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


SFOURU VALUABLE - POINTS. Vital Victory to. Claremont. In a game in which pace and team work counted more than physical strength, Claremont was just a little better than West Perth, at Leederville Oval, on Saturuay. spectators nsa their fill of excitement, for there were several lightning-like rallies during the match; and just when one side seemed to have complete charge, the other would suddenly recover and take the lead. Always the scores were sufficiently clots to sustain interest; and even in the last quarter, when Claremont looked a certain winner, going so far as to beat West Perth in the air, excitement rose to a high pitch.1 alfway through the term Clarempont had increased its lead to 2.3, and was playing strongly. Fiercely West Perth tried to bridge the gap, only to miss several chances of scoring. Claremont, playing defensively to protect its lead, also wasted opportunities. With six minutes to go, West Perth. scored a goal, and Claremont's founda-. tions were shaken. Goals had previouslybeen scored so fast that a lead of nine points was now remarkably slender in the eyes of the anxious Claremont suppdrters. Good defence and cool team work in-; spired by G. Maloney helped Clarempnti at a critical stage, and two behinds absorbed valuable seconds. Then came adying West Perth effort. The ball was rushed down to the forwards.. An open goal was missed, and then a long shot; was successful. Only 30 seconds' play remained, and a goal would' rob Claremont of victory. From the ruck the ball went to a pack of players. Awkwardly, but effectively, Sutherland forced his way through to kick the ball out of danger, and the bell ended a stirring match. On the day Claremont's game was the more effective, and the - cleverer. Endeavours were made to cover up weaknesse4, spoiling tactics were adopted with success, and

the long kick was usually preferred to the short pass. Errors of judgment were costly to West Perth, and it was'not rare to see a player paying too much attention to the man at one moment, and the next becoming "ball hungry" and leaving his marksman unopposed. The teams were:CLAREMONT.-Backs: Sutherland, Batt, Edmeades Half-backs: S. Headon, Clarke, Grieve. Centres' Hough, G. Moloney. Morris. Half-forwards: Bee, HR. Moloney, Reeves. Forwards: Cook, Hopkins, Jones. Ruck: Maitland, Birmingham, Hooper (rover). Nineteenth man: Dick Lovegrove (did not play). WEST PERTH.-Backs: Jeavons. Tetley, Flemming. Half-backs: P. Walsh, Buttsworth, Gregg. Centres: Drew, Coward. L. Walsh. Half-forwards: McDiarmid. McCurdy, Anderson. Forwards: Pola, Tyson, O'Keefe. Ruck: Marinko, Beveridge, R. Screaigh (rover). N-ineteenth man: Weaver (replaced Drew, injured leg, in last quarter). UMPIRE: G. Owens. At the start the play was strangely devoid of finesse. Seldom did forwards break away fast from their immediate opponents, and few passes were accurate. Thus, high-marking champions like Flemming and Clarke were most conspicuous. West Perth was the first to score a goal, and for the next five minutes Claremont pattled unceasingly, but haphazardly, to score. P. Walsh and Marinko were in good form for West Perth, and Clarke and George Moloney were leading players for Claremont, which benefited from free kicks in the mauling passages, and then scored two goals. Silly short passing and slowness to deliver the ball

hlandicapped West Perth, which was soon 12 .points behind. During the last few minutes of the quarter, however, everything went right for West Perth, and at the bell it led with 3.3 to 3.1. Up and down the ball travelled, nearly every kick being made without aim. Claremont changed its wing men over in an effort to bring about an improvement. Better in the air, Claremont took the lead, when Bee goaled, and Hopkins scored another with a long kick. For West Perth, Beveridge was stirring himself, but he, too, was kicking wretchedly. Feeling ran high, and there were 'two or three incidents which might easily have developed into brawls. Claremont went further ahead. McDiarmid struck form, and West Perth looked dangerous. OKeefe and Tyson goaled, and a number of unsuccessful attacks were launched. Flemming's freakish marking held Claremont at bay until the veteran received a nasty knock, and his marksman, Cook, did some damage. A goal to Tyson just before half-time levelled the scores--69 to 7.3 (Claremont). The third term began uneventfully, and scrimbles were frequent. When Buttsworth made a vigorous clearance, the ball was sent to Tyson, who scored a wonderful goal with a left-foot shot from near the left behind post. In a flash Jones goaled for Claremont. Coward was now easily the nippiest player on the ground, and Claremont's half-backs were exceptionally alert and sure. Each side scored a goal before Tyson placed his side five points in' front. Morris was playing a great game for Claremont. A goal to Cook, and Claremont led at three-quarter time-10.8 to 9.1. Maitland and Birmingham tere Claremont's ruck men against Beveridge and Marinko. Tyson missed a goal, and Claremont played fast football to swing into attack again. Despite Flemming's marking, Claremont was able to score, chiefly. through the ingenuity of Bee. West Perth pressed hard, but Claremont's Packs were strong. George Moloney seemed to be everywhere, directing here and soothing there. His brother, too, was marking brilliantly, and the occasional flashes of brilliance by West Perth were not impressive. Hough was revealing his true speed.against Anderson on the wing now, and West Perth seemed to be labouring.. Beveridge and Marinko brought the ball down, and the hefty McDiarmid scored a great goal. Sutherland, Edmeades. and Grieve were sure in defence for Claremont, and it was not until Bee had engineered two more behinds that

West Perth scores again. O'Keefe missed an open goal with a left-foot shot, and Pola goaled from a free kick. Excitement was high as West Perth threw everything into one last cast, and Sutherland frustrated the effort, leaving Claremont the winner as follows:CLAREMONT .... 12.13 (85 pta.). WEST PERTH .... 1115 (81 pts.) Scorers.-Claremont: Hopkins, Bee, 32 each; Jones, 2.2; Cook, 2.1; R. Moloney, 1.1; Hooper, 1.0; Maitland, Reeves, Morris, Hough, 0.1 each. West Perth: Tyson, 5.3; O'Keefe, Pola, 2.1 each; McDiarmid, 1.1; Marinko, 1.0; Anderson, 0.3; Screaigh, 0.2; Drew, Coward, Beveridge, L. Walsh, 0.1 each. Claremont's best player was Hooper, who roved like a champion throughout the game, and marked better than he has shown before. Grieve was the surest and most consistent of the defenders, his pace early being a great asset against a player such as McDiarmid. Morris gave an excellent display on the wing after halftime, and Reeves was the best of the hard-working ruck men, of whom Sutherland deserved mention. George Moloney was not as sure as usualabut he did many tine things, while his brother marked and worked loose in good style. -- Bee was a valuable half-forward. Clarke was exceptionally brilliant in 'the first half, and Headon, Edmeades, and other defenders were useful throughout. Hopkins kicked -well when he got the ball. For West Perth there were not nearly so many useful men. Taking everything into account, Flemming was probably its most outstanding-player. His marking was delightful to watch, and time after time he saved at a critical point. Paul Walsh was in good form at half-back, and Coward played a fast game in the centre, if inclined to be too hurried. Drew won on his wing until he was hurt, and Pola roved nicely. R. Screaigb was a tigerish rover. Tetley was strong in goal, and allowed Hopkins little latitude. Beveridge, McDiarmid, Marinko, and Buttsworth did some good work, but were on the sluggish side, and did hot kick well. Tyson worked hard for his goals, and gave a neat display. O'Keefe was a great trier, and Gregg was useful. L. Walsh faded after a promising start.