West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Monday 15 June 1925, page 9


OLD EASTS VICTORIOUS.

A RUGGED CAME.

By defeating last year's premiers — Su-biaco — by a -nine-point margin on Saturday afternoon on the Fremantie Oval, East 'Fremantle placed themselves on

the top of the list by two points. The game attracted a large crowd, the pavilion, being crowded to capacity, but the very wet weather which prevailed made sparkling football impossible. This does not say, however, that the game was not a good one. From a rugged and exciting point of vipw. the spectators could have desired little more. The home team won because they were the better wet weather team. Just prior to the match a very heavy downfall made the oval slippery, and. very soon after the bounce, the ball became difficult to hold. East Fremantie went on to the field with this knowledge and adapted themselves in it. They did not attempt high marking, but contented themselves by knocking out from the air instead of trying to hold. Snoiaco, on the other hand, at--peared -to forget that the conditions did not lend themselves (-- the open, fust combination play which won them matches iu the past, and wore inclined to run with the ball instead of kicking. The first half of the match was played in a continual drizzCe. but. after the long interval, the rain held off and the play became much better, and a considerable amount of clever footN!! was seen, especially on. the wings. The home team was aggressive throughour. and. had it not been for the erratic kicking of their forwards, especially Coffey, who. though marking well, missed a number of chances, their final score- might huvo been higher. Green, in the back lines for Subiaco. was undoubtedly the best of the 36. His work both in the air and on thp ground was soiid and good, and time and again dangerous East attacks were turned because of the play of this defender. Subiaco battled harii right to the finish, and, when the final bell went, X Continued on Page 10.)

(Continued from Page 9.) *ere playing a fine game. They were ?lower at getting to the ball than their opponents, and frequently fumbled when in a scoring position. Truscott, in goals for East Fremantle, played a heady same, and was ably supported by Jarvis, Boche, and Clark, who constituted a back Bne hard to pass. In the haif-forwartl Enee of the home team Jennings played a sterling game, and his kicking was food. It was on the wing, however, that East ' Fremantle's best player was placed. In this position,' Brown excelled. Fast, sure of the bounce of the ball, and quick to relieve to advantage, le played a game in which there were few faults, and for three of the four quarters had his opponent badly beaten. Buchanan, on the other wing, was also far superior to his marksman, Bunning. Bropny. pJaying back for Subiaco, was marking Sheedy. and throughout the afternoon kept him remarkably quiet. Bahen was tried in centre and was briiBant in patches. He was the only playe* ?who attempted drop kicking, and was usaOy successful. Grigg was a useful man for the visitors, and Beasley (in the first quarter), Hickey (during the final stages), and Guhl were others who stood out. Hard knocks were frequent, and it would have taken a super-umpire to have seen all the offences. Ca&sey, who was in charge of this department, puzzled frequently with his decisions, but on the whole handled a difficult match in a. creditable and impartial manner, and at the finish was received cordially by the Crowd. The teams were: — Subiaco: Cockburn, Bahen, Brophy. Ahearn. GuhL Green, Hickey. Pengei Leonard, Riches, Grigg, Thompson Sexton, Beaeley, Bunning, Scaddan, Rodriguez, and Farqnhar. East Fremantle: Dolan, Cinoris. Buenanan, Brown, Baird, Barker, Coffey, Clark, Dunne, Gallagher, Jennings. Jarvis, Richards. Roche, Ryan, Woods, fifceedy, and Trnscotr. Scoring was even in the first quarter. Basts forced the play, but Subiaco's backs turned attacks frequently. The quarter was mostly a scramble on account of the heavy rain. Coffey and Ahearn kicked goaCs for their .respective sides, and the first bell scores read:— East Fremantle, 1.4; Subiseo, L3. During the second term the bad kicking of Easts forwards was apparent. Out of eight fairly easy scoring shots fonr goals ?were added, while Subiaco. with two cuots. managed two goals. Jennings **'/« £™ of East's goals, and Dolan and Coffey one each. Rodriquez, from a. free, registered- the maximum, and Grigg, on the bell, scored another. At Italf-time the scores were: — East Fx°jnantle, 5.8; Subiaco', 3.3. Better fobtmH was seen after the interval. Snbineo commenced to show more of their concerted play, and obtained the honours tor lae quarter. Jennings scored East's «J?y goal, and Hickey and Coekborn raised two flags for the visitors. Three«inarter tune scores read: — East Fre aante, 0.12; Subiaco, 5.7. East Fremantle packed their back line during the last term, and most of the play was in tha position. After Green had turned a blue and white attack, the- ball came back, but a bad kick turned a goal into a. point Sexton made the .match more interesting by scoring the maximum bu' ?Coffey replied with one at the other' end GncB ™J«d two flags, and tie final bet. ;went with Subiaco fwuting hard East rremantle won by nine points, and, o» ? the day. deserved the victor.r. The fiaa. ? -ag Pr«?§atfe. 7.17 (59 points). . tenlnaco, 7.8 (30 points) g^gflafand^S^^