West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Monday 24 May 1937, page 15


CLAREMONTS STRONG FINISH. West Perth Overwhelmed. In -n overwhelming finishing effort by which 5.5 was scored to two points in the last quarter, Claremont beat West Perth by 30 points at Leederville Oval on Saturday. Play was even in the first three quarters but in the last quarter, when Clarke and G. Moloney, who had been below form, started to play good football and J. Reid, the winger, sustained his brilliance, the team swept West Perth off its feet and was in attack almost continuously. The teams were:-CLA.REMONT.-Backs: Maitland, Batt, EdmeadeS Half-backs: Headon, Clarke, Grieve. Centres: Reid, G. Moloney, Hosken. Half-forwards: Compton, Lawn, Boys. Forwards: Morris, Hopkins O'Reilly. Buck: Beeves, S Moloney, Hooper (rover). hlneteenth man: Garside (replaced Compton, injured leg, in last quarter). WEST PERTh. : Jeavons, Tetley, Ple~oing. Half-bcks: Bonner, Buttsworth, O'Keefe. Centres: Bridges, Coward, L. Walsh. Blt-f-w'srds: Gregg, McDiarmid, Bunting. For. twrds: i. Srea?gh, yson, Pals Brck: Marinko, Lewis Rainoldi (rover). Nineteenth man: Caplen (did not play). .UMPIRE._- Hooper. Although favoured by a stiff breeze, Claremont made little headway in the opening minutes of the first quarter, malnly because of a weakness in the ruck. Reid and G. Moloney, however, set the team moving and Hopkins and Hooper g Waled. West Perth was superior in the air and Claremont's kicking was faulty. The defenders, however, held firm and West Perth's attack was-subdued. During the quarter Reid found brilliant form, kicking deep into the forward lines but there was a good deal of fumbling and hurried, amless play near the goal and three easy chances were allowed to pass. Quarter-time scores were:--Claremont, .4; West Perth, 1.4. Claremont played better in the second quarter, particularly in the ruck, but again'its kicking was its downfall. Three shots in four minutes realised only behinds Both teams made many mistakes, but Claremont's pace and dash was superior and it attempted to play with system and purpose. West Perth was slow and seemed unable to find its feet. It owed much to Buttsworth and Tetley but even they failed to hold Lawn and Hopkins, who were resourceful and sure in attack. Claremont ran to a 21-point lead but McDiarmid goaled with a long kick from an angle. Compton was moved to centre-half forward for Claremont, Lawn, who had received a knock, going to a forward pocket. West Perth rallied in the closing minutes of the quarter, Rainoldi being outstanding in the rugged, congested play, and Tyson scored four goals in a few minutes. West Perth profited by a string of penalties, foolishly allowed by the Claremont backs, and took the lead. The quarter closed with the scores at:-West Perth, 8.5; Claremont, '.9. There was more zest in the play in the third quarter and the game was marked by long spells of up-and-down play in which Marinko's and Clarke's high marking and Reeves's strong play in the ruck were outstanding features. Each team scored two goals and there followed a series of wild scrimmages, interspersed with long, raking kicks and last-minute saves near the goal-lines. West Perth steadied and Pola goaled, but Clarke turned attacks consistently. Reeves played well in an effort to send Claremont into attack and Compton, with a great kick goaled, reducing West Perth's lead to three points. Slogging fruitless play occupied the remainder of the quarter, which closed with the scores at:West Perth, 11.6; Claremont, 10.9. A goal by Hooper three minutes after the start of the last quarter deprived West Perth of the lead. Its spirits revived. Claremont infused more dash into its play. The West Perth backs became uncertain and the ruck slowed down. Claremon't pace increased and the forwards played into the open. Goals by Lawn and Compton gave Claremont a 16-point lead 13 minutes from time. Claremont was "all over" West Perth, which was S--r-llsed by the smashing play of C .i.?-nt. Claremont's work in the air

was brilliant, Compton being outstanding. G. Moloney, who had been below form, played a big part in the team's finishing run. Hopkins made the -game safe with a goal following a great highmark and West Perth finished completely played out. The final scores were:CLAREMONT . .. 15.14 (104 pts.) WEST PERTH .. 11. 8 (74 pts.) Scorers.-Claremont: Lawn, 3.4; Hopkins and Compton, 3.2 each; Hooper and Morris. 2.1 each; Maitland, 1.2; Reeves, 1.0; O'Reilly and Boys, 0.1 each. West Perth: Tyson, 6.2; Bunting, 2.0; McDiarmid, 1.2; Rainoldi and Pola, 1.1 each; Screaigh and Grigg, 0.1 each (Rainoldi forced a point for Claremont). For Claremont Reeves, the follower, did a large amount of work against odds m the ruck and marked and rucked well. His was a great effort. On the wing Reid's pace, kicking and ability in the air gave Claremont a great advantage. Compton played brilliant football at half-forward and Headpn was excellent in defence. S. Moloney (dashing and strong), Hooper, Edmeades (the best full back in the game), Hopkins, Lawn (in patches), Clarke and G. Moloney (in the last quarter) also did well. West Perth's first rover, Rainoldi, was the team's best player. He handled the ball a lot, showing great resource in gaining possession in the scrimmages and he frequently sent the team into attack. With limited opportunities, Tyson did

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well in front of goaL Marinko and McDiarmid marked well and kicked strongly, while Buttsworth and Tetley, who had a great deal to do, were outstanding in defence. Flemming, Lewis and Bunting were others who were prominent.