This competition just doesn’t get any easier!
After a testing month of football, North Beach now confronts the biggest challenge of recent years in the WAAFL when it clashes with University at McGillivray Oval tomorrow.
University have been the benchmark for the last three years, playing in Grand Finals in each of those seasons and winning the 2011 and 2012 premiership. They are a slick unit, a powerful running team with some quality big men and so far they are undefeated in 2014.
The Beach, however, will take some confidence into the game in the knowledge that they despatched the Scholars in the corresponding round last year and they produced their best four-quarter effort of the year against Trinity Aquinas a week ago.
The Tigers eclipsed Trinity Aquinas with a sustained performance from start to finish that ultimately resulted in a 10-goal victory.
The attack on the ball carrier was outstanding and eventually even the inferred pressure resulted in Trinity Aquinas making mistakes and the Beach was good enough to capitalise. A similar effort will be required against University.
Again the Beach has been forced into change, with four inclusions for this clash against the ladder leaders. Among them is captain Anthony “Chooka” Ingham, half-forward James Lee and midfielder Cody Enders, all of whom were ruled out through injury last week.
The players rallied last week and with so many new faces in the team it has taken a while to gel – hopefully a major step forward was taken last Saturday and now the target is to sustain that effort consistently.
With the O’Rourke Realty A-Grade, Credent Financial Services A-Reserves and Coast to Coast Imports Phil Scott Colts all playing at McGillivray Oval, the lower grades might also get the chance to view the action.
The Hybrid Linings D1-Reserves and the Cabling Network Solutions D1-Grade each have a bye as they are engaged in a nine-team competition.
The Brett Jones Colts will play University at Percy Doyle Oval while the Express Bins E2-Grade will play Brentwood Booragoon at Karoonda Park.
Fixtures, Round 6
Saturday, May 24 2014
O’Rourke Realty A-Grade
University v North Beach, McGillivray Oval, 2.30pm
Credent Financial Services
A-Reserves University v North Beach, McGillivray Oval, 12.35pm
Coast to Coast Imports Phil Scott Colts
University v North Beach, McGillivray Oval, 10.45am
Brett Jones Colts
North Beach v University, Percy Doyle Oval, 10.45am
Express Bins E2-Grade
Brentwood Booragoon v North Beach, Karoonda Park, 5pm