North Beach moved a game clear at the top of the A-grade premiership table with a consolidating 30-point victory over Collegians last Saturday.
With North Fremantle going down to Whitford, the Beach has moved four points clear as the run home intensifies in an absorbing battle – not just for finals positions, but also for those fighting to avoid relegation. And five or six clubs are both in the finals hunt and needing to win to ensure they remain in the A-grade competition next year.
After Collegians jumped out to a handy 10-point lead at the first change last week, North Beach kicked 12 goals to six to ensure they remained on track for top spot.
With Simon Pearce, playing his 200th game, in outstanding touch, along with Ben Wilson, Marc Welsh and Nathan Mossop there was a steady supply of opportunities up forward where Mitch Holbrook was on hand to capitalise. The Beach spearhead finished with six while Chris Pearce chipped in with three.
A-grade details
North Beach 3.1 7.4 11.8 15.13 103
Collegians 4.5 6.9 7.10 10.13 73
GOALS – North Beach: M Holbrook 6; C Pearce 3; Rieman, Bollen 2; Turner, Witheridge 1.
BEST – North Beach: S Pearce, Mossop, Wilson, M Holbrook, Welsh.
The reserves consolidated second position on the ladder with a convincing 49-point win over Collegians.
Jumping out of the blocks strongly, the Tigers were never threatened and went on to win 10.19 (79) to 4.6 (30) with Scott Holbrook, Ben O’Donnell, Justin Sajich, Peter Bird and Andrew Langsford all displaying good form.
The Beach’s domination was not necessarily reflected on the scoreboard and coach Michael Pratt will be looking to remedy that situation this week against the dangerous West Coast Cowan.
A-Reserve details
North Beach 4.3 6.9 9.13 10.19 79
Collegians 1.1 3.3 4.6 4.6 30
GOALS – North Beach: Justin Sajich, Pittman 3; Cassidy, O’Donnell, Gooch, Bird 1.
BEST – North Beach: S Holbrook, O’Donnell, Justin Sajich, Bird, Langsford.
The E-grade scored an impressive five-goal win over CBC Fremantle, also consolidating second position. They won 14.10 (94) to 9.8 (62) and are looking confidently towards finals.
Defender Ben Foley was among the stars in a solid team performance.
The E-Reserves were out-pointed by Fremantle CBC, going down by 32 points despite the best efforts of Liam Vardy, Matty Reynolds and Brett Anthony, who played his 250th game for the club.
E-Reserves details
Fremantle CBC 5.2 8.3 9.5 10.6 66
North Beach 0.2 0.5 2.8 4.10 34
GOALS – North Beach: French, Vardy 2.
BEST – North Beach: Vardy, Reynolds, Anthony, Ives, Bodan.
With a number of Brett Jones colts players doubling up to support the club by playing G-Grade, the club enjoyed a 102-point victory.
Dave Barwick (aka Shrek) chipped in with four goals, along with Gareth, while Tyler kicked three in conjunction with Novak Smith.
G-Grade details
North Beach 5.3 10.13 13.16 20.17 137
Ballajura 2.3 2.4 3.5 5.5 35
GOALS – North Beach: Barwick, Gareth 4; Tyler, Smith 3; Scott 2; Pike, Luke, Trevor, Potts 1.
BEST – Carroll, Elliott.
The Phil Scott Colts faced a tough challenge against a Collegians team at full strength with Claremont having the bye and paid the price for a slow start.
Again Collegians applied early pressure and opened up a five-goal quarter-time advantage. The margin was not much more than that at game’s end, with North Beach fighting back boldly, but the damage was done.
Luke Osborne, Mitch Dwyer, Ben Clark and Trevor Lang fought determinedly to get the Beach back in the contest, but could not peg back the deficit. While disappointing, it was an improvement on the first round encounter between the two teams and the Tigers will be looking to build further towards finals.
Phil Scott Colts details
Collegians 5.2 5.3 8.7 11.7 73
North Beach 0.1 2.1 3.2 5.4 34
GOALS – North Beach: Dwyer, Italiano, Keely, Mansfield, Osborne 1.
BEST – North Beach: Osborne, Dwyer, Clark, Lang.
The Brett Jones Colts delivered an outstanding execution of the game plan to score a 134-point triumph over Mt Lawley in a terrific team display. The use of handpasses to link up the team’s attacking play was a feature and gives the boys some impetus going into this week’s clash with the impressive Collegians outfit.
Hayden Coutts, Adam Clark, Rory Herbert, Rory Fagan and Jacob Griffiths were brilliant through the midfield while the defensive efforts of Shane Duckworth, James Perry, Callum Robinson and Tom McComiskie were also under notice.
Brett Jones details
North Beach 6.2 13.4 18.9 25.12 162
Mt Lawley 0.2 2.3 3.3 4.4 28
GOALS – North Beach: Coutts, Clark 4; Fagan 3; Bowers, Hopkins, Robinson, Williams 2; Griffiths, Ioppolo, Herbert, Taafe, Dye, McComiskie 1.
BEST – North Beach: Coutts, A Clark, Hopkins, Herbert, Taafe, Fagan, Griffiths, Duckworth.
