Image TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage Tile
Image size: 5120x7168 Scale: 35% - PanoJS3
Page overview thumbnail

Article text

by
ALEX BARRAS
CLAREMONT'S defeat of West Perth in the "A" grade competi-
tion last Saturday was the surprise win of the year. On the
previous Saturday West Perth were in an almost impregnable
position, and not even the greatest optimist gave Claremont a
chance of winning. However, once again one of cricket's best
attractions-the glorious uncertainty of the game-played its
part, and magnificent bowling by interstater Gordon Eyres and
Dick Hardy, a recently promoted junior, brought victory to their
team.
This defeat of West Perth has brought North Perth and
Claremont well into premiership calculations once again, and, in
consequence, the interest in the remaining games will be sustained
until the last ball is bowled.
CRICKET.
Subiaco Now Head List.
GTJBIACO (52 points) by their first in-
nings win over Mt. Lawley, and by
Claremont's victory, have now moved to
the head of the premiership list, with a
clear lead of seven points from West Perth
(45). North Perth (44), is within easy
striking distance of the Westerners, and
consequently their meeting with Subiaco
on Saturday should be one of the high-
lights of the season.
. Claremont follow with 40 points, and
appear to be the only other team in the
running.
Mt. Lawley (29), East Perth (27),
North-East Fremantle (24), and Freman-
tle (24), are out of the running, and these
teams will have a good opportunity of
trying out promising players in their
lower teams.
Saturday's games are as follows:-North
Perth v. Subiaco, at Loton Park; East
Perth v. Mt. Lawley at Maylands; Clare-
mont v. Fremantle at Fremantle; West
Perth v. N.E. Fremantle, at W.A.C.A. East.
Individual Performances.
Dick Hardy's five wickets for 18 runs
was a match-winning effort in thè Clare-
mont-West Perth game. Claremont's win
was almost entirely due to this youngster's
fine bowling and his team can count
themselves fortunate that they found a
capable substitute for Ron Halcombe,
while that player has been on the injured
list.
Hardy possesses stamina and while his
pace is well below that of Halcombe's, he
is always hostile. Hardy also swings the
ball ably, and keeps an excellent length.
Team-mate Gordon Eyres lent valu-
able assistance to his younger colleague
by getting four valuable wickets. Eyres
has certainly found top form at the right
end of the season, as much will depend
on his bowling in the coming State games.
In the opposition camp, Charlie Puc-
kett, by getting two more wickets, brought
his figures for the innings to seven wic-
kets at the cost of only 27 runs. Truly
a splendid performance. Puckett bowls at
about fast-medium, and swings the hall
both ways at will. He also bowls a de-
cided "break-back," and while it is well
controlled, he would do well to try and
disguise it a little more, as a decided
grip makes it fairly obvious to batsmen
what is about to be bowled.
Puckett will be hard to keep out of
the State eleven!
Few batsmen got runs in this game,
but the most pleasing feature in this
direction was the batting of Trevor Row-
lands. Although only making 21, the
State skipper showed that at long last he
is finding touch.
Young "Bud" Byfield also played neatly
for his team at a critical stage, and re-
mained not out with 13 to his credit.
Byfield gave great promise as a school-
boy player, and Claremont appear to have
discovered a youngster who is destined
to be a stalwart of that club for many
seasons to come.
Bert Drew stole the honours of the
Subiaco innings against Mt. Lawley, com-
pletely overshadowing his team-mate Al-
lan Jeffreys, who laboriously wended his
way to another half-century. Drew's
form has been very good this year, and
he probably never batted better at any
time of his long career. Even at this
stage there are few players who drive
with more assurance than Drew.
The most that could be said for Jef-
freys is that he showed fine determin-
ation. This was certainly not one. of his
best knocks' by any means.
After Arthur Cambridge, had broken
the back of the Subiaco batting by get-
ting the first four wickets that fell,
George Dickinson came along to take
the bowling honours by taking five wic-
kets for 46 runs. Dickinson. bowled his
off-spinners to good effect, varying his
pace and flight nicely. Dickinson and
Cambridge have turned in some splen-
did figures this year, and they form the
backbone of the Mt. Lawley attack.
Doug Cullen returned to form after a
lean trot, batting very freely to reach
41. Cullen, a left-hander, is very strong
on the on-side, but he also possesses a
neat cover drive.
Four other Mt. Lawley batsmen
reached the twenties in this innings, but
only Ken Frankish looked at all im-
pressive.
George Gardiner's 61 Not Out.
George Gardiner, the ex-State player,
now playing regularly with East Perth,
completely dominated his team's innings
against North Perth with a brilliant 61
not out. It is extremely unfortunate
for the Easteners that Gardiner has not
been available all the year. There is no
more attractive player than this man
when in form, and spectators were
treated to a batting feast on this occa-
sion. Gardiner hits the ball with tre-
mendous power and is not afraid to lift
the ball if the opportunity offers itself.
Gardiner, in form, will make a vast dif-
ference to East Perth, and from now on
this team should show a vast improve-
ment.
Four wickets fell to Tony Zimbulis, in
this game, and he stood up to Gardiner's
devastating tactics splendidly. Zim-
bulis is a grand trier, and deserves any
success that comes his way.
Allan Evans also played soundly for
East Perth, handling Zimbulis with
plenty of assurance. Evans has been a
wonderful player for East Perth over
many years, and it is good to see him
retaining his form.
George Marshall routed North-East
Fremantle in that team's game against
Fremantle. A little above medium-pace,
Marshall swung the ball disconcertingly
on Saturday and only -Powell and G.
Evans played him with any degree of
George Gardiner, brilliant East Perth batsman. Help
George Gardiner, brilliant East
Perth batsman.
certainty. Marshall was quick off the
wicket, and this added to his ability.to
swing the ball, gave him many of his
six wickets. Six wickets on a perfect
pitch costing only four runs each is a
splendid feat and Marshall is to be con-
gratulated for his best "A" grade effort.
Colin Powell, a model of consistency,
again notched a half century. This
player has a strong defence, and is prov-
ing a problem for opposition bowlers.
George Evans, too, played safely, and
looked set for a big score when Cedric
Bell bowled him .with a good balL
From a batting point of view, Satur-
day's games were once again disappoint-
ing and it ls hoped that some of our
leading players quickly run into form.
$