By Gary Stocks

North Beach reclaimed top spot on the WAAFL A-Grade ladder with a convincing 31-point victory over Wesley Curtin last Saturday.

The win gives the Beach some breathing space going into the bye weekend for A-grade clubs, opening up a two-point buffer over Wesley Curtin and Mt Lawley.

Led by the smooth defensive skills of Luke Smith, with support coming from Jimmy Nunan, Josh Bollen, Dean Brennan and Chris Pearce, the Beach kicked out to a nine-goal three-quarter time advantage before their opponents scored some consolation majors in the final term.

Aaron Jarvis completed the work of a dominant midfield with five goals while Hayden Bell also chipped in with two goals, along with Bollen.   

A-Grade
North Beach                       2.1          6.3          12.5        13.7        85
Wesley Curtin                   2.2          3.3          3.5           8.6        54
Goals – North Beach: Jarvis 5; Bollen, Bell 2; Pearce, Allen, Paap, Witheridge 1.
Best – North Beach: Smith, J Nunan, Bollen, Brennan, Pearce.

The A-Reserves also scored an important victory in a thriller against Wesley-Curtin and continue to push for the opportunity of the double chance at the end of the season.

The depth of North Beach has been tested because of a lengthy injury list, but the senior squad continues to answer the challenges.

After dominating the first half, the Beach managed just one goal after the long break, but hung on for a three-point triumph. Rob McComiskie was outstanding, while Trevor Lang, Scott Holbrook and Ryan Chapman were also solid contributors, Chapman kicking half of the team’s goals. 

A-Reserves
North Beach                 5.0             7.1                  8.3         8.5        53
Wesley-Curtin             2.2             3.3                5.6          7.8        50
Goals – North Beach: Chapman 4; Fishlock, McEvoy, J Boys, Thomas 1.
Best – North Beach: McComiskie, Lang, S Holbrook, Chapman.

The E-Grade fell to their first defeat of the season, failing to produce their best form and slipping to an 11-point loss to CBC Fremantle at Charles Riley Reserve.

Luke Speering, Daniel Johnstone and Daniel Wheeler worked hard, but there simply was not enough input across the board to carry the Beach to victory.

Justin Sajich was dangerous around goal while Hayden Coutts also produced a lively display.  

E-Grade
CBC Fremantle                  3.1          5.3          7.6          10.7        67
North Beach                        3.1          3.5           6.7           8.8         56
Goals – North Beach: Justin Sajich 3; Gregoire 2; Plant, Coutts, Keeley 1.
Best – Speering, Johnstone, Wheeler, Sajich, Coutts.

The E-Reserves continued their ascent up the ladder with a fighting five-point triumph against CBC Fremantle.

Led by the ultra-consistent Andy Meares, Matt Reynolds and Yannick Siegwart the Beach fought on for a stirring victory, on a day when the defensive effort was outstanding.

At the other end of the ground, Hayden French and Lindsay capitalised on their opportunities and always looked dangerous in posting five of their team’s six goals.

E-Reserves
North Beach 6.10 (46) defeated CBC Fremantle 6.5 (41)
Goals – North Beach: French 3; Gaunt 2.
Best – Mears, Reynolds, Siegwart.

Aside from a competitive third quarter, the G-Bangers were short of expectations in falling to a powerful Ocean Ridge combination by 75 points.

Novac Smith and Tim Dorogi each kicked two goals while Scott Brown, Chris Powell, William Pendergast and Daniel Mellor were consistent contributors throughout the contest.

G-Grade
Ocean Ridge                       3.2          8.3          12.5        18.8        116
North Beach                       2.1          3.3            5.3          6.5         41
Goals – North Beach: Dorogi, Smith 2; Leishman, Mellor 1.
Best – North Beach: Brown, Powell, W Pendergast, Mellor.

The Phil Scott Colts again allowed a golden opportunity to slip through their grasp with another costly concentration lapse opening the door for the opposition.

After a strong first start, the Beach relaxed for a few minutes in the second quarter which allowed Wesley Curtin to rattle on some quick goals.

The Beach fought valiantly from that moment forward, but found it tough to push home and claim an important victory.

Skipper Jacob Griffiths continued his recent ruch vein of form with strong support coming from Sam Johnson, Khalil Campbell, Jeff Waldock, Josh Barber and Mark Langsford.

Phil Scott Colts
Wesley Curtin                   2.1          7.2          9.3          10.4        64
North Beach                       4.2          5.2         8.2         10.2         62
Goals – North Beach: Griffiths, Knott 3; Kickett, Stott, Barber, Robinson 1.
Best – North Beach: Griffiths, Johnson, Campbell, Waldock, Barber, Langsford.

The Brett Jones Colts were also denied victory against a highly rated opponent, with a couple of costly 50 metre penalties proving decisive.

The Beach worked hard against CBC 0- who had lost just one game going into the contest – but also wasted a number of opportunities to claim the points late in the game.

Ryan Antonelli, Chris Mead, Steve Mansfield and Ivan DeRooster worked hard through the midfield while Angus Barwick rebounded strongly out of defence and Jackson Howell played with his usual discipline and focus.  

Brett Jones Colts
CBC Fremantle                  2.1          3.3          4.5          5.5          35
North Beach                        2.1          2.2          3.5          3.7          25
Goals – North Beach: Perris, Christie, Miller 1.
Best – North Beach: Antonelli, Barwick, McMorran, Mead, DeRooster.