BY GARY STOCKS
It was a tough day at Charles Riley Reserve last Saturday, with a stubborn opposition and challenging conditions conspiring to upset the O’Rourke Realty A-Grade team.
At times, particularly in the first half, the Beach appeared to have the game on their terms, but so often it seemed they found a menacing puddle in the forward pocket that thwarted attacking moves.
And then Fremantle CBC, against the run of play and with time ticking down to end a quarter, would manufacture important momentum-changing goals.
In the end the class and ball movement of CBC proved decisive as they won 13.9 (87) to 7.8 (50) finishing over the top of their hosts with eight goals to four in the second half.
When the Beach was controlling the game midfielder Brayden Lawler was exceptional while Tom Hooper offered a reliable target at half-forward.
In addition ruckman Kyle Cranley was wielding an important influence and Nic Wells continued his run of form.
Unfortunately, after the long break the work load was left to too few and CBC left with four valuable premierships that also created a precarious situation as the Beach targets a top three finish. They are now third with a clash against top team Curtin University-Wesley to come this Saturday.
The Lifenet A-Reserves paid the price for a slow start, conceding three goals in the first quarter before losing 2.12 (24) to 5.6 (36) in the challenging conditions.
Trailing by 20 points at quarter-time the eventual margin was just 12 points as the Beach failed to get a return on their control in general play.
Adam Swain and Kade McKenzie found the conditions to their liking and with Steve Mansfield worked hard at the coalface, while Oskar Tothill and Tim Edwards were also prominent.
One of the positives out of a disappointing result was the return of Nic Reid, who kicked one of the two goals the Beach mustered and was a constant threat.
The Plasterwise Phil Scott Colts started the day positively with a comprehensive victory over Fremantle CBC.
In difficult conditions the ball movement and thirst for the contest was insatiable as they controlled the game throughout on their way to a 44-point victory – winning 8.6 (54) to 1.4 (10) the visitors kicking their only goal in the final term.
Brodie Everett was outstanding in the ruck while Jared Thompson provided strong rebound run out of defence, Kobi Martin was outstanding around the contest and Cody Connell offered a constant presence in attack.
O’Rourke Realty A-Grade
Fremantle CBC 3.1 5.4 8.8 13.9 87
North Beach 2.0 3.3 4.5 7.8 50
Goals – North Beach: Gill, Hooper 2; Lawler, Garcia, Mackenzie.
Best – North Beach: Lawler, Hooper, Cranley, N Wells.
Lifenet A-Reserves
Fremantle CBC 3.3 3.4 4.6 5.6 36
North Beach 0.1 1.7 1.10 2.12 24
Goals – North Beach: Reid, Hall.
Best – North Beach: Swain, McKenzie, Tothill, Edwards, Reid, Catalfamo.
Plasterwise Phil Scott Colts
North Beach 1.2 3.2 5.3 8.6 54
Fremantle CBC 0.2 0.2 0.3 1.4 10
Goals – North Beach: Elliott 3; Moreschini 2; Nichols, Connell, O’Shea.
Best – North Beach: Everett, Thompson, Martin, Connell.
A Sweet Victory
Victory is always satisfying, but some are sweeter than others.
And the win by the Hybrid Linings C4-Grade against Osborne Park last Saturday was something to cherish.
Trying conditions, key players missing, an unknown opposition and a ground on which nobody had played before could all have been instrumental in the threes dropping a game.
However, after a tight start, the Beach was dominant with their teamwork, fitness and structures ensuring they claimed the valuable premiership points – winning 17.8 (110) to 5.8 (38).
In defence Jack Merson and Joel Temm held sway while up forward Jack O’Gorman continued his resurgence as a key forward and Mason Rollo was playing like it was a dry day in kicking five goals.
Tom de Courtenay shouldered most of the ruck duties and was a clear winner and Alex Thompson revealed in the greasy conditions to be the best midfielder on the ground.
Timing is everything and unfortunately for the Beast Carpet Cleaning C4-Reserves, the start of their clash with Osborne coincided with the heaviest downpour of the day.
The Beach still did well at the contest throughout the game, which allowed the outside players to provide the run and carry required in the wet. Osborne Park’s game plan was to try to win the ball at stoppage so they regularly had all their numbers inside.
Zane Persichitti continued his strong season with another best on ground performance while Alex Coleman played in three different positions but was a strong contributor wherever he was on the ground.
Midfielders Vaugh Quinlan and Callum Corbett both provided strong drive from the engine room, while Dan Ryan and Mark Craig led the way up forward and down back respectively.
The Beyond Tools E1-Grade chalked up another win, grinding out an impressive win over Hamersley Carine while the GJ Osplumb E4-Grade continued their winning form, despatching Forrestdale 15.15 (105) to 2.5 (17).
Hybrid Linings C4-Grade
North Beach 3.1 7.4 11.8 17.8 110
Osborne Park 1.4 1.6 3.6 5.8 38
Goals – North Beach: Rollo 5; M Cameron, J Cameron 3; Wickstein 2; Thompson, O’Gorman, Adler, De Courtenay.
Best – North Beach: Rollo, De Courtenay, Merson, Thompson, O’Gorman, Temm.
Beast Carpet Cleaning C4-Reserves
North Beach 2.3 4.4 6.4 7.6 48
Osborne Park 0.0 0.1 0.1 1.3 9
Goals – North Beach: Steffenssen, J Hunt, Sisarich, Persichitti, Corbett, A Coleman, Ryan.
Best – North Beach: Persichitti, A Coleman, Corbett, Quinlan, Ryan, Craig.
Indian Ocean Hotel Brett Jones Colts
North Beach – Bye
Beyond Tools E1-Grade
North Beach 11.10 (76) def Hamersley Carine 8.7 (55)
GJ Osplumb E4-Grade
North Beach 6.5 7.6 9.14 15.15 105
Forrestdale 0.0 2.1 2.2 2.5 17
Women Look At Long Game
Lose the battle, win the war. That could well be the mantra of the Synkro A-Grade women after an absorbing confrontation with competition benchmark University on Saturday.
While the Beach might have lost the contest by seven points, improvement was significant compared to the last time the two teams faced off, so despite the loss there were many positives to take away.
In a tough, hard-fought game in testing conditions, the Beach drew level in the last quarter but could not quite finish off their work before losing 2.6 (18) to 3.7 (25).
Abby Maynard was lively on a wing while Tess Anderson was a shining light in the middle, half-backs Moana Roberts and Beth Carey were outstanding and forwards Tyler Jones and Mille Monaghan were threatening all day.
The C4-Grade Women had a tough battle against a physical Gosnells outfit but endured everything the opposition could throw at them – both physical and verbal – before winning 5.5 (35) to 2.1 (13).
Despite a few unsavory moments and some low-level banter the Beach played a committed, team brand of football.
In some respects the physicality brought about a new level of competitiveness in some, which should allow confidence in our bodywork as they approach Kelmscott this week and the upcoming finals campaign.
A key message for the girls was to back the width and spread in their game, moving the ball into good attacking positions, which again looked dangerous.
The Beach will continue to work on being clean with skills, marking and general ball as they build towards the sharp end of the season.
Synkro A-Grade Women
North Beach 0.1 0.4 1.6 2.6 18
University 1.0 2.2 2.2 3.7 25
Goals – North Beach: Corney 2.
Best – North Beach: Maynard, T Jones, Monaghan, Carey, Anderson.
C4-Grade Women
North Beach 1.0 2.1 3.4 5.5 35
Gosnells 0.0 0.0 1.0 2.1 13
Goals – North Beach: Plant 2; Cowling, Holden, Campbell.
Best – North Beach: Kavanagh, Mirchef, Lilford, Cowling, Holden, Campbell.
