By Gary Stocks
Every so often in a season moments of opportunity to arrive. Moments that can define a season.
Such a moment is presented to the O’Rourke Realty A-Grade tomorrow at Charles Riley Reserve as the club aims to levitate itself from the bottom third of the table.
As the club strives for incremental improvement it confronts long-time rival North Fremantle. Both clubs are within striking distance of the top five and victory in this clash would ensure that it remains a possibility.
North Beach has done little wrong, but finds itself with a 1-4 record after five rounds. It is a young and exciting outfit and on occasions this year has had 10 players within its ranks who qualify to play colts football.
The club policy is for those who turn 20 this year to play in senior ranks. And it has the desired effect, exposing those youngsters to A-Grade football. Even those playing in the A-Reserves and the D1-Grade have benefitted from the opportunity of playing against mature-bodied opponents.
Right now those benefits are not quite so obvious on the A-Grade ladder, with the Beach sitting in seventh position, but there will be some fruit to bear. That could come as early as this match.
Again the Beach has to make changes, and Joel Fishlock has been promoted to play his first senior game in several years, while Adam Duff, Sam Lamont and Alex Hack also resume.
The boys will need the support of the North Beach faithful and the fans will be encouraged to venture to the venue despite the forecast.
The Credent Financial Services A-Reserves also face a challenge after their first loss of the year last Saturday while the Coast to Coast Imports Phil Scott Colts will look to cement their place in the upper reaches of the premiership table.
While the A-Grade games will dominate the focus, there is a match of intrigue scheduled for Bill Grayden Reserve when the Cabling Network Solutions D1-Grade play Trinity Aquinas in a battle of two unbeaten teams.
Fixtures
O’Rourke Realty A-Grade
North Beach v North Fremantle, Charles Riley Reserve, 2.30pm
Credent Financial Services A-Reserves
North Beach v North Fremantle, Charles Riley Reserve, 12.35pm
Coast to Coast Imports Phil Scott Colts
North Beach v North Fremantle, Charles Riley Reserve, 10.40am
Cabling Network Solutions D1-Grade
Trinity Aquinas v North Beach, Bill Grayden Reserve, 2.30pm
Hybrid Linings D1-Reserves
Trinity Aquinas v North Beach, Bill Grayden Reserve, 12.35pm
Redhill Brett Jones Colts
Trinity Aquinas v North Beach, Bill Grayden Reserve, 10.40am
Express Bins E1-Grade
North Beach v East Fremantle, Aintree Reserve, 2.30pm
