BY GARY STOCKS
Grand Finals, especially the tight ones, come down to the big moments.
And it was the ability of the Lifenet A-Reserves to excel in those moments that saw the club win its fifth premiership in six seasons at this level, squeezing past Scarborough at Steel Blue Oval last Saturday.
After appearing in command at half-time, albeit leading by just 13 points in a low-scoring affair, the Beach found themselves on the back foot at three-quarter time before closing out the game to win 7.7 (49) to 4.3 (27).
At the long break they had not conceded a goal to their arch rivals but that changed as the Sea Eagles emerged from the rooms with a fresh approach, rattling on four goals to take a four-point advantage into the last quarter.
The first step towards regaining the ascendancy came at the huddle, when the classy Dylan Campbell was swung into the middle in what proved to be the most pronounced decision in a number of structural tweaks.
He had been a strong presence up forward but was a match winner in the middle as he combined with Adam Swain, who would go on to win the medal as best afield, to wield a strong influence on the outcome.
Perhaps the biggest moment in the game came when ruck-forward Oskar Tothill snapped cleverly early in the last term. Initially the goal umpire ruled it a behind, but he was usurped by the field umpire who had a better view of the action and called it a major.
Once the Beach regained the lead they never surrendered the advantage – indeed Scarborough failed to score in the last 20 minutes as the Tigers assumed total control.
Skipper Connor Boylan was again important while young emerging players Jack MacIntosh, who provided strong rebound out of defence, Jackson Martino, Egan Brooks and Chris Wells displayed their future A-Grade credentials.
Ruckman Josh Chapman, so often influential throughout the season, again shone while Tim Edwards provided valuable run on the wing.
Lifenet A-Reserves
Grand Final
North Beach 1.4 2.4 3.5 7.7 49
Scarborough 0.1 0.3 4.3 4.3 27
Goals – North Beach: Webster, Swain, Tothill, Canty, Johnson, Josh Chapman.
Best – North Beach: Swain, Campbell, Josh Chapman, MacIntosh, E Brooks, C Wells, Boylan.
