Match report

Source:The West Australian 24 July 1922 - via Trove

Old Easts and West Perth fought out a grim battle at Subiaco Oval last Saturday afternoon before a good crowd, which was kept in a simmer of excitement all the way. Grim as the battle was, however it was fair going all the time and the men gave and took several bumps in good spirit. Old Easts triumphed by five points. The scoring was always close and it was the closeness of the tussle rather than the class of football displayed which made the match so interesting to watch. There was too much massed work and too much boundary play where fierce ruck duels followed by the numerous throws-in to allow of the play being high class. At the end of the first quarter the tallies were even. At half time Wests had snatched a two points lead whilst the advantage had veered round to Old Easts at the lemon bell, but it was only four points in their favour. The last quarter produced a titanic struggle. Both sides hurled into the fray with rare determination. Old Easts to hang to that small advantage, the Cardinals to force a goal which would just give them the victory by a bare point. Only one point was scored for the period and that by Old Easts and so they won out in a great battle. Nothing finer in defence football has been seen this season and the back work on either side was the great feature of the game. Mudie for Old Easts was superb, turning Western rush after rush in that clean, calm and clever way which has made the fair-haired East captain such a popular player and so sure. Mudie is an ideal back man. He seldom gives away a free and is safety-and consistency personified. At the other end of the ground that wonderful cardinal half back line, with Gosnell playing the star part this time, was seldom pierced. The rucks too, worked grandly. Perhaps on general play Wests held the call-they certainly held the play in front of their goals longer than did Old Easts on the day. But they did not score and it is the power of piercing those tall uprights which wins games. Wests could not do this. Their forwards were too weak and massed too much and the cry of a great cardinal supporter "Oh for a good forward or two," was an apt one. With a good forward line the Cardinals would be hard to beat anywhere. Old Easts won by virtue of better work in front of the posts. Their men in attack, held in open formation by the brainy "Poet." Smith. was will ahead of the Cardinal lot. When the ball did get past the West defence, the fan-like work of Easts goal getters gave space to work in and they made use of their opportunities. It was just superior forward football, which gave the victory to East Fremantle. The rucks were even enough; the defence work perfect on both sides. At centre, Brown beat his man pointless, but Taylor the Western winger. did the same to his marksman, whilst over the way it was even going. And so it was fifty fifty everywhere except in attack and the Cardinals were not class with Old Easts here. West Perth were minus some good men in Bidstrip, Fyshce, Moore and Soutar and Truscott had not recovered from injury sufficiently to play for Old Easts. Umpire Isaachsen had charge of the game. Usually so good he seemed to have a day off. The pace was a cracker all the way and he was too far behind the play and missed, ever so many breaches.

Old Easts were early away and a minute from the start Strang shot true from a free. Gibson followed immediately with another sizer. It was an East romp away, but Wests steadied and goals from Hilberg and S.Tyson evened up the scores. It was great going with the pace a cracker. Hilberg with another sent Wests ahead and just before the bell Smith marking right in front had no trouble in scoring for Easts. In a quarter in which the play had been fifty fifty the score board showed tallies even at 3.1 each. It had been a good term. with the pace on and the football full of zip. It was hard fighting in the opening of the second quarter, with the ruck duels fierce. West held the ball in play, but there was nothing doing in scoring - good chances going astray. Wimbridge eventually put the Cardinals ahead after marking brilliantly, but his effort was the only bright. feature in a drab forward display. In a fleeting attack before halftime Fordham marked nicely and scored full points for East leaving the tallies 4.5 to 4.3 in Wests favour.

Again it had been good football with the back men on either side playing giant parts and the rucks clashing fiercely. Wests certainly had the call in play but their forward work was wretched. Feeble and cramped up there they failed to rant home the points that should have come their way. Old Easts long work was most effective, and their fan-like attack methods good class compared with Wests. Even with their slight lead. Wests did not impress as likely winners-their artillery was not effective. And this weakness again asserted itself in the third. They scored one goal Easts scored two. And these two came from lovely passages up forward. The first by Gibson, after a superb chain of hand passes; the second by Fordham, ending off a snappy line of quick foot passages. Old Easts led with 6.4 to 5.6 at three quarter-time. Only one point was scored in the last bout, and that by Old Easts. The backs on either side played superbly - they were wonderful. It was a grim fight, with the men throwing their all in and giving and asking no quarter. But it was all fair going. Old Easts were hanging to their lead like leeches; Wests were fighting for dear life for a goal which would put them ahead. And Old Easts won. They kept Wests out and finished up victors by five points.

On the side of the winners Mudie was an easy first. Never making a mistake all the way, never giving a free away. and always for the ball, the East captain was a great defender. He was the rock on which many a western wave broke. Gibson was tip-top. and so was H. Brown, who beat his man pointless in the centre. Clark, Ion, Bullmore, McGuinness, and Strang were also good. For Wests. Gosnells was best. He relieved time and again with: well judged dashes, and marked well too. Craig marked grandly once again, and Sam Tyson up against that big East ruck battled well and successfully. Taylor was brilliant in patches, and Fleming and Sheedy more than useful. A new man from the country named Holmes showed much promise.