West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Monday 24 August 1936, page 6


BETTER PACE AND FLAYERS. Claremont's Third Successive Victory. Claremont strengthened its prospects of inclusion in the final four at the Premantle Oval on Saturday, when it defeated South Fremantle with 2.7 to spare. South Fremantle failed to run to a lead that was commensurate with the strong wind in its favour in the first quarter. From that point Claremont went steadily ahead. Across the eentre its advantage was clear-cut, G. Moloney giving an outstanding display at the pivot. South Fremantle again failed in attack, and none of its forwards compared favourably with Cook and Birmingham. At half-time Claremont led by the equivalent of two goals. An even third quarter followed, South Fremantle failing again to take advantage of the. wind, and Claremont, with a lead of 11 points, had the game won at three-quarter time. Much of the last term was a scramble, punctuated by hard bumping and slinging. In the little open play, Claremont's superior pace, and the possession of afar greater number of accomplished players prevented South Fremantle from rallying and enabled Claremont to win rather impressively. The teams were:dLAREMONT.-h-acks: Sutherland, Batt, Ed. meades. Half-backs: S. Headon, Clarke, Grieve. Centres: Hough, G. Moloney, Morris. Halfforwards: Boys, Birmingham, Jones. Forwards: Conok, Hopkins. Reeves. Ruck: B. Moloney, Bee, Hooper (rover). Nineteenth man: Steward (did not play). SOUTH FREIMATLE.--Backs: Renfrey, C. Jennings. L. Hayward. Half-backs: F. Brown, Edgar, Back. Centres: J. Mills, Whitaker, Lewington. Half-forwards: W. Smith, G. Metherell, Jasper. Forwards: E. Hayward, A- Metherell, Ditchburn. Ruck: Beard, Richardson, J. Doig (rover). Nineteenth man: Mathews (did not play). UMPIRE.--H Hooper. Having first use of a strong wind, South Fremantle was expected to pile up many points before the first change. Heavy rain and a slippery ball retarded South Fremantle rather more than it did Claremont, whose backs were more than a match for South Fremantle's weak forward lines. Sutherland was a reliable 'defender. After five minutes' play Ditchburt scored South Fremantle's first point. Jennings relieved brilliantly on several occasions for South Fremantle but invariably the ball was returned by G. Moloney, who met with little opposition from South Fremantle's centre line. After 11 minutes, Claremont equalised. South Fremantle's rack was being outplayed by that of Claremont. What combined play there was was credited to Claremont and the odds ,were heavily weighted across the centre in its favour. From a freekick, J. Doig goaled at long range for South Fremantle, but Claremont was mn a promising position at quarter-time, when the scores were:-South Fremantle, 1.1; Claremont, 0.4. A goal by Jasper gave South Fremantle a little working capital, but Cook quickly goaled at the*other end. Attacking with power and some show of method, Claremont dominated the play until almost half-time. The impotence of individuals in South Fremantle's defence threw extra -responsibilities on Edgar, Jennings and Back. With a penetrating dash and grand kick, Birmingham scored a fine goal on the run. A free-kick to Cook in the easiest of positions was easily converted. The driving force for Claremont was G. Moloney, whose display at centre was worthy of his best. South Fremantle seldom crossed the centre, and when it did found Clarke barring the way. Towards the end of the quarter South Fremantle executed a fine series of exchanges, which were topped off by another goal from J. Doig and this left the scores at half-time:-Claremont, 4.8; South Fremantle, 3.2.Good Good understanding among the Claremont backs held South Fremantle at bay4 Still in fine form, G. Moloney-nd fBirdngham provided much of the ammunition for the Claremont attack amd a goal by Hopkins strengthened Claremont's position. South Fremantle slowly improved until it fought the remainder of the quarter on even terms, its best players being Edgar and M. Hayward. A successful shot by Ditchburn skidded through and Jasper added another goaL The football was rough and exciting, hard bumps being exchanged. Claremont struggled on against the wind, and a goal by Reeves increased its lead to 1.5 at three-quarter time-6.10 to 5.5. Claremont pressed on, and the best chest mark of the match, by Hopkins, deserved more than the behind that followed. South Flemantle battled on, but the most it could do was to hold Claremont's score down. Two behinds by Ditchburn constituted South Fremantle's only additions. The football had developed into a scramble. In' the little open play Claremont was obviously the faster and the better combination. A good goal by Reeves from the boundary was Claremont's only major score of the term, and a couple of behinds by Hooper, and one by Hopkins made the final scores: .... 7.14 (56 pts.) SOUTH FREMANTLE 5.7 (37 pts.) Scorers:-Claremont: Cook, 2.3; Birmingham. 2.1; Reeves, 2.0; Hopkins, 1.3; Jones, Hooper and Bee, 0.2 each; Boys, 0.1. South Fremantle: J. Doig and Jasper, 2.1 each; Ditchburn, 1.3; E. Hayward and G. Metherell, 0.1 each. Claremont owed most to G. Moloney, who was easily the best player of the

match. At the centre he did not make a mistake, and his handling and disposal of the wet ball were remarkable. Birmingham and Reeves constituted a solid ruck: Sutherland, S. Headon and Clarke were reliable defenders. Hough played well on the wing, and others above the average were Cook, Jones and Hooper. South Fremantle's most serviceable player was Edgar, who, at half-back, was continually under notice with strong reliefs. M. Hayward must be ranked next with some excellent ruck and defensive play. Jennings, in goal, showed that he had not lost his ability to clear and kept Hopkins's score down to 1.3. Others to earn their places were Lewington, Ditchburn, Back, Renfrey, Beard and J. Doig: