West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Monday 6 September 1937, page 8


SWAN DISTRICTS' SUCCESS. Perth Beaten in Hard Game. More stable in the critical stages and with a decided. supremacy across the centre, Swan Districts, fielding a far from representative side, did well to withstan Perth's determined. and vigorous bid for victory at Bassendean Oval on Saturday. The Swan Districts' team. also .bad a reliable defence.- 'Perth made the mistake of confining play to pockets, while neglecting the most direct and more proStable route down the centre? . Perth's kicking amidfield was also inaccurate, especially its low passing, which was adopte4 as a counter to Swan Districts' marking ability and -in overcoming the vagaries of the breeze. Swan Districts failed to score in the last quarter. The teams were;-SWAN DISTBICTS-Backs: Randall, Zilko, Bastow. Half-backs: Andrews, Sinclair, McInerney. .entres: Krepp, Darmody, Mosey. Halfforwards: Moiler, Rosewarne, Park. Forwards: .orden, Gorn, Hunt . rck: Avery, Penberthy, Sweetapple <rover). Nineteenth .man: Chester (rejlaced Forden, .injured ip, p.in last quarter). PERTH.-Backs: Fitzgerald, Love, Harbison. Half-backs: Wormaid, A. Brown, Bailey. Centres: H. Dawey, Puddey, Trainor. Hal?-forwarde: Toohey, Hetherington, KA Lewis Forwards: A. Grigg, Gook, hDerar. Rack: Oliphant, Carring. ton, Keightley (rover). Nineteenth man: R. Lewis (did not play). UIPIRE:. . Hooper Taking Peith by storm, Swan Districts rattled on three goals in the first four minutes, despite desperate efforts by Fitzgerald and Harbison to check the onslaughts. Recovering from the shook, Perth took ap the offensive, but inglorious kicking deprived the tide of scoring chances. Bailey, a newcomer, was playing well in the back lines for Perth, while Krepp and Mosey (wearing a protective mask) were winning on the wings. Play was fast and hard, with Swan Districts the better side. Sixteen minutes had elapsed before Gook scored Perth's first goal The Swan Districts side, with its captain (Rosewarne) setting a fine example at half-forward, then regained control, Goril adding its sixth goal with a magnificent kick from the south-west pocket. Gook had a chance right on quarter-time but missed, leaving Swan Districts in front---6.4 to 1.0. In a burst of fast, systematic football, Perth momentarily swept the home team off -its feet. Skilfully eluding his markman, Cook got possession and Perth had another goal to its credit.. Interfered with a minute later, the same player repeated and shortly afterwards received the congratulations of the players when he obtained his hundredth goal .with a well-judged shot; the crowd also showed its appreciation of the meritorious performanCe. Oliphant and Avery were sharing the honours ir the ruck, but it was across the centre that Perth was striking most trouble. It was anybody's game at this stage and, had Perth made full use of its opportunities, Swan Districts might easily have lost its lead. Perth's persistence in playing to a pocket brought about a congestion which proved to the liking of the Stan Districts defenders, of whom Sinclair and ZIlko were most conspicuous. Gorn, at full forward, and Forden, were in brilliant form, and in conjunction with Rosewarne, contributed in no small measure to Swan Districts' lead of 8.7 to 5.8 at half-time. Timely defence work by Bailey enabled Perth to transfer the ball, and Dewar, within a minute of the resumption, had kicked Perth's sixth goal. Oliphant exerted a steadying influence in Perth's ranks, his cool and clever play being mainly responsible for a series of attacks which yielded disheartening behinds. With Darmody more than holding his nwn at centre, Swan Districts applied the pressure, and in response to a goal by Keightley (playing well) went further ahead when Sweetapple and Moiler goaled. Perth was winning in the air, but futile short passing marred its play. Sweetapple was roving brilliantly, another goal from him preceding one kicked by Gook. Perth rallied strongly and from a vigorous tussle in the Swan Districts' back lines Randall, much to the crowd's amusement, emerged minus his trousers. Another fierce passage followed, and Swan Districts added two goals. Swan Districts swept the opposition aside and goals came in rapid succession to give the side a handy lead14.8 to 9.10--at the bell. Perth's inaccuracy in shooting for goal was again evident when Gook, Grigg, and Carrington missed scoring chances. Love, Fitzgerald, and Wormald stood out in defence as Swan Districts tried hard to penetrate Perth's back lines. Davey was now showing glimpses of his best form at centre, but-his associates were unable to

cope with the cleverness c E repp and the inelegant but very effective work of Mosey. Toohey was constantly under notice and a goal from, him from an acute angle stirred Swan Districts. Play was infused with vigour and heated exchanges were followed by- demands for the first-aid men; Forden left the field and was replaced by Chester." Wormald and Love were stoutly resisting Swan Districts' persistent but unavailing attempts to score. Fitzgerald set Perth in motion and Gook, although hedged in by extremely attentive marksmen, managed to obtain the ball and kick Perth's eleventh goaL Park, who had been one Of his side's mainstay~ throughout, was roving in his best style, while Toohey and Grigg were among Perth's best. The back men played solidly and neither side was able to score another goal. The final scores were: DISTRICTS . 14.8 (92pts.) PERTH ...... .. 1L14 80pts.) Scorers.-Swan Districts: Gorn, 5.3; Forden, 3.1; Sweetapple, 3.0; Rosewarne, 2.2; Moiler, 1.1; Andrews, 0.1. Perth: Gook, 6.4; Carrington, 1.3; Toohey, 1.2; Hetherington, 1.2; Dewar, 1.1; Keightley, 1.0; Grigg, 0.1; A. Lewis, 0.1. Swan Districts had a well-balanced side, every man distinguishing himself at some stage. In Sinclair and Park, however, it had two players whose steadiness and coolness had much to do with their team's victory. Sinclair scarcely made a mistake in the back lines, while Park was equally effective as a forward and rover. Mosey outmanoeuvred his markman and was instrumental in making a big percentage of Swan Districts' openings; he was unyielding and fearless. Rosewarne gave an unblemished display at halfforward, a feature of his play being his unfailing disposal of the ball. Zilko, Avery, Gorn, Forden and Krepp also deserve credit; in fact Swan Districts did not have a "passenger." Consistency has been the keynote of Oliphant's play this season and he was again Perth's most outstanding player on Saturday. He had no Deer among the followers, and when "resting" in the forward lines was always-calm and collected., His co-operation with Gook increased the difficulties of the opposing backs. Love, Wormald, Bailey and Fitzgerald were strong defenders. Grigg and Keightley were prominent in a roving capacity, while Toohey and Carrington were a hard-worked pair of followers.