West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Tuesday 2 May 1939, page 12


CLAREMONT'S STRONG FINISH. Swan Districts Overwhelmed. Finishing with great dash, after having appeared to be capable of taking charge almost at any time, Claremont easily beat Swan Districts by 65 points at Bassendean Oval on Saturday. The standard of football on the whole was not high, there being a number of scrambling passages, but Claremont was more sure in its methods; its back men did well to hold Swan Districts down to 4.13 in its two quarters with the wind, and when Claremont was assisted by the breeze, it used the long kick to advantage, with its players backing up well At half-time, when Claremont's lead was ten points, it was thought that an interesting finish might result, although Claremont appeared to have more in reserve than its opponent. Swan Districts, however, missed many opportunities in the third quarter, persistent short passing and inaccurate kicking for goal played into the hands of the Claremont backs, who were able to concentrate the play in the pocket from which Swan Districts could not derive any help from the wind, and in the last quarter Claremont indulged in an orgy of goal-kicking, to win easily. The teams were:SWAN DISTRICTS.--Backs: Maynard. Hilton. Zilko. Half-backs: Andrews. Sinclair, Williams. Centres: Mosey. Darmody.- Krepo. Half-forwards: J. Clarke. Moiler. L Symonds Forwards: Ditchburn. " osewarne. Todd. Ruck: Murray. Lambert. Pearce (rover). Nineteenth man: Gray (did not play). CLAREMONT.--Backs: S. Moloney. Grieve, Sutherland. Half-backs: Headon. O'Neill. Guthrie. Centres: Reid. G. Moloney. Lovegrove. Half-forwards: Boys, Bermingham.. Gibson. Forwards: Serieant. Compton, Gath. Ruck: Reeves, Edireades, Hooper (rover). Nineteenth man: Hesford (did not play). UMPIRE.-J. Chapman. Claremont started strongly, but Ditchburn, in the ruck, exerted a steadying influence an Swan Districts, which scored three goals quickly and led with 3.6 to 1.2 at quarter-time. A further goal from Ditchburn lengthened Swan Districts's lead, and Claremont then adopted the long-kicking game with good results, its goal-front work, although a little patchy at times, being more reliable than that of Swan Districts had been earlier. Claremont led by ten points at half-time (6.5 to 4.7), and in the third quarter its back men, who were assisted by ragged shortpassing game of the Swan Districts forwards, were able to prevent Claremont from being deprived of the lead; inaccuracy in the forward lines had been costly to Swan Districts, only one goal coming from eight scoring shots, and the side was five points in arrears (5.14 to 7.7) at three-quarter time. Claremont dominated the game in the last quarter to run out an easy winner, the final scores being:- -CLAREMONT ... 8.13 (121 pts.). SWAN DISTRICTS . '.14 (56 pts.). Scorers.-Claremont: Compton, 5.2; Serjeant, 4.0; Gibson, 3.2; Reeves, 2.0; Oath, 1.3; Hooper, 1.2; Reid, 1.2; Bermingham, 12. Swan Districts: Ditchburn, 2.1; Moiler, 2.0; Rosewarne, 1.6; Todd, 1.1; Pearce, 1.0; Andrews, 0.3; Murray, 0.1; Clarke, 0.1; Mosey, 0.1. In a side which carried few passengers, Headon at half-back did best, revealing plenty of dash, and clearing well. Reid started many moves around his wing, Reeves followed strongly and also did well at half-forward, as did Gibson, while Hooper and Serjeant both roved cleverly. Compton played unselfishly at full-forward, O'Neill was always prominent in the back lines, where Grieve and Guthrie were also hard -to pass. 0. Moloney and Edmeades did best of a very useful remainder. Ditchburn battled tirelessly in the ruck for Swan Districts, making many openings which were not availed of; his marking was particularly safe. Sinclair at half-back overshadowed Bermingham. Hilton did well in goal, Darmody (in the first half) and Krepp did best of the centre line, the most prominent of the others being Maynard, Andrews, Pearce and Moller.