Round 5 1934

DASHING THIRD QUARTER WINS

Sturt Staves Off Glenelg Recovery

OWENS'S FINE EFFORT

By ROVER

Compensation for football of an appallingly poor standard in the first half was provided by a smashing Sturt breakaway in the third quarter of the match at Unley Oval and a last-term bid by Glenelg which might have carried it much closer to Sturt than it did, had its forward accuracy been maintained.

Physically bigger than the opposition, Sturt completely overshadowed Glenelg in the air and its aerial dominance was most marked in the third quarter, when, in addition to marking the ball brilliantly it played purposeful football, scoring 5 goals, 7 behinds to Glenelg's 2 goals 4 behinds. Facing a five-goal margin at the start of the last quarter, Glenelg decreased it to four in the first few minutes, but saw it increased to six a few minutes later. The match appeared to all intents and purposes to be over at that stage, but Glenelg came with a great rattle, and, with Owens getting goals from practically anywhere, anything seemed possible.

Shocking kicking for goal by Sturt, which scored 1 goal 6 behinds while Glenelg added 5 goals 1 behind, contributed towards the rapid reduction of the margin between the teams' scores. A few minutes before the end Glenelg was two-goals behind and was still attacking desperately. Owens, who had kicked five goals from five attempts during the quarter, then had three more shots in quick succession and scored three behinds. Had two of them been goals instead of behinds, Glenelg would have snatched a sensational last-minute win.

Similarity To Sturt-South Adelaide Game

The match bore a marked resemblance to the Sturt v. South Adelaide game of the previous week. In that match Sturt went away from South in the third quarter and barely survived a last-minute recovery. The poor standard of the football in the first half was chiefly the result of the lethargy and fumbling of the many big men in the Sturt side. Glenelg was outweighed in the rucks, but smartness in ground play enabled it to take the lead early. Sturt established a definite superiority in the second quarter, but the low grade of football continued as a result of shocking kicking by Sturt. When Smith (injured thigh) left the ground in the second quarter, Sturt's chief propelling force was removed. The rover was one of the few men who had tried to infuse some intelligent vim and purpose into the play.

Improved Standard

Sturt set the pace in the third quarter, and, with Glenelg responding, though it could not maintain the standard set by Sturt, the play improved considerably. Baxter flashed into prominence and his courageous play opened up the game and gave some semblance of system to Sturt's efforts. The small men in the home team played more dashing, determined football with the result that Glenelg's one advantage — its speedy ground play - disappeared and it was hopelessly overwhelmed.

In the last quarter Sturt lost — or at least, failed to maintain — its third-quarter vigor, and Glenelg broke through in a series of dashes straight down the ground from mid field. Owens, who had suffered a heavy blow on the head early in the game, could not maintain his splendid efforts and Glenelg's meritorious bid failed.

Johnston, in this quarter, provided one of the highlights of the match. Apparently he forgot that he was playing on a half-back flank and not in the ruck, for he battled hard to gain possession, turned, and on the run from 40 yards out kicked a fine goal - between the wrong goal-posts - thus adding a behind to Sturt's score.

Scores: -

Sturt, 13 goals 23 behinds (101 points).

Glenelg, 12 goals 13 behinds (85 points).

Scorers Of Goals And Behinds

• Sturt — Wundersitz, 5 goals 1 behind; Mussman, 2.6; Baxter, 2.2; Sawatzke, 1.3: Longmore, 1.2; Thomas, 1.1; Smith, 1.0; Shuttle worth, 0.2; Sims, Robertson, and S. Headon, each one behind. Two behinds were rushed and another was kicked by Johnston (Glenelg).

• Glenelg — Owens, 7.5; Link, 2.1; Hailstone, 2.1; Brock, 1.0; Leak, 0.3; Michaelanny, 0.2; Cornelius, 0.1.

Big Ruckmen

Although Sturt's weight, height, and strength in ruck was one of the principal factors in its victory, for its ruckmen — Robertson, Thomas, Sawatzke and Cameron — all marked splendidly whether on or off the ball Sturt's most valuable stronghold was at centre half-forward where Mussman kept the road to goal wide open by outpointing Jacka, Glenelg's new man, who, however, shows promise of developing into a good half-back. Baxter and Wundersitz (roving) and Reeves (wing) were dashing in the third quarter playing a big part in Sturt's successful bid for the game in that term. Sims and Tuohy were outstanding in the Sturt defence with brilliant high marks and dashing interceptions. Parsons was sound and reliable in goal in the absence of Fisher (influenza). Wadham (back), S. Headon (who took Smith's place), King (centre), and Longmore (half-forward flank), were under notice at times.

Cornelius is proving one of the most valuable men in the Glenelg side. Nearly all of Glenelg's attacks passed through him. Marking surprisingly well for a man of his stature (he was opposed by a much taller man in Aistrope) and disposing of the ball with intelligence, he was a persistent source of danger to Sturt. Leak, on the other half-forward flank, was rugged and dashing - and Owens (who reached his top form when playing in a forward pocket in the last quarter) completed a trio of excellent players in attack. The Glenelg centre-line, Sallis, Shakes, and Seeley, had a slight call over the opposing line as a whole, and Link and Michaelanny roved well. James, Elsdon, and Griffiths were the best of the dence (sic); Wells, Johnston, and Rosewarne battled gamely against a stronger ruck, and Bergin, on a half-back flank, played coolly.