The swell was up at the beach on Saturday and North Beach rode it into the A-Grade and A-Reserve grand finals.

Long time North Beach stalwarts had never seen a crowd of its equal, with local fans swarming to community football in large numbers to Charles Riley Reserve and seeing the home side endure  in both senior grades.

While the A-Grade combination has taken the last six premierships to the Beach, it is the first time since 2003 that both senior teams have made the ultimate game of the season.

With maestro Bill Duckworth calling the shots, the A-Grade team coasted to a 72-point victory over northern suburbs rival Whitford while the A-Reserves held off a fast-finishing Trinity Aquinas to fall in by two points.

In the main game on the program, the Tigers imposed themselves from the outset with veteran Chris Perkin kicking three of his game tally of five goals in the opening term. After that start, which gave the Beach a 19-point quarter-time advantage, Whitford never threatened as the Beach’s remarkable recent success continues.

Perkin, aiming for a 10^th individual premiership medal, was imposing up forward and in conjunction with Shane Paap provided a two-pronged attacking edge to which Whitford had no answer.

That pair capitalised on the industrious midfield work of the dynamic Matt O’Donnell, wingman Steve Bandy, who threw off the effects of a bout of influenza which affected him mid week, the hard-nosed Kyle Riemann and the defensive work of Aaron Jarvis.

Again the back six was outstanding with Jarvis setting the tone and ably assisted by Anthony Ingham, Luke Smith and Reece Cunningham.

It was a game where all players contributed as North Beach controlled play throughout. Matt Power was hard at it through the middle while John Turner and Dean Brennan were also important contributors.

After that imposing start, North Beach never allowed their rivals into the game, winning every quarter on the way to a 16.15 (111) to 5.9 (39) triumph.

The A-Reserves encounter was much closer than it should have been with North Beach failing to translate match control into scoreboard pressure, leaving the door ajar for an accomplished opponent who almost belted their way through.

Leading by 15 points at three-quarter time, the Tigers had not made the most of opportunities (12 scoring opportunities to five) and Trinity Aquinas almost stole the match. After trading punches in the last quarter, TAs rattled on three goals in succession to draw within a kick.

They went within a whisker of snatching victory when a late shot at goal just failed by millimetres to carry the distance.

That would have been a travesty because North Beach was the outstanding team for most of the game, thanks largely to the energy and class of Luke Hendricks, the dependability of Brent Stockden, the discipline of Michael Italiano, the ruck work of Chris Gooch and the attacking presence of Steve Wattleworth.

Wattleworth and Greg Pires kicked a couple of goals each and provided some important guidance when their youthful teammates threatened to lose their heads, eventually hanging on to win 7.7 (49) to 7.5 (47).

Details
A-Grade 2^nd Semi-Final
North Beach       4.4          7.7          10.12     16.15     111
Whitford              1.3          2.6            4.7          5.9          39
Goals - North Beach: Perkin 5; O’Donnell 3; Riemann, Brennan, Paap 2; McGinnity, Turner 1.
Best - North Beach: Bandy, Perkin, Riemann, Jarvis, C Pearce.

A-Reserves 2^nd Semi-Final
North Beach         3.0          3.4          5.7          7.7          49
Trinity Aquinas  2.0          2.1           3.2          7.5          47
Goals - North Beach: Waddleworth, Pires 2; Bell, Brooks, Billi 1.
Best - North Beach: Hendricks, Stockden, Italiano, Gooch, Wattleworth.

After 18 weeks of preliminaries, the WAAFL season gets to the point end and the focus will fall heavily on Charles Riley Reserve this Saturday - as it so often has in the last 12 seasons.

North Beach has won nine of the last 11 premierships, but it counts for nought as the quest for the 2010 flag intensifies with the second semi-final against Whitford held at the Beach’s home ground.

The Tigers earned the opportunity to host the second semi-final courtesy of finishing on top of the table, winning the minor premiership with a decisive 10 point advantage over its nearest rivals. Now, it is time to step it up.

The strength and depth of North Beach will be on display with the A-Reserves working their way into the second semi-final courtesy of a hard-working victory against North Fremantle in testing conditions at McGillivray Oval last week.

The Beach will play Trinity-Aquinas, the club that has dominated the Reserves competition in recent seasons, at 12.30pm and will be looking to take advantage of the support home ground and crowd in a game where victory will take it directly to the Grand Final.

North Beach has won the last six A-Grade pennants and that experience could be decisive against their northern suburbs rival.

Josh McGinnity has been rewarded for an outstanding exhibition in the reserves triumph last Saturday, by elevation into a powerful-looking senior team.       

A Grade
B: Smith, Ingham, Cunningham
HB: Brennan, Jarvis, Ward
C: Bandy, J. Nunan, Bryan
HF: McGinnity, Wilson, Witheridge
F: Perkin, Paap, O’Donnell
R: J. Boys, Pearce, Reimann
I/C: Hack, Power, Turner, A. Nunan

A Reserves
B: Stockden, T. Langsford, M. Duckworth
HB: Treager, Potts, Sajich
C:Heap, Italiano, Hendricks
HF: Fishlock, Harwood, Holbrook
F: Brooks, Wattleworth, R McCommiskie
R: Gooch, Pires, Dwyer
I/C: Billi, Thomas, Allen, A.Langsford

A big crowd is expected at Charles Riley, so get down and urge the boys to success.

While this weekend will focus on team success, several individuals were recognised at the WAAFL Fairest and Best night on Wednesday night. Tigerish midfielder Brett Rice won the top gong in the E-Grade, centre half-back Cale Potts was runner-up in the A-Reserves, Jake Robinson was third in the E-Grade poll and Keegan Knott was third in the Phil Scott Colts voting.

Joel Fishlock...Lively up forward

By Gary Stocks

The North Beach A-Reserves graduated to the second semi-final with a stirring qualifying final victory over North Fremantle at McGllivray Oval on Saturday.

The Beach resisted a strong third-quarter challenge from the Maggies before some of the experienced heads in line-up clamed down the youth around them, took a collective deep breath and then powered to victory.

North Beach made a flying start to the contest to lead by 25 points at the first change before their opponents began to gradually peg back the advantage, closing to within 14 points at the last change.

With a neat mix of experience and youth, the Beach worked their way clear and now play Trinity Aquinas in a second semi-final at Charles Riley Reserve, a curtain raiser to the A-Grade show-down between North Beach and Whitford with Grand Final berths on the line.

The A-Reserves earned that right, thanks to the efforts of experienced players like Greg Pires, Jackson Harwood and Josh McGinnity, while the more youthful Cale Potts played strongly at centre half-back, Matt Allan impressed with his run and energy through the midfield and Joel Fishlock presented strongly at half-forward.

In addition Tim Langsford was outstanding at full-back.

The 30-point victory - 10.6 (66) to 5.6 (36) - will give Michael Pratt and his boys great confidence going into the clash with TA’s, a club that traditionally does well in the A-Reserves competition.

Unfortunately, the Phil Scott colts season came to a shuddering halt against Trinity Aquinas at Bill Grayden Reserve.

After a competitive opening quarter, the Beach fell away in the middle part of the second term, allowing the opposition to create a match-winning break .

That poor period was exacerbated by a slow start to the third term and while the boys fought determinedly in the final quarter the damage had already been done.

The Beach suffered from some undisciplined football, which cost them several  50 metre penalties and crucial goals.

Trinity Aquinas won almost every position on the ground, although Ben Clark enjoyed the challenge of matching up on one of TA’s prime movers, to win his individual battle. Chris Mead was a standout target up forward, despite often being triple teamed, and the boys did not play smart enough in using open teammates in that situation.

Matt Irvine was also strong at centre half-back, Jacob Griffiths tried to inspire his teammates, while Josh Stott and Jake Robinson made handy contributions.           

A-Reserves
North Beach       4.3          6.4          7.6          10.6        66
North Frem        0.2          3.3          5.4            5.6         36
Goals - North Beach: Harwood 3; McGinnity, Pires 2; Traegar, Wattleworth, Fishlock 1.
Best - North Beach: Potts, McGinnity, Pires, Allan, T Langsford, Harwood.

Phil Scott Colts
Trinity Aquinas  2.3          7.3          10.5        14.6        90
North Beach         2.1          4.1             5.3           7.4        46
Goals - North Beach: Stott 2; Knott, Barber, Kickett, Mead, Campbell 1.
Best - North Beach: Clark, Mead, Irvine, Griffiths, Stott, Robinson.

Beau Witheridge in State colours

By Gary Stocks

North Beach utility player Beau Witheridge has been rewarded for an outstanding season with selection in the all-Australian under-23 amateur team.

Witheridge, originally from Sorrento-Duncraig and a product of the Beach’s colts system, represented WA in July, but was notified this week that he had earned all-Australian honours through his performance.

He has been in eye-catching form for the North Beach A-Grade team at half-forward and on a wing and is a key factor in the club finishing as minor premiers - 10 points clear of second placed Trinity Aquinas.

Witheridge and his teammates will have a day off tomorrow as Trinity Aquinas and Whitford clash for the right to play North Beach in the second semi-final at Charles Riley Reserve next Saturday.

The club is aiming for its 10^th premiership in the last 13 years - all of them under the direction of former Essendon defender Bill Duckworth, the 1984 Norm Smith medallist.   

The all-Australian team will tour South Africa in October and the club will be aiming to assist with the fund-raising effort of $5000 to help send Witheridge on that trip.

2011 COMMITTEE

President David Cassidy was returned for a fourth term in the chair when the North Beach Football Club Annual General Meeting was held at the club last night.

Stability has been the key to the Beach’s outstanding successes, on and off-field, and Cassidy, a three-time A-Grade premiership ruckman, has retained the services of Luke Smith (treasurer) and Alan Lewington (secretary-registrar). Smith is another outstanding player who has been an integral part of the club’s domination of the A-Grade, playing in eight of the nine premierships secured in the past 11 years.

The 2011 committee is thus:
President: David Cassidy
Senior Vice-President: David Barwick
Junior Vice-President: Byron Boys
Treasurer: Luke Smith
Secretary/Registrar: Alan Lewington
General Committee
Reece Cunningham
Rod Cole
Gary Stocks (Communications)
Jason Plant
Shane Piggott
Michael O’Neill
David McLaurin (Special Projects; Past Players)

Anthony "Chooka" Ingham...back from injury

By Gary Stocks

The North Beach A-Grade combination finished the qualifying rounds as it needed to with a dominant 72-point over lowly Wembley before taking a week off - the reward for finishing as minor premier.

The Beach were never in trouble against Wembley, who will slip back to B-Grade after a tough season, controlling play from the outset.

With a number of regular A-Grade players resuming, the team had the look of one ready to defend its imposing recent record and goes into the finals series in good shape.

Shane Paap returned to kick five goals up forward, while Aaron Jarvis was again dominant, Josh McGinnity provided some life up forward, Ben Wilson continue his strong vein of recent form and Luke Smith was his usual cool, efficient self in defence.

Ben O’Donnell and Kyle Riemann were outstanding through the midfield while Dean Brennan again appreciated the opportunity to push forward and kicked two goals while Chris Pearce again demonstrated his class. Brennan was able toplay a more attacking role through the return of Anthony “Chooka” Ingham.

The A-Reserves also finished off the qualifying rounds with an emphatic victory, marching to a 81-point triumph over Wembley, finishing the home and away season in second position and preparing for a qualifying final against North Fremantle.

Michael  Pratt has his team flying at the moment and they will be keen to capitalise on the opportunity they have created.

Joel Fishlock put aside the disappointment of being left out of the A-grade behind him to kick four goals, while Greg Pires and Steve Wattleworth kicked three each in impressive displays up forward.

They capitalised on the terrific midfield work of Mitch Dwyer, Aaron Thomas and Ben Heap while Chris Gooch and Kent Traeger were also important contributors in a commanding team performance.

Sadly, the E-Reserves season ended prematurely when losing an elimination final to Whitfords at Charles Riley Reserve.

After finishing third, the Beach faced a cut-throat final in a tight 16-team competition and lost a nail-biter by just five points.

The Kane Kuenen coached Tigers led for most of the day, but Whitford kicked three goals to one in the final stanza to survive.

Nathan Duckworth, Lloyd Quinlan, Peter Bird, Hayden Coutts and Michael Collins were the outstanding players for North Beach.

The Phil Scott Colts also prepared for this week’s finals series with a strong victory over Wembley, recovering from a slow start to win by 25 points.

Josh Stott and Chris Mead were efficient up forward, with Keegan Knott and Jordan Kickett, while Jake Robinson continued his good touch and Ben Clarke set the tone for commitment to the contest.

The challenge for the colts in this week’s elimination final will be to get away to a fast start, having trailed Wembley, who will not play finals, by five points at the first break. Trinity-Aquinas will present a strong challenge, with North Beach completing the qualifying rounds in fifth place.         

A-Grade
North Beach       3.8          8.13        10.16     14.18     102
Wembley             0.3          1.4           3.10        3.12        30
Goals - North Beach: Paap 5; O’Donnell, Brennan, Boys 2; Riemann, C Pearce, McGinnity.
Best - North Beach: Jarvis, McGinnity, Paap, Wilson, Smith.

A-Reserves
North Beach       4.1          8.3          13.5        16.8        104
Wembley             0.1          1.3             2.4          3.5          23
Goals - North Beach: Fishlock 4; Pires, Wattleworth 3; Potts 2; Brookes, Italiano, Thomas, Allan 1.
Best - North Beach: Dwyer, Thomas, Heap, Gooch, Traeger.

E-Grade
Elimination Final
Whitford              4.1          6.3          7.6          10.6        66
North Beach       4.3          5.5          8.7           9.7         61
Goals - North Beach: Keeley, Morling 3; Plant, Quinlan, Lorimer.
Best - North Beach: N Duckworth, Quinlan, Bird, Coutts, Collins.

Phil Scott Colts
North Beach       2.4          5.7          8.7          13.7        85
Wembley             3.3          4.6          5.10        8.12        60
Goals - North Beach: Stott, Mead 3; Knott, Kickett 2; Foreman, Robinson, Brooks 1.
Best - North Beach: Mead, Stott, Robinson, Clark, Kickett.

Ben Wilson...kicked two important goals

By Gary Stocks

Playing like a team that needs the stimulus of finals football to produce their absolute best, North Beach clawed its way to an 11-point victory over Wesley Curtin at Charles Riley Reserve last Saturday.

Challenged by Wesley Curtin, who led by eight points at half-time, North Beach produced enough quality football against a determined opponent, to eke out victory.

The Beach are sitting 10 points clear as minor premiers going into the final round of qualifying matches, while the last set of fixtures will ensure a gripping climax to the home and away season.

Behind North Beach sits the only other club with a guaranteed finals berth,  Trinity Aquinas (44 points), followed by University (40), Wesley Curtin (36), Mt Lawley (36) and Fremantle CBC (32). The pulsating final round will see Trinity Aquinas play University, Mt Lawley host Stirling, Whitford clash with Fremantle CBC and Wesley Curtin confront North Fremantle in games which will determine the composition of the top five.

Last Saturday, North Beach secured victory against Wesley Curtin thanks to the efforts of Reece  Cunningham, John Turner, Matt O’Donnell, Luke Smith and Chris Pearce.

Kyle Riemann was also lively and finished with three goals.

The A-Reserves secured second place on the table with a comprehensive 10-goal victory against Wesley Curtin, another finals aspirant.

Rob McComiskie was in outstanding touch through the midfield, Chris Gooch rucked strongly, while Aaron Thomas, Ben Heap, Greg “Jaffa” Pires and Scott Holbrook were also key playmakers.

The Reserves go into the finals series in good touch, demonstrating the depth at the club and the competition for places in the senior grade will be intense through the next month.          

The E-Grade secured third position with a solid 33-point win over Fremantle CBC while the E-Reserves also won, but needed a greater winning margin than two points to displace CBC in the top six.

The E-Reserves missed the finals by about 1.7 per cent. It was a tough pill to swallow, although Daniel Johnson, Will Prendergast, Nathan Holden, Brett Anthony, Bodan Arcus and Shaun Reynolds did everything possible to get their team into finals action.

The G-Grade finished the season with a credible 41-point loss to one of the fancied teams in the competition, Ocean Ridge.

After a competitive first  half, the Beach could not match it with their opposition, but Michael Quartermaine, Mark Johnstone and Mark Ferreri did everything they could for the North Beach cause.

The Phil Scott Colts paid the price for a sluggish goal-less first half against Wesley-Curtin.

A strong finish will give the Beach boys heart as they prepare for a finals assault despite the 11-point defeat.

They will be looking to round out the qualifying season with a strong win over Wembley this week, while Chris Mead, Ben Clarke, Rhys Thompson, Mitch Christie, Jake Robinson and Chris Humphrey will be looking to sustain their good form.

The Brett Jones Colts were given an insight into the style of football the coaching staff has been trying to generate all season when they bore first-hand witness to the fast, run-on style of play that St Norbert’s produced last Saturday.

When the Beach played disciplined one-on-one football, they were competitive, but could not sustain the effort.

Jordan Dye was outstanding at centre half-back, Cale Foley was strong and resilient at both ends of the ground, Sam Johnson tried to inspire his teammates through the middle, James Cusack was efficient in the ruck while Branden Avery worked on a wing and in the midfield.    

A-Grade
North Beach       3.5          4.6          8.9          11.10       76
Wesley Curtin    2.0          6.2          7.4          10.7        67
Goals - North Beach: Riemann 3; Wilson 2; Pearce, Boys, Brennan, McGinnity, Ward, Wattleworth 1. Best - North Beach: Cunningham, Turner, O’Donnell, Smith, Pearce.

A-Reserves
North Beach       3.0          8.2          12.2        16.6        102
Wesley Curtin    1.1           1.3            3.4           6.4          40
Goals - North Beach: Harwood, S Holbrook, Pires, Pearce, Perkin, Brookes 2; Traeger, Potts, Thomas, Bell 1.
Best - North Beach: McComiskie, Gooch, Thomas, Heap, Pires, Holbrook.

E-Grade
North Beach 9.9 (63) def CBC Fremantle 4.6 (30)

E-Reserves
North Beach 8.5 (53) def CBC Fremantle 7.9 (51)
Goals - North Beach: Gregoire 3.
Best - North Beach: Johnson, Prendergast, Holden, Anthony, Arcus, Reynolds.

G-Grade
Ocean Ridge       1.4          3.6          5.8          9.11        65
North Beach       0.2          2.4          3.4            3.6        24
Goals - North Beach: McQueen 2; Panagopoulos 1.
Best - North Beach: Quartermaine, Johnstone, Ferreri.

Phil Scott Colts
Wesley Curtin    2.4          3.6          5.6          6.8          44
North Beach       0.1          0.4          3.7          4.9          33
Goals - North Beach: Kickett, Foreman, Holdman, Christie.
Best - North Beach: Clarke, Mead, Thompson, Christie, Robinson, Humphrey.

Brett Jones Colts
St Nortberts       4.2          6.6          9.8          16.10     106
North Beach       0.1          2.2          3.4            5.4          34
Goals - North Beach: Johnson 2; Avery, Slatter, Emery 1.
Best - North Beach: Dye, Foley, Cusack, Avery, Johnson, Miller.

Bill Duckworth...on top, but still looking for four quarter efforts

By Gary Stocks

Scary thought, this? The North Beach A-grade side is still looking to produce a four-quarter effort and it has already locked away top place on the ladder.

After accounting for Fremantle CBC with a gritty 19-point win at Morris Buzzacott Reserve last Saturday, the Beach is 10 points clear at the top of the table with just two qualifying games remaining.

But coach Bill Duckworth is not yet satisfied with his troops, who have been doing enough to win without stringing together four quarters. Against CBC it was a familiar story with a disciplined first half performance, a lapse in the third opening the door for a committed opponent and then the Tigers responding with six final term goals.

Duckworth wants those lapses eliminated, knowing full-well how costly that can be in finals and will be looking to eradicate the concentration melt-downs in the next fortnight.

Against CBC, the class of Chris Pearce, the return of Steve Bandy and the efforts of Luke Hendricks, Jimmy Nunan, Chris Perkin and Ben Wilson steered the Beach across the line.

In addition Shane Paap was solid up forward, while Matt O’Donnell and John Turner added some zest and creativity.

The A-Reserves have powered into second position, a place which was cemented courtesy of a 10-goal win over CBC, ensuring maximum pressure is maintained on those players in the senior side.

Steve Wattleworth provided a strong target up forward with five goals, while Jackson Harwood also contributed three in outstanding displays. In addition Brent Stockden and Michael Italiano were both in good touch.

The experienced Scott Holbrook and Ben Heap, multiple A-Grade premiership stars, are enjoying their role in a youthful team and the harmony within the side is obvious.

The E-Grade and E-Reserves both had solid victories against Collegians at Charles Riley Reserve.

The E-Grade, also based around recently graduated colts, could have finished a little more strongly had they converted final term opportunities, but essentially had the game under control throughout.

Luke Speering provided good run out of the back half, Jake Robinson was lively up forward, while Byron Boys, Nick Morling and Simon Lorimer continued their good recent form.

After an even first half, the E-Reserves dominated the final two quarters, holding Collegians scoreless on the way to a 91-point romp.

Josh Bubnich, Joel Vagnoni, Michael Plowman, Will Prendergast and Tom Scantlebury were strong in the midfield clinches, while Lindsay Gaunt capitalised on that control to kick eight and he was ably supported by Nat Gregoire, who bagged four.

Defensively Josh Stretch, Sam Harrison and Brett Anthony, who relished the chance to play as a loose man, were also at the top of their games.

Unfortunately the G-Grade lost to bottom-placed Dianella Morley in a disappointing display.

Michael Quartermaine, Phil Braccia and Alex Bowers were among the best contributors for the Beach.

The Phil Scott Colts produced a fighting effort against top-placed CBC, before going down by 14 points.

Again a second quarter lapse which extended into the early stages of the third term cost the team dearly, with CBC rattling on seven unanswered goals after the Beach had made an enterprising start.

While that was disappointing, the boys showed that if they can sustain four consistent quarters they are capable of taking it up to the competition benchmark come finals. Matt Irvine was resilient at centre half-back, Chris Mead provided a focal point across half-forward, while Josh Barber finished with four goals and both Saxon Graham and Chris Humphrey showed a keenness for the contest.

The Brett Jones Colts produced their finest four-quarter effort of the year, with a strong display of running football in scoring a 10-goal win over Whitford.

A couple of poor defensive errors and some golden opportunities missed were the only blemishes in an otherwise impressive display.

Mark Foreman was again best-on-ground, showing his class at half-forward and through the middle, while Jarrad McMorran relished his chance to play as a ruck-rover, James Cusack excelled in the ruck and Ivan DeRooster was impassable at centre half-back.        

Match Details

A-Grade
North Beach       3.1          6.4          6.7          12.7        79
Fremantle CBC  1.3          2.4          6.5            9.6         60
Goals - North Beach: Wilson 3; Paap 2; Turner, Pearce, O’Donnell, Boys, Smith, Witheridge 1.
Best - North Beach: Pearce, Bandy, Hendricks, J Nunan, Perkin, Wilson.

A-Reserves
North Beach       2.1          4.5          11.6        14.11      95
Fremantle CBC  1.1          2.2            4.2           5.2        32
Goals - North Beach: Wattleworth 5; Harwood 3; S Holbrook, Pires 2; Heap, Fishlock 1.
Best - North Beach: Wattleworth, Harwood, Stockden, Italiano.

E-Grade
North Beach       5.2          7.4          10.8        10.14     74
Collegians            1.1          3.3            4.4           7.7        49
Goals - North Beach: Keeley 3; Quinlan, Robinson, McEvoy, Lang, Jacobs, Morling, Chapman 1.
Best - North Beach: Speering, Robinson, Boys, Morling, Lorimer.

E-Reserves
North Beach       3.5          7.10        12.14     19.15     129
Collegians            4.0          6.2            6.2          6.2        38
Goals - North Beach: Gaunt 8; Gregoire 4; Styles 2; T Cavanagh, Prendergast, Vry, French, Bubnich 1.
Best - North Beach: Gaunt, Bubnich, Gregoire, Styles, Stretch, Abbott, Vagnoni, Harrison.

G-Grade
Dianella-Morley 9.8 (62) def North Beach 7.2 (44)
Goals - North Beach: Bowers, Dye, McQueen, Smith, Missikos, Carroll.
Best - North Beach: Quartermaine, Braccia, Bowers.

Phil Scott Colts
Fremantle CBC  2.1          6.7          11.8        12.12     84
North Beach       4.0          4.0          6.2         11.4        70
Goals - North Beach: Barber 4; Knott, Stott, Robinson 2; Mead 1.
Best - North Beach: Irvine, Mead, Barber, Graham, Humphrey.

Brett Jones Colts
North Beach       2.6          6.10        10.12     14.15     99
Whitford              0.1          1.1           4.1          6.3        39
Goals - North Beach: Foreman, Holdman 3; Dye, McMorran 2; Miller, Perry, Emery, Gangemi 1.
Best - North Beach: Foreman, McMorran, DeRooster, Cusack, Holdman, Gangemi, Emery.

Joel Fishlock...in good form for the A-Reserves

By Gary Stocks

After a shaky start the North Beach A-Grade combination found full throttle in the second half to power its way to an important 19-point victory against arch rival North Fremantle last Saturday.

After an inefficient and wasteful 2.8 in the first half, the Beach rattled on 10 second half goals to five in scoring a key triumph in the club’s quest to finish on top of the competition at the end of the qualifying rounds.

Now boasting a 10-point break at the top of the ladder, the minor premiership is all but assured with three games to play and can be locked away with a win against Fremantle CBC this week.

Against the Magpies, the Beach were sluggish early and could thank the likes of Andrew “Dingo” Nunan and Dean Brennan for keeping them in the contest.

Efficiency levels improved after half-time with Jamie Sajich, ruckman Joe Boys and Scott Ward also exerting a strong influence over the game while Beau Witheridge continued his good form up forward.   

The A-Reserves leaped to second on the premiership table when notching a second consecutive victory over another top four side in powering to a 75-point demolition of North Fremantle.

A measure of the Beach’s dominance was that North Fremantle did not score a major in three of the four quarters as the home side controlled all facets of the game.

Steve Wattleworth provided a reliable marking target in attack and finished his work off with four goals while Cale Potts was exceptional at centre half-back and Tim Langsford was also outstanding in the last line of defence.

That key position control was extended with Joel Fishlock also lively across half-forward and in conjunction with Greg Pires and Michael Italiano, North Beach had all the answers.

The E-Grade paid the ultimate price for failing to finish off the contract against University and lost when the Scholars kicked a goal after the siren to claim a two-point victory.

North Beach had led all day after a brilliant opening, but kicked just a solitary behind in the last term while University poured on the pressure and kicked 2.5.

It was a disappointing loss, but Simon  Lorimer, Byron Boys, Lloyd Quinlan, Trevor Lang and Tom McComiskie all played strongly.

The E-Reserves produced a competitive effort against the highly rated University but lost some key players in the contest and ran out of steam when the game was on the line.

Josh Bubnich played strongly through the middle throughout, Josh Stretch, Sam Harrison, Chris McComiskie, Yannick Siegwart and Paul Cavanagh were all strong contributors over the four quarters.

The G-Grade was unfortunately no match for the competition’s leading team, Kalamunda and lost by more than 100 points.

The Phil Scott Colts enjoyed one of their most comprehensive victories of recent memory when dispensing with an under-manned North Fremantle combination.

The Maggies turned up with only 15 players and the Beach was forced to play with similar numbers on the ground, which resulted in a heavy rotation off the bench.

After an even first quarter, the Beach powered away to win by 133 points - kicking 21 goals to one after quarter-time.

The Beach enjoyed domination all over the ground with Josh Barber and Jordan Kickett capitalising on that control with 13 goals between them. Matt Irvine, Josh Stott, Chris Mead, Jamie Cosgrove, Jacob Griffiths and Ryan Antonelli also enjoyed the day and the Tigers will take some confidence into this week’s show-down with league leader Fremantle CBC.

The Brett Jones Colts played some of their best running football of the season at times when beating Wesley Curtin by nine points, but opened the door for their opponents with some costly concentration lapses.

Victory was set-up with an outstanding first quarter, kicking five goals against the breeze, the effort dropped away for the second term and parts of the third, before kicking back hard and establishing a match-winning break.

Three late goals by the opposition made the result closer than it should have been and the focus over the next fortnight will concentrate on finishing off the effort.

Mark Foreman was in good touch at half-forward and on the ball, Gus Barwick provided good rebound out of defence, Jake Robinson was a reliable target at centre half-forward, Evan Miller was exceptional in the ruck and Chad Perris played with strength and energy on a wing.

In addition Reece Thompson worked hard on a wing, Chris Emery was good through the midfield and Ivan DeRooster produced some quality football in defence, with Cale Foley.

Details
A-Grade
North Beach       1.2          2.8          7.11        12.13     85
North Frem        3.3          5.4          6.6         10.6        66
Goals - North Beach: Witheridge 3; Pearce 2; Riemann, McGinnity, Wilson, Paap, Boys, Perkin, Hack 1.
Best - A Nunan, Sajich, Ward, Boys, Brennan.

A-Reserves
North Beach       3.6          6.15        8.16        13.16     94
North Frem        0.2          0.4          2.7            2.7        19
Goals - North Beach: Wattleworth 4; Bandy, Fishlock, Heap 2; Allan, Harwood, Pires 1.
Best - North Beach: T Langsford, Pires, Harwood, Italiano, Potts.

E-Grade
University           2.2          5.3          5.3          7.8          50
North Beach        4.5          5.8          6.11        6.12        48
Goals - North Beach: Plant 3; Chapman 2; Robinson 1.
Best - North Beach: Lorimer, B Boys, Quinlan, Lang, T McComiskie.

E-Reserves
University 11.9 (75) def North Beach 7.4 (46)
Goals - North Beach: Gregoire 4; Prendergast, Vry 1.
Best - North Beach: Bubnich, Stretch, Harrison, C McComiskie, Siegwart.

G-Grade
Kalamunda 20.15 (135) def North Beach 4.5 (29)

Phil Scott Colts
North Beach       2.2          10.2        16.6        23.16     153
North Frem        2.1            3.2          3.3            3.3          21
Goals - North Beach: Barber 8; Kickett 5; Mead 3; Knott, Irvine 2; Johnson, Stott, Graham 1.
Best - North Beach: Barber, Kickett, Irvine, Stott, Mead, Cosgrove, Griffiths, Antonelli.

Brett Jones Colts
North Beach       5.1          6.6          9.10        11.14     80
Wesley Curtin    1.1          4.2           6.4          11.5        71
Goals - North Beach: Foreman 3; Dye, Emery, Slatter 2; Robinson, Perris 1.
Best - North Beach: Foreman, Barwick, Robinson, Miller, Perris, Thompson, Emery, DeRooster, Foley.

Joe Boys...played well in the ruck

By Gary Stocks

The North Beach juggernaut hit a speed hump on the way to the WAAFL A-Grade finals when upset by Whitford on Saturday.

The Beach made a sluggish start with only two goals on the board to half-time, was forced into  uncustomary skill errors, created by the pressure applied by the opposition, and never really looked like recovering on the way to a 19-point defeat.

While Dean Brennan worked hard in defence, Jimmy Nunan offered some grunt around the contests and Joe Boys did some good work in the ruck, too much was left to too few. Given the pressure on for places in the team a month out from the finals, the effort was difficult to fathom.

Bill Duckworth and his selection panel will have a close look at the composition of this week’s team to tackle arch rival North Fremantle at Charles Riley, particularly given the form of the reserves, who were far too strong for Whitford.

With Joel Fishlock kicking five goals and strong midfield form from Alex Billi, Mitch Dwyer and Matt Allan, there will be a strong case for their elevation next week. Billi, Dwyer and Allan have all had a taste of senior football this year.

So, too, has Michael Italiano who put his name forward with a three-goal contribution.

The victory shores up the A-Reserves position in the top three, earning it all-important double chance.

The E-Grade also hit an unexpected glitch when soundly beaten by Whitford. After an even first half, the opposition controlled the tempo of the game after the long break on the way to a 41-point victory.

The Beach were unusually sluggish, struggled to get their flow-on football together and kicked just one goal in the second half while Whitford rattled on eight.

Dion Jacobs, Michael Collins, Jake Robinson, Blake Hurley and Lloyd Quinlan all worked hard for the Beach, but generally lacked support.

The E-Reserves had earlier started the day positively with a 74-point demolition of Whitford.

With Hayden French and Nathanial Gregoire kicking nine goals between them, the Beach were always in control and other outstanding contributions came from Josh Bubnich, Trevor Lang, “Slimy” Tester, Nathan Holden and Chris McComiskie.

The E-Ressies are sitting a game out of the top six, but has a significantly superior percentage to three clubs directly above them, who have just a one game advantage. The run home will be intriguing, starting with this week’s clash against top side University.

The Phil Scott Colts consolidated their position in the top five, again over-coming a slow and inaccurate start.

Scores were level at half time, although the Beach had produced a wasteful 2.8 to Whitford’s 3.2 but the Beach received better value for effort after the break and had the game in their keeping by the middle of the final term.

Unfortunately, the boys took their foot off the pedal in the last 10 minutes, allowing Whitford to add respectability to the scoreboard by kicking the last three goals and reducing the margin to 19 points.

Adam Miotti was outstanding up forward in conjunction with Jordan Kickett, Keegan Knott chipped in with three goals, while Mitch Christie continue his good form and centre half-back Matt Irvine consistently rebounded the ball forward.

Shane Fulwood and Josh Stott were also under constant notice.

The Brett Jones Colts made a horror start to their contest with University, but fought the game out after trailing by five goals at the first break.

The undermanned Beach had to contend with several “no-shows” which left just the bare 18 but showed strong resolve in eventually losing by 47 points.

Ryan Antonelli, Chad Perris and Rory Herbert all excelled for the Beach while Jordan Dye kicked three goals.   

Details
A-Grade
Whitford              3.2          8.3          10.5        11.6        72
North Beach       1.1          2.7            4.8        7.11       53
Goals - North Beach: O’Donnell 2; Reiman, Wilson, Sajich, Witheridge 1.
Best - North Beach: Brennan, J Nunan, Boys, Witheridge, Sajich.

A-Reserves
North Beach       4.4          8.4          14.8        16.11     107
Whitford              0.1          2.1          3.1            7.3          45
Goals - North Beach: Fishlock 5; Italiano 3; Couper, Bandy, Wattleworth, Hack, Jaffa, Bell, Thomas 1.
Best - North Beach: Fishlock, Dwyer, Billi, Allan.

E-Grade
Whitford              4.3          5.4          10.5        13.9        87
North Beach       2.1          5.3          5.5         6.10       46
Goals - North Beach: Keeley 2; Quinlan, Collins, Plant, Morling 1.
Best - North Beach: Jacobs, Collins, Robinson, Hurley, Quinlan.

E-Reserves
North Beach 12.15 (87) def Whitford 2.1 (13)
Goals - North Beach: French 5; Gregoire 4.
Best - North Beach: Bubnich, Lang, Tester, French, Holden, C McComiskie.

Phil Scott Colts
North Beach       1.3          2.8          6.13        9.13        67
Whitford              2.0          3.2          4.3         7.6          48
Goals - North Beach: Knott 3; Kickett, Miotti 2; Stott, Barber 1.
Best - North Beach: Miotti, Irvine, Christie, Fulwood, Stott.

Brett Jones Colts
University           4.6          6.8          9.9          12.11     83
North Beach       0.0          3.2          5.4            5.6        36
Goals - North Beach: Dye 3; Perris, Howell 1.
Best - North Beach: Antonelli, Perris, Herbert.

North Beach struck a powerful psychological blow in the run to the A-Grade finals with a resounding 38-point win over University at Charles Riley Reserve last Saturday.

The Scholars are regarded as one of the biggest threats to the quest of the Beach to charge to a seventh successive premiership, but could not match the intensity or class of their opponents in this important contest.

The Tigers controlled the game throughout to retain a 10-point advantage at the top of the table, winning 14.10 (96) to 7.14 (56).

Ben Wilson made a strong return to the senior side with four goals, while Aaron Jarvis was also lively across half-forward, Joe Boys rucked well and John Turner and Matt Power were energetic through the midfield.

With five rounds remaining before finals competition is becoming tight for places in the seniors, so there will be plenty of internal pressure driving individuals over the closing qualifying rounds.

The A-Reserves also scored an important victory and are pushing towards a top three finish. 

With the E-Grade and E-Reserves have a bye, the lower grade action was left to the G-Grade and they scored an impressive 16-point victory.

Daniel Pyke, Novac Smith, Nat Gregoire and Jay Carroll were all in good form for the Beach.

The Phil Scott Colts saw an opportunity against a highly-regarded opponent slip through their grasp when University endured in an absorbing contest by six points.

North Beach led for most of the day and failed to close the game down when they had control of the ball and the lead late in the game.

Josh Stott was again outstanding while Saxon Graham and Josh Barber each kicked three goals.

The Brett Jones Colts found CBC Fremantle too classy on their home deck, with the opposition dictating terms from the outset on the way to a 73-point victory.

Jake Carter played his best game for the club in a back pocket, Marc Gangemi was also under notice and Jarrad McMorran continued his strong form in the ruck.

A-Grade
North Beach       3.2          6.4          9.6          14.10     94
University           0.2          2.7         4.11        7.14        56
Goals - North Beach: Wilson 4; Jarvis 3; O’Donnell 2; McComiskie, Pearce, Paap, Power, Witheridge 1.
Best - North Beach: Boys, Turner, Jarvis, Wilson, Power, Brennan.

G-Grade
North Beach       0.6          4.9          5.10        8.13        61
Bassendean         1.2          3.2            5.2          7.3         45
Goals - North Beach: Pyke, Smith, Gregoire 2; Meilor, Thewlis 1.
Best - North Beach: Wills, Carroll, Pyke.

Phil Scott Colts
University           3.1          5.3          10.5        13.9        87
North Beach       4.3          6.5          10.7        12.9        81
Goals - North Beach: Graham, Barber 3; Mead 2; Mansfield, Knott, Christie, Langsford 1.
Best - North Beach: Stott, Graham, Mead, Clarke, Knott.

Brett Jones Colts
CBC Fremantle  5.5          8.7          12.9        14.13     97
North Beach       1.1           2.1           2.3           3.6        24
Goals - North Beach: Perris, Slatter, McPhee 1.
Best - North Beach: Carter, Gangemi, McMorran.