West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Monday 25 June 1934, page 14


A GRIM STRUGGLE.

East Perth's Good Win.

Outclassed in every phase of the game and 41 points in arrears in the first quarter, East Perth made a wonderful recovery against Victoria Park at the W.A.C.A.

^rouna on oaturaay, and aiter a grimlytought last quarter won by 14 points. Victoria Park's consistently good performances in previous matches had rewarded the club with a big following and one of the largest crowds seen at a football match on the WJLCA. ground during recent years realised that East Perth's display was that of a potentially strong side. Except for that first term, East Perth was the better side, and it did not lose ground in the vigorous last quarter struggle when Victoria Park made a desperate effort to. regain a grip of the game. In the last quarter each side threw all ite weight and energy into the play and after nine minutes Victoria Park had levelled the scores. Then the pace was at its maximum and bumps were hard and plentiful; determination to attack and, main-tain a defence at the same, time was evident, and with players striving to force the ball on at all costs, taxing their stamina severely, the fit and spirited men stood out. Gradually East Perth, with its higher percentage of all-round service, gained the upper band and managed to clinch a welldeserved win. Mainly to its ruck and centre players did East Perth owe its success, as the side bad an exceptionally powerful and efficient half-back line to pass. Men who had not been playing well struck form for East Perth, which was well balanced in spite of the absence of Cronin, Guhl, M. Ryan and Oswald. U' anything, the wind favoured East Perth, but it was not a match-winning factor. The teams were: — EAST PERTH.— Backs: J. Wood. Rod. Ryan, Mather. Half-backs: Boundy, Bennett, MaUon. Centres: JlcCullough, King-, ' Garnaut. Halfforwards: B. Ryan, Dempster, R. Lawn. Forwards: Miller, Crow, Dolan. Ruck: Little, Booth, Screaigh (rover). Nineteenth man: Leeder (replaced B. Ryan, bad knee, at half-time}. VICTORIA PARK. — Backs: O'CaUaghan. Brown, Wormald. Half-backs: P. Fitzgerald, Shepherd, Hunnerford. Centres: Ransom, H. Griggr, IL Davey. Half-forwards: OUphant, Wilson, Warner. Forwards: Johnston, Gook, A. Origij. Buck: G. Davey, Dewar, Locaa (rarer). Nineteenth man: Hetherington (did not play). UMPIRE.— G. GannonT^ East Perth's sudden scoring of a behind «vas a false augury, for before long Victoria Park, was in motion and had kicked three goals in four minutes. Victoria Park had the assistance of the wind and its long kicking contrasted strikingly with the dismal efforts of the East Perth players. A feature of the play was the improved form of Booth, but he was given little support by the crowded forwards. Victoria Park obtained another goal from Dewar and four behinds were added in succession. Matson and Bennett were striving valiantly to block the attacks, but the pressure was strong. Ransom and H. Grigg consistently forcing the ball down. After 14 minutes Screaigh, after a freekick, gave Crow a chance to goal, but Victoria Park was able- to score easily. Miller's goal for East Perth left the side fl points in arrears— 2.1 to 8.6. For a few minutes in the second quarter East Perth wag still at sea, King and Booth being exceptions. After seven minutes Screaigh goaled with a long dropkick, and as if accepting that as a signal, East Perth began to make use of the freshening wind with long kicks down the :entre. Goals, however, were not scored find a succession of eight behinds followed. Dewar had been playing inspired football for Victoria Park, but the latter's goalkeeper was not kicking off well. Other brilliant players were Bennett and Shepherd, and Screaigh's ability to find and make openings weakened Victoria Park's, iefence. East Perth'* dashing play was '

rewarded with, three more goals to one by its opponents, making the half-time scores:— Victoria Park, 9.7j East Perth, 6.15. Superior football by East Perth enabled it to secure the lead in the third term. The dependable Fitzgerald saved in the goal-mouth and then Victoria Park pressed forward, but its inability to obtain goals through Gook had a disastrous effect. Screaigh was responsible for three goals and after 10 minutes East Perth was five points ahead. East Perth's ruck men were running unchecked in the forward lines and now more than before its centre line was dominant. After Dempster had goaled for East Perth, Victoria Park fought back and two valuable goals were scored. Up and down the ball flashed and at the bell East Perth led— 10.17 to 10.11. . Little's brilliant knockrout from the first bounce was the beginning of his astonishing last quarter effort. His hands seemed to have a magnetic attraction for the ball, and his opponents unwisely tried to mark , with hihi instead of spoiling. Men in both back divisions were champions. After Crow had goaled for East Perth, O'CallaRhan helped nicely to add two goals for East Perth and the scores were level. Then East Perth went ahead with a long goal from Lawn. It was rugged and fierce now and Shepherd, at one end, and Bennett at the other, battled untiringly. Ransom had been shifted into the centre instead of H. Grigg. A behind to Victoria Park and then a shot which went out of bounds, preceded East Perth's final supremacy, during which Fitzgerald and Brown struggled against odds, and the game ended with the scores: — EAST PERTH ? 13.21 (99pts.) ' VICTORIA PARK . . 12.13 (85pts.) Goal-kickers.— East Perth: Screaigh (5), Crow (4), Miller (2), Lawn and Dempster. Victoria Park: Dewar (2), O'Callaghan (2), Lucas (2), Wilson (2), A. Grigg, H. Grigg, Gook and Johnston. Several East Perth players were m fine form. Screaigh roved at his best, and in all parts of the field he was a menace to Victoria Park. His deft handling and quick disposal of the ball gave the forwards numerous good opportunities to score. Little, in the ruck, was a power and his brilliant marking in the last quarter was a biar factor in the side's success. Matson and Bennett were excellent in defence. King was the best of a good centre line, with Garnaut and McCullough great triers. Booth showed his best form of the season in the first half when following. Crow was strong at full-forward, and Mather, Miller and Wood were more than useful. For Victoria Park back men were again outstanding. P. Fitzgerald made scarcely a mistake, marking with sureness and seldom failing to kick the ball well out of danger. Shepherd had a hard task in the crowded play, but he stuck to his job and gave a brainy display. Of the centre line Ransom was easily the best, his speed and marking ability being outstanding. A. Grigg roved well and Dewar and O'Callaghan worked hard and effectively. WUsqA had patches of brilliance at half-forward, and Hungerford and Wormald were other reliable defenders.