38
Goals – North Beach: Nichols, Coles 2; Caccamo, R Sparks, Connell.
Best – North Beach: Martin, Caccamo, Cameron, Thompson, Nguyen, Nichols.
It’s True… Slimey’s a Legend
It’s a truism that no individual is ever bigger than the club for whom they play. Equally it is accurate to suggest that some people personify or define a club.
Last Saturday such a man, with North Beach blood flowing through his veins, reached another mind-blowing milestone.
A man who has not played his career in the spotlight. For years, more than 30 them, he has toiled away in what is labelled the ‘lower grades.’
That tag sounds a little disrespectful, but there is none intended. It is merely a means of categorising the grades that fall below the senior teams.
And the nickname Slimey is not disrespectful either, although it would be interesting to one day learn of its origins. That moniker belongs to Ian Tester and he is a revered institution down at the Beach.
Last week he played his 450th game for the club, representing a life-time of commitment to the Beach. Average that out at 15 games a season and that’s a neat 30 years, not allowing for injuries or illness.
It is difficult to comprehend, but given he kicked a goal and played his part in a 68-point by the GJ Osplumb E4-Grade dissection of Ellenbrook, he’s not quite done yet. Maybe he has 500 on the radar; after all what’s another three years?
Away from the remarkable Tester milestone, the other lower grade teams were similarly impressive.
The Hybrid Linings C4-Grade scored a terrific victory over Forrestdale and in racking up an impressive 35-point victory leapfrogged their opponents into second position on the ladder at the half-way point.
The first half was tight with both sides enjoying periods of ascendancy. But superior fitness, better structures and a stronger desire to stay focused on the football saw the Beach kick six unanswered goals in the second half to claim a comfortable victory.
Marc Crisp was superb the whole game and Forrestdale had no answers for his hard running and leadership. “Chippa” capped off a terrific midfield display with four goals.
Jordan Brooks was the most dangerous forward on the park and continued his surge in form with five goals, including a set shot banana from deep in the pocket.
Jack Merson was impassable at half back and led his defence magnificently.
Pete Hiotis, in his game in the 3s, was strong in the clinches, Tom De Courtenay gave his mids first use of the ball and Flynn Rose played his best game of senior footy since graduating from the Colts last season.
And Joel Temm added to the milestones, playing his 100th game for the club.
The Beast Carpet Cleaning C4-Reserves were equally impressive against a quality opponent, beating Forrestdale by four goals – 9.10 (64) to 6.4 (40).
It was the battle for outright third and the Beach set the tone early, controlling most aspects of the game.
But it turned in the second quarter when the Falcons kicked three goals to one, winning the ball around the contest and converting opportunities.
Being a young group this year, voice and structure have not been the strong points, but they responded to some half-time urgings from Jack Flynn and got rolling again.
Josh Tickner was outstanding in the backline, really inspiring his teammates with an effort in the second quarter that saw him go back with the flight to stop what would have been an easy goal for Forrestdale.
Mitch Hunt had another strong game up forward kicking four goals and driving the standards with his defensive pressure, whilst Zane Persichitti and Aaron Ugle gave us lots of drive from the wings all day.
Mark Craig helped us counter attack throughout the game with superb ball use out of the back half.
The Indian Ocean Hotel Brett Jones Colts travelled up the hill to tackle Kalamunda and returned with four points emphatically banked.
They put on a superb show of physical football with unstoppable run and skill that utterly out-pointed Kalamunda on their own deck.
Using the width of the ground the Beach were able to easily setup behind the ball and stop every Kalamunda attack while their forward penetrations of the arc were unrelenting and fruitful.
Led once again by the familiar faces of the side in Ronan Rose, Tyler Thomas and Brodie Everett in the midfield, Tom Emes down back and Max Payne and Zach Farrell up forward, the Beach made a statement by crushing a genuine final’s contender.
Hybrid Linings C4-Grade
North Beach 1.2 6.5 8.8 12.10 82
Forrestdale 1.4 6.7 6.9 6.11 47
Goals – North Beach: J Brooks 5; Crisp 4; M Cameron 2; De Courtenay.
Best – North Beach: Crisp, J Brooks, Merson, HIotis, Rose, De Courtenay.
Beast Carpet Cleaning C4-Reserves
North Beach 3.2 4.5 7.6 9.10 64
Forrestdale 1.2 4.2 6.2 6.4 40
Goals – North Beach: M Hunt 4; Vozzo 2; Dix, Ugle, Lloyd.
Best – North Beach: Tickner, M Hunt, Craig, Dix, Ugle, Persichitti.
Indian Ocean Hotel Brett Jones Colts
North Beach 2.2 6.5 9.8 12.12 84
Kalamunda 0.1 0.1 0.2 1.2 8
Goals – North Beach: Jolley 4; Farrell, Payne 3; P Rose, Everett.
Best – North Beach: Thomas, R Rose, Payne, P Rose, Everett, Caicob.
Beyond Tools E1-Grade
Bassendean 5.7 11.10 15.13 21.14 140
North Beach 0.0 1.2 2.2 3.4 22
GJ Osplumb E4-Grade
North Beach 4.2 8.2 11.5 13.10 88
Ellenbrook 1.0 2.4 2.7 2.8 20
Women Lasso Success
Ladies Day at Charles Riley Reserve is always a highlight within a social calendar that boasts many memorable moments.
Combine the occasion with a couple of victories by the club’s women’s teams and the vibe goes up a notch or two. The theme of the event was western, and the mood was set when the Beach lassoed a couple of victories to get things rolling.
While the attendees were not limited to the female playing contingent, there was enough of them involved in earlier triumphs who were riding the highs of success when they arrived.
The Synkro A-Grade Women produced their most complete performance of the year as they racked up an impressive 11.11 (77) to 0.3 (3) victory over Piara Waters.
They won the ball at the coal face and consistently peppered the goals in a near flawless display with the highlight being the debut of Chloe Alaga who had missed the first of the season with a serious knee injury.
She thrived upon her return and kicked four goals in a classy and confidence boosting start, while Abby Maynard, Tyler Jones, Ash Pianto, Jodie DelFante and Sharni Kuenen were also dominant forces.
The C4-Grade maintained their impeccable record with a resounding 42-point victory over the Rays, controlling the game from start to finish.
Despite a rain soaked warm up, the showers stayed away for the majority of the game, and the forwards took advantage early in front of goal through Chelsea Edwards out-muscling her opponent and slotting one through.
The midfield took charge and never wavered, with multiple strong runs into the 50 from Mel Camer-Pesci and Cara Catterall, with Hannah Campbell providing excellent support.
Rebecca Mirchef and Chelsea Cowling continued their great form of late with solid four quarter efforts, with the backline, ably lead by vice-captain Billie Armstrong, repelling any attack to give the pacy midfielders every advantage on the rebound.
Taylor Evans was lively in the forward line, chipping in with two goals in her first game back from a season ending knee injury in 2021 and Megan Cleary put on a best on ground performance.
Synkro A-Grade Women
North Beach 3.1 5.4 6.7 11.11 77
Piara Waters 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 3
Goals – North Beach: Alaga 4; Popovsky 2; DelFante, Jones, Peacock, Lennon, Plummer.
Best – North Beach: Maynard, Jones, Pianto, Alaga, DelFante, Kuenen.
C4-Grade Women
North Beach 3.1 4.4 6.8 7.13 55
Piara Waters 0.0 1.0 2.0 2.1 13
Goals – North Beach: Evans, Edwards 2; Camer-Pesci, Copley, Cowling.
Best – North Beach: Cleary, Camer-Pesci, Cowling, Mirchef.
I-Grade Breaks Through
By Steve Cuzens
North Beach won their first Grange ResidentiaI I-Grade game of the season in a twilight clash against Kelmscott at John Dunn Heap Memorial Reserve.
It was a tight affair with North`s inaccuracy in last quarter, kicking 1.5, almost costing them victory.
Julian Miller was outstanding with five goals and once again unselfishly gave others in the team the opportunity to kick the footy.
Mailey Kelly and Reece McIntyre were also major contributors with Ben Morley, Jamie Harris and Nick Hart solid as rocks in the backline.
Training during the week concentrated on moving the ball quickly and kicking long, both disciplines were evident on Saturday.
The team continually improves with special mentions made to Matthew Blevins, Simone Henderson, Rueben Bezuidenhout and Warren Read who continue to win their own ball.
There were some great signs of general improvement from various individuals. Panna’s main theme of the day was to pick up the ball and a number of players that have been a bit hesitant in the past took it on board. Jeremy Huggins, Warren Read, Ryan Plummer and Callum Goodlet all were keen to be first to pick up the ball.
Both coaches need to be commended as this game was played with tremendous spirit and fair play. Every player on both teams had the opportunity to use the ball. The sense of good sportsmanship from players on both sides was what made this game so special.
Bouquet – Dean Pieters – best Team Manager performance for the year so far.
Brickbat – Stuart Curry for being late with the board at quarter time.
Grange Residential I-Grade
North Beach 7.7 (49) def Kelmscott 5.10 (40)
Goals – North Beach: Miller 5; Kelly, Huggins.
Best – North Beach: Miller, Kelly, Blevins, Henderson, Bezuidenhout, Morley.
