By Gary Stocks

University rained on the North Beach parade – the annual Gary Tait memorial day – at Charles Riley on Saturday, upsetting the reigning premier with a 17-point victory.

In front of a large crowd – including a strong contingent of sponsors in a boundary-side marquee – the scholars jumped out to a six-goal advantage in the opening term and despite the best efforts of the Tigers could not be reeled in.

North Beach fought back and were only five points down at the final change, but University had the answers and kicked the first couple of goals in the last quarter to provide the winning buffer.

For the Tigers, strong contributions came from Gary Tait medallist Aaron Jarvis at centre half-back while Shane Paap was always threatening up forward, Kyle Reimann was energetic through the midfield and strong support came from Andrew Langsford and Mitch Dwyer.

A-Grade
University           6.2          7.2          11.2        15.3        93
North Beach       0.4          5.8            9.9        11.10     76
Goals – North Beach: Paap 5; Brooks, Witheridge 2; O’Donnell, Bollen 1.
Best – Jarvis, Paap, Reimann, Langsford, Dwyer.

The A-reserves produced and outstanding four-quarter performance to carve out a 39-point win over University.

Led by Kent Traeger, wingman Alex Billi, Jamie Sajich and Michael Duckworth the Beach had all the answers in an outstanding display. Considering the injury list in the senior side the club’s depth was tested and that was a terrific display of team football.

A-Reserves
North Beach       2.1          5.3          7.9          10.10     70
University           2.1          2.2          3.3             6.5       41
Goals – North Beach: Billi 3; Italiano, S Holbrook, Bell 2; Fishlock 1.
Best – Traeger, Billi, Jamie Sajich, M Duckworth.

The G-Grade ensured their bus trip to Bassendean was memorable with a six-goal triumph.

Adam Styles was brilliant up forward with four goals, while Sam Steele, Jarrad Dye and Novac Smith were strong performers in a memorable team performance. 

G-Grade
North Beach 12.6 (78) defeated Bassendean 6.6 (42)
Goals – North Beach: Styles 4; Parker 3; Panagopoulos, Hayward 2; Smith 1.
Best – North Beach: Steele, Styles, Dye, Parker.

The Phil Scott colts faced the challenge of competing with the competition’s leaders and unfortunately did not measure up to University.

Jeff Waldock produced a typically determined effort, while Keegan Knott ran hard, Josh Barber was under notice throughout and Ben De Rosa exerted some influence but too much was left to too few,

Many players were given a lesson in the art of running football, lessons which should be heeded as the guys aim to mirror the efforts of their opponents.

Phil Scott Colts
University           3.1          9.8          13.9        16.16     112
North Beach       1.2          2.2            3.4          4.6          30
Goals – North Beach: Knott, Kickett, Foreman, Barber 1.
Best – North Beach: Waldock, Knott, Barber, DeRosa, Campbell.

The Brett Jones colts cracked their first win of the season with an outstanding team effort.

Set the task of maximising their return for effort it came with a fighting win over Collegians, last year’s premiers. A sizzling third quarter, where the Beach kicked five goals to one, set up the victory – although Collegians did waste some chances in the final term.

Josh Stott was best afield with five goals while Chris Mead continued his strong run of form, Gus Barwick provided important defensive rebound and newcomers Ivan DeRooster and Jan Alexander enjoyed good contributions.

Brett Jones Colts
North Beach       2.2          6.6          11.6        11.7        73
Collegians           5.3          6.5            7.7        9.14       68
Goals – North Beach: Stott 5; Berry 2; DeRooster, Mead, Slatter, Emery 1.
Best – Stott, Mead, McMorran, Barwick, DeRooster, Alexander.