Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Friday 3 July 1953, page 10


Traditional clash in Western League

HAMILTON HAS EDGE

[ON OLD RIVALS

»TRADITIONAL Western district football League

rivals - Hamilton and Imperials - will wage their periodical "war" at Melville Oval tomorrow in what promises to be a fast, spectacular game.

Tomorrow, however, Hamilton which is playing well after a bleak early season, is chosen to win over its local rival which has lost three of its last five matches.

Bob Templeton has

greatly improved Ham- '

ilton's attack with his long; leads and accurate shooting*. Unless he is countered tomorrow, Im-perials will be in trouble.

Coleraine amazed foot-ball followers last week by losing at home to Heywood by 12 goals.

Coleraine has not been de-feated at Silvester Oval for some seasons, but it was completely outclassed last

week.

Failure to place cither Fanning or Scholfield-two of the best forwards in the League - into attack cost Coleraine dearly.

Fanning rucked, and al-though he often got the hitout the ball mostly went to the opposing: rovers.

Coleraine meets Penshurst tomorrow, and althouh Pens-hurst is low on the list its home-ground advantage may give it a win.

Penshurst at home has worried most of the top teams.

Portland is the problem team of the League, alter-nating brilliant with ordin-ary displays.

It will nerd its best form at Casterton despite the home side's weak display against Hamilton last week.

Portland's centreman Clyde Laidlaw has played unine sames this season and has been best man afield in seven of them.

He and captain Jack Con-don give their side terrific drive and with mobile for-wards to convert opportuni-ties they become real danger men to other teams.

Merino-Digby led Imper-ials well into the last quar-ter in the last round, but still has only one win for the

season.

It meets HeywoocJ tomor-

row, and its chances seem slight.

Premiership points:

Heywood 32, Imperials, Portland 28, Coleraine 24, Hamilton 20, Penshurst, Cas-terton 12. Merino-Digby 4.