By Gary Stocks

When coaching elder Mick Malthouse was at his best with the West Coast Eagles he created a habit of throwing up some pearls for the post match media pack.

Among them were some classics, like ‘the ox is slow and the earth is patient.’ Another, which one of his charges of the day, current North Beach coach David Hynes might relate to last Saturday, was the insightful ‘sometimes you’re the bug, sometimes you’re the windscreen.’

On Saturday, against Mt Lawley, North Beach was the bug. After flying along for three and a half quarters, or more, the Beach was collected by the on-coming vehicle. Hit out of nowhere.

The O’Rourke Realty A-Grade team did everything to win the game, other than to close it out and in the dying minutes Mt Lawley, who had stuck at their task all day, crashed it open and with the last kick of the day sealed a stunning victory, by a solitary point – 13.6 (84) to 12.11 (83).

In a highly entertaining game, with both sides applying enormous physical pressure, neither buckled and the Hawks were good enough to charge home and claim the points.

The Beach had quality players all over the ground, with young ruckman Kieren Yakas continuing his outstanding start in senior football, while James Lee, Matt Power and Cody Enders all contributed strongly.

In addition, Ben Sweeny continued his solid season in defence, along with Scott Ward and up forward Christian Bottechia was in good touch, along with Freddy Alone, Josh McGinnity and Sammy Lamont.

There were good performers everywhere in this match, which was featured on the WAAFL match of the day webcast (now available on YouTube) and prompted the commentators to describe it as the best game they had called in their four years.

In the Credent Financial Services A-Reserves match, Mt Lawley gave some indication of what to expect when they jumped out of the blocks and set up victory with an outstanding first quarter.

After establishing a 28-point lead at the first break, they went on to win by 14 points, holding off the fast-finishing North Beach combination.

Tim Langsford, who was thrust into the ruck in the second half, helped to trigger a revival while Matt Baker was lively through the midfield and both Jackson Harwood and Dion Cownie were efficient up forward.

Unfortunately the Beach left itself with too much to do in the second half to retrieve the game, but at least salvaged some respectability from the scoreline of 10.6 (66) to 12.8 (80).

A full day of quality football kicked off when the Coast to Coast Imports Phil Scott Colts, toppled Mt Lawley by three points.

After controlling play for most of the day, but failing to get maximum reward for effort, the Beach took a 16-point lead into the final term, but could manage only six behinds in the last 20 minutes of the contest.

Joel Brown, Jamie Rudrum, Ryan Ekert, Ryan Turner and Nick Bowe were all consistent contributors across the four quarters, as the Beach hung on to win 7.13 (55) to 8.4 (52).

The Brett Jones Colts produced a sublime performance against North Fremantle, winning 13.8 (86) to 7.8 (50), a victory which was set up by a dominant first half as the Beach led by 56 points at the main break.

Jayden Higgins was outstanding with five goals with great support coming from Blake, Jordan Mesiti, Taylor and Green.

The Cabling Network Solutions D1-Grade fired their juggernaut into overdrive and scored an impressive 53-point win over North Fremantle. The Maggies simply had no answers to the class and youth of the Beach outfit which was relentless and finished an impressive display with a six-goal final term.

Mitch Holbrook was again a reliable target up forward, kicking six goals, while Daniel Wheeler, Dean Wilson, Jamie Cosgrove and Matt Irvine ensured a steady supply of opportunities.

The Hybrid Linings D1-Reserves, anticipated a fierce contest from long-time rival North Fremantle, but the Beach over-powered them after half-time.

The North Beach back six led, by Deon Jacobs was superb in rebounding many attacks, while Scott Cheatham and Shane Piggott were back to their best form, taking critical marks deep in defence.

Ross Holdman was required to ruck for a large majority of the game and really stepped up into the role to be dominant in the second half of the game against a much taller opponent. John Turner and Matt Allan again showed their class in the midfield racking up countless contested possessions.

 Byron Boys, Jordan Kickett and Mike Bramley provided great targets up forward and converted their opportunities, while  Jack Flynn was brilliant at half forward and Tim Elphick showed his versatility with an outstanding game in the back pocket.

Unfortunately, the Express Bins E2-Grade were short on numbers with only 19 of 26 selected players  making the trip to Willetton and it resulted in a tough day for those who fronted.

The Beach proved no match for their opponents, losing 2.7 (19) to 10.13 (73).

Tony Mirabile, Michael Quartermaine, Josh Stretch and Steven Jopson tried valiantly but it was an effort against the odds.

O’Rourke Realty A-Grade
Mt Lawley           4.2          7.2          9.4          13.6        84
North Beach       3.1          7.4          10.8        12.11     83
Goals – North Beach: Lamont, Alone 3; McDonnell 2; Davies, Hack, Jarvis, Enders, McGinnity 1.
Best – North Beach: Bottechia, Yakas, Power, Enders, McDonnell, Alone, Lamont.

Credent Financial Services A-Reserves
Mt Lawley           5.4          10.5        12.8        12.8        80
North Beach       1.0           4.2          6.4         10.6        66
Goals – North Beach: Harwood 3; Cownie 2; Scantlebury, Harvey, Potts, Tindale 1.
Best – North Beach: Langsford, Harwood, Baker.

Coast to Coast Imports Phil Scott Colts
North Beach       2.1          4.5          7.7          7.13        55
Mt Lawley           2.2          2.3          5.3          8.4          52
Goals – North Beach: Ekert, Turner 2; Csar, Lynch, Rudrum 1.
Best – North Beach: Brown, Bowe, Ekert, Turner, Rudrum, Csar.

Cabling Network Solutions D1-Grade
North Beach       4.3          8.4          11.4        17.7        109
North Frem.       1.1          4.4            7.7          8.8          56
Goals – North Beach: M Holbrook 6; Duin 3; Cosgrove 2; Callow, Christie, Campbell, Copley, Robinson, Irvine 1.
Best – North Beach: Wheeler, D Wilson, M Holbrook, Cosgrove, Irvine.

Hybrid Linings D1-Reserves
North Beach       2.3          8.5          9.10        13.17     95
North Frem.       0.0          1.2            2.6           2.7       19
Goals – North Beach: Boys, Kickett 4; Holdman 2; Bramley, Turner, Flynn 1.
Best – North Beach: Elphick, Cheatham, Piggott, Holdman, Turner, Allan.

Brett Jones Colts
North Beach       4.3          10.4        12.7        13.8        86
North Frem.       0.1            1.2          3.4          7.8         50
Goals – North Beach: Higgins 5; Collins, J Cuzens 2; Bryce, Hart, Blake, Morgan, Brady, Petterson.
Best – North Beach: Higgins, Blake, Jordan, Mesiti, Taylor, Green.

Express BinsE2-Grade
Willetton 10.13 (73) def North Beach 2.7 (19)
Goals – North Beach: Smith, Jopson 1.
Best – North Beach: Mirabile, Quartermaine, Stretch, Jopson.