It’s a molehill!
If Saturday’s show-down with Whitford was going to determine whether the club had a major issue (a mountain) or the performance against University in round eight was an aberration, then the players answered the question. Emphatically.
It was always going to be a serious challenge against the Warriors, but when the club lost three players for the day before half-time, the task became even more challenging.
The Beach responded brilliantly and produced arguably their most important win of the O’Rourke Realty A-Grade WAAFL season when they beat Whitford by 19 points on Saturday.
Reduced to just one player on the bench before half-time and Whitford had kicked the last three goals of the half to go into the main break just a goal down, so the challenge was on.
But the Tigers showed great character, dug deep and moved closer to securing a top three finish with a 8.19 (67) to 7.6 (48) victory.
The Beach turns at the half-way point of the season with a 6-3 win-loss ratio and looking to build in the second half of the year as they begin to familiarise themselves with the game plan of new senior coach David Hynes.
On Saturday, with dwindling numbers, the Beach had to improvise and there were several outstanding individual contributors.
In the forced re-shuffle, Kyle Cranley moved into the ruck and had an amazing second half, Kyle Holden and Matt Irvine were outstanding in defence in conjunction with Adrian Clarke, while Josh McGinnity celebrated his 200th game in style.
Ben Wilson and Josh Bollen, in his first A-Grade game of the season, were busy up forward and missed opportunities aside it was an outstanding performance which gives the club rise for high hopes as the season progresses.
The Credent Financial Services A-Reserves produced another quality display, beating Whitford 10.13 (73) to 4.1 (25).
Led brilliantly by Andrew Langsford in defence, Tim Bowdell through the midfield, Dion Cownie and Mark Foreman, the Beach held sway throughout and were never really challenged. A true reflection of that domination was the respective number of scoring shots.
The Nuchange Phil Scott Colts produced an outstanding second half to beat the Warriors by 39 points.
After a tight first half, in which the Beach were not fully switched and led by only two points, they were able to turn up the intensity and feed the forwards more opportunities. With structural changes made earlier, the game started to turn with Bubnich going forward and finishing a great individual game with the mark of the year. He went back and iced the game. A shut down role from Dan white earlier dried up the Whitford midfield and had a big part on turning the game around. Credit should also go to the back line in this game they have been magnificent all year and were no different in this game, led by a best on ground performance by Michael Hoskins, supported well by Jack O’Gorman.
The Cabling Network Solutions D1-Grade and the Hybrid Linings D1-Reserves both scored important and impressive wins against North Fremantle, while the Tuck Plumbing Brett Jones colts were out-played by a mature Magpies team.
The D1-Grade finished powerfully, with the run in young legs proving decisive. Kade Golisano and Riley Carter, both of whom are eligible for colts but have played senior football all year, along with Justin Sajich and Adam Hay-Hendry were important players in a terrific team performance.
The D1-Reserves produced an outstanding effort to beat North Fremantle by 34 points, a victory that was set up by a six-goal second term, which saw the Beach take a 45-point lead into the main break.
Dylan McEvoy was outstanding through the midfield, Michael Bramley (six goals) was a constant threat in attack, while Jack Collins, Tim van Der Kraats, Khalil Campbell and Daniel Njegich were also important winning factors.
The Express Bins E2-Grade, playing against Coolbellup’s senior team, produced a highly competitive effort, before going down by five goals.
It was a good performance against the top team in the competition and through players like Paul Murphy, Dave Dillon, Tim Grapiglia, Jacob Copley and Cam Alco kept the Beach in the game to the end.
Match Details – Round 9
O’Rourke Realty A-Grade
North Beach 4.3 5.6 6.13 8.19 67
Whitford 1.3 4.4 5.4 7.6 48
Goals – North Beach: Jarvis 3; Cranley 2; Irvine, Bollen, Wilson 1.
Best – North Beach: Cranley, Irvine, Holden, Wilson, McGinnity, Clarke.
Credent Financial Services A-Reserves
North Beach 10.13 (73) def Whitford 4.1 (25)
Nuchange Phil Scott Colts
North Beach 1. 3 4.3 7.3 11.5 81
Whitford 1.0 4.1 6.4 6.6 42
Goals – North Beach: Bubnich, Reid 3; Cameron, Csar , Webster, Zehnder, Lynch 1.
Best – Hoskins, O’Gorman, Bubnich, Webster, White, Reid.
Cabling Network Solutions Group D1-Grade
North Beach 1.3 4.6 7.8 13.10 88
North Frem. 1.3 2.4 4.10 7.11 53
Goals – North Beach: R Carter 6; Missikos, Golisano 2; Hall, Miotti.
Best –North Beach: Golisano, R Carter, Justin Sajich, Hay-Hendry, Hall, Wheeler.
Hybrid Linings D1-Reserves
North Beach 5.1 11.5 13.6 16.12 108
North Frem. 3.1 4.2 9.7 11.8 74
Goals – North Beach: Bramley 6; McEvoy 5; Christie 2; Campbell, Mirabile, van Der Kraats 1
Best – North Beach: McEvoy, Bramley, Collins, van Der Kraats, Campbell, Njegich.
Tuck Plumbing Brett Jones Colts
North Beach lost to North Fremantle
Express Bins E2-Grade
Coolbellup 3.5 4.7 7.9 9.10 64
North Beach 0.0 2.3 3.8 4.8 32
Goals – North Beach: Smith, Copley, Reynolds, Grapiglia 1.
Best – North Beach: Murphy, Dillon, Grapiglia, Copley, Alco.
#Full details for all grades will be included as provided.
