West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Monday 13 July 1936, page 7


WEST PERTH BEATEN. Swan Districts' Hard Play. Swan Districts had an extraordinary victory over West Perth at Bassendean on Saturday. West Perth made it look like a junior team in the first quarter and up to half-time gave the impression that it could win with ease if it cared to exert itself. Then a remarkable change came over the game in the third quarter. Past, determined and with more force than science, Swan Districts spreadeagled West Perth and upset its system, establishing a lead of 2.5 at three-quarter time. Run off its game and with cripples in its full forward line, West Perth was only, a shadow of itself in the last quarter and finished battered and beaten. An indication of West Perth's play is

that its scores in each quarter were 34 points, 14, eight and eight; and the strenuous nature of the last quarter is shown by the fact that only one goal was scored. The teams were:SWAN DISTRICTS.-Backs: Zilka, Chandler, Randall. Half-backs: Smith, Sinclair, Ford. Centres: Krepp, Darmody, Mosey. Half-forwards: Penberthy, Hunter, Hall. Forwards' Park, Holdsworth, Gorn. Ruck: Avery, Stelna nerney, Sweetapple (rover). Nineteenth man: Sweet (did not play). WEST PERTH.-Backs: Jeavons, -Benton, Fleming. * Half-backs: P. Walsh, Buttsworth, Tetley. Centres: Drew, Flegr. Coward. Halftorwards: Anderson, McDiarmid. O'Keeffe. Forwards: R. Screaigb, Tyson, Cashman. Ruck. Marinko. Beveridge. Pola (rover). Nineteenth man: Forbes (replaced Drew, leg injury, at half-time). UMPIRE.-L. McComish. West Perth outclassed Swan Districts in the first quarter. Through an advantage on the centre wings, Swan Districts generally attacked from the bounce, but they found West Perth's defence hard to penetrate. West Perth's attacking moves came from its back lines and the team showed perfect uanderstanding. Short passing reduced its effectiveness, but the forwards were 1hading nicely and playing excellently to position, and the opposing backs, closing in on the goal, gave them too much latitude. Swan Districts went forward several times through sheer pace, but were kicking badly. Only the tigerish play of Swan Districts in front of goal and the short game and leisurely air of West Perth kept the latter's score down to 5.4 against 2.4 at the first.bell. Swan Districts presented a more solid defence in the second quarter and many attacks were turned. The team was leading better and counteracting West Perth's supremacy in the air by keeping the ball low, but it spoilt its play by erratic kicking. The play became scrambling and congested, which was in Swan Districts' favour, but when the margin between the teams was reduced to 11 points West Perth swung into its system and increased the difference to three goals. Smothering West Perth's play, Swan Districts attacked again, but still could not find the forwards, kick after kick going into the hands of West Perth backs. West Perth was not troubled to hold its lead, which was 7.6 to 4.5 at half-time. Drew had to leave the field, injured, and Jeavons was put on Krepp. Swan Districts attacked determinedly, but when it drew to within 11 points of the visitors West Perth again unfolded beautiful passing moves and easily langthened its lead to 3.1. Then the game changed suddenly. Swan Districts went into it with a will and the play became very vigorous. Tyson went down with a leg injury for five minutes, Flegg became similarly disabled and, sweeping down with fast, forceful, direct methods, Swan Districts over-ran West Perth and threw it off its balance, scoring 5.6 in ten minutes, to lead with 10.13 to 8.8 at three-quarter time. Tetley was used at centre in place of Flegg, who, scarcely able to move because of his injury, was sent to a forward pocket, next to Tyson who was in similar straits. Others were showing signs of the hard going and, thus hampered, West Perth was impotent in front of goal, where Swan Districts defended strenuously. Faster and more vigorous, Swan Districts held West Perth and the ball went up and down in midfield, with science at a discount, but the play full of incident and the crowd wildly excited with its tenseness. Many players were too tired to kick the ball properly. It had become a question of which side could stand the strain better and the

weakened West Perth team went under. It was three minutes from time before a goal was scored-one to West Perth. Swan Districts, showing remarkable stamina, finished strongly and the fnal scores were:SWAN DISTRICTS .. . 1016 (76 pta.) WEST PERTH .. .. .. 9.10 (64 pts.) Goal-kickers.-Swan Districts: Holdsworth (3), Corn (3), Chandler, Park, Penberthy and Hunter. West Perth: Tyson (5), Cashman, O'Keeffe, R. Scresigh and Pola. For Swan Districts, Zilko, steady all through, was invaluable in defence. Krepp was brilliant on his wing, leading many attacks, and Mosey was indefatigable on the other. Sinclair excelled himself and Park, Sweetapple and Randall shone throughout. Penberthy, Avery and Darmody did well in the last half. Buttsworth was one of the few West Perth players who was consistently effective. He rose to great heights at centre-half-back, where he won throughout the natch. Benton and P. Walsh were other good liefenders. Marinko and Beveridge played strongly and Tyson and Flegg won in their respective positions until injured. O'Keeffe, Screaigh and Anderson were the best of the others.