Match report

Source:The West Australian 6 June 1922 - via Trove

The third game of the first round, which was reserved as the Monday holiday attraction drew a big crowd to the WACA Oval. It was the record crowd for the season, and the gate receipts totalled 250 pounds. But East Perth and Perth, the contesting sides, did not provide a game worthy of the big attendance. In previous years the royal blues and the redlegs have invariably given us games full of thrills and football of the best. They both played the same style of football- wide and fast and clean - and invariably the interest in the tussles was always maintained so evenly were the sides matched. But the redlegs of today have fallen away some, whilst the royal blues are the same old nippy fast, and clever side - and so they won easily even more easily than the scores indicate. It was their wretched kicking alone which cost them goal after goal. Their marksmen were terribly astray. Their final tally of 8 goals 23 behinds stands as a monument to the uncertainty of their forwards. Aside this wretched kicking, the side was fine. They played a good long game with the passing accurate, the marking sure, the handball never overdone and beautiful to watch.

Above all there was that non-stop play which means so much to any side - that nonstop play which seems to clamp the other side to their places and whisks the ball from end to end in a trice. Perth only played really well in a fine rally during the last fifteen minutes of the third quarter. This rally gave them the call in this quarter - the only term in which they held the royal blues in check. But they fumbled too much they overdid the finicky pass, and their men over-ran with the ball. Several of their players were very keen - too keen indeed - on having that little bounce. Yet again they mulled each other in the air. Men went for the ball together, with little of the shepherding shown by East Perth.

The match was keenly fought, however. But it was not fought with quite the beautiful sporting spirit shown in that Subiaco v. East Fremantle game of last Saturday. Umpire OConnor had charge of the match, and was hardly first-class. He was slow in decision and allowed too many breaches to go unchecked. An unfortunate accident happened to Charlie McKenzie an East Perth man, than whom there is no more popular player nor more unfortunate one either. He was removed by the ambulance to the hospital, and it was stated last-night that he was progressing satisfactory.

East Perth were early away and playing brilliantly with the passing and handball fine indeed got four majors and several minors before Perth steadied. Hebbard (twice), Giese and Duffy pierced the gap for them. Perth got a major just before the bell, but East Perth led easily with 4.7 against a bare major. In the second term, Perth scored twice with two snaps and they rattled on three minors too. East Perth failed to score a goal but increased by six minors. Daffy, Allen and Thomas, were fine in midfield play for Easts in this term and Love - grand for the redlegs on the wing where he had it all over his man. At half-time the tallies were East Perth 4.13, Perth 3.3.

East Perth looked winners, their play being more decided and their marking better. After the interval Gepp and Giese scored immediately and just here there was a dirty incident between Gordon Watts and Sparrow. East Perth were well ahead now. But the redlegs made a grand revival. Hoft with a lovely place shot and Gaynor with an equally good one got goals for them and they were playing now with all the dash and cleverness of a fine side. The pace was a cracker. They came to the attack again and again but failed in front of the posts and just before the bell B.Harrold scored for East Perth, swinging the lead right hack again to his side. Scores at the lemon bell were 7.15 to 5.7 in East Perth's favour.

In the last quarter it was fast and willing for a start, but the Royal Blues had their hold on the game and despite wretched kicking up forward ran out easiest of winners with the final tallies reading East Perth 8.23 (71 points); Perth 5.11 (41 points). For the winners Duffy roved grandly - he is a great footballer is this little East Perthite. Gepp played well and kicked wretchedly, Allen, on the wing in the first half was brilliant and V.Harrold in the back lines as safe as a rock. Western, B.Harrold, and Thomas were all tip-top. For the redlegs, Love was easily the best man. He always had it over his man on the wing and disposed of the ball well. Corser was splendid in defence and Silverstone. (in, the second half when he more than held Ike Allen in check) Hoft, Hewby, Halliday and G.Watts were good.