West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Monday 10 July 1939, page 16


SOUTH FREMANTLE'S PACE. Unlucky Day for Claremont. South Premantle beat Claremont by 21 points in an interesting match at the Premantle Oval on Saturday. Its main assets were its pace and groundwork and offsetting Claremont's ruck advantage it had alert roving and winning centre-wings, although it penalised itself with faulty kicking. It was an unlucky day for Claremont. After being upset by the weather in the first half and lag- ging by 14 points at half-time, it was reduced to 17 men when within two points of South Fremantle early in the third quarter. Thereafter the odds against it were too heavy. It played a strenuous last quarter, but the effort was too much and in the last ten minutes South Fre-mantle exploited its better condition to lengthen its lead with a fast offensive. The teams were:-- SOUTH FREMANTLE.--Backs: Renfrey, Chandler, Barr. Half-backs: D. Doig, Dodd, Haskell. Centres: C. Lewington, White, N. Lewington. Half-forwards: L. Golding, Jen-kins, Gorn. Forwards: Burkett, R. Toll, Poole. Ruck: A. Richardson, Reilly, Dearle (rover). Nineteenth man: Hart (did not play). CLAREMONT.--Backs: S. Moloney, Grieve, Sutherland. Half-backs: O'Nelll, S. Clarke, Hunt. Centres: Reid, Lovegrove, Edmeades. Half-forwards: Bermingham, Heusler, Kemp. Forwards: Serjeant, G. Moloney, Gath. Ruck: Reeves, Gibson, Hooper (rover). Nineteenth man: Julian (replaced Reid, leg injury, at half-time). UMPIRE.--V. Sparrow. Claremont was seen to have an ad- vantage in the ruck when play started, but South Premantle had the benefit of a strong breeze blowing from its right wing and its centre-men and Dearle put it into attack. South Fremantle set a fast pace and made good use of the breeze with long kicking, but here it was set a problem by Claremont's temporary su- periority in the air. Claremont found it hard work moving forward against the breeze and a strong defence, and its low passing lacked accuracy. An interest-ing study in tactics was shown by G. Moloney's working far downfield and then circling around Chandler when the play flowed on. With Jenkins subdued at centre-half-forward, South Fremantle led with only 3.3 to 1.3 at quarter-time. Claremont went straight down from the ruck in the second quarter and, al-though worried by a fast defence, took the lead in five minutes. South Fre-mantle found a scoring passage around N. Lewington's wing, but Claremont re-sumed the initiative. The wind now chopped around and troubled both sides and rain fell, causing congested play. South Fremantle had the better of it and regained the lead. When the wind and rain died, South Premantle had estab- lished full effectiveness, Jenkins and White playing strong parts. Just before the quarter ended, G. Moloney went to the centre, Lovegrove going to a half- forward wing and Reeves to centre-for- ward. Reid hurt a leg and changed places with Kemp. South Premantle was at its strongest and led with 7.6 to 5.4 at half-time. Reid was replaced by Julian, who went to a half-forward wing. G. Moloney re-verted to centre-forward and Lovegrove to centre. Attacking with nicely con- certed movements, Claremont drew to within two points of South Premantle and then South FPremantle threw itself for-ward by sheer pace. Sutherland, with an injured leg, was carried off in a stretcher and Claremont was one man short. South Fremantle used Haskell as a loose man near the centre-half-forward position and kept the ball forward most of the time, but kicked poorly. It led with 9.12 to 8.5 at three-quarter time. Clare- mont put Julian in a back pocket and G. Moloney played in a roving capacity be- tween the centre and the goal-front. South Fremantle had its loose man well out between the left half-forward and centre wings and now Chandler got Has-kell to watch G. Moloney and himself dropped back as loose goal-keeper. Hand-ling the ball surely and winning in ground play, South Fremantle went to a 33-point lead. Although Claremont lacked de- cisiveness, it played a hard, solid game, making full use of its ruck strength, and managed to keep in attack, reducing the margin to 13 points, but the effort was too exacting and South Fremantle, the fresher side, went away strongly towards the end. Final scores:SOUTH -FREMANTLE . 13.16 (94 pts.). CLAREMONT . . . . . 11.7 (73 pts.). Scorers.--South Fremantle: Jenkins, 5.2; Poole, 4.2; Gorn, 3.0; Toll, 1.3; Dearle, 0.3; Reilly, 0.3; Haskell, 0.1; Barr, 0.1. (One behind forced through.) Clare- mont: G. Moloney, 4.1; Bermingham, 3.1; Gath, 2.2; Reeves, 1.0; Serjeant, 1.0; Heusler, 0.2; Gibson, 0.1. For South Fremantle, Dearle was a very effective rover, carrying on the play excellently, and C. and N. Lewington dis-tinguished themselves on the centre- wings. D. Doig and Dodd did very well at half-back, with Renfrey and Chandler solid behind them. Jenkins and Poole were damaging in attack. White, Reilly and Haskell were the best of the others. G. Moloney was the brains behind Claremont. Bermingham was outstand-ing in the first half and Clarke did a fine job at centre-half-back. Gibson and Sutherland worked well in ruck, with Reeves playing solidly, though not

as prominent as usual. Serjeant roved well and Lovegrove was capable in the centre. Hunt did well at half-back and the other defenders also were solid.