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Status: Friendly
Date: 5 May 1927
Venue: Subiaco Oval, Subiaco, Western Australia
Western Australia: George Kirk, Ernie Nichols, J.Eaton, Andy Gordon, Jock Warden (c), George MacKenzie, Harry Bubb, W.Dando, Jimmy Gordon, Jack Conduit, Ben Newall
Bohemia: Sejbl, Knejei, Kaspar, F.Hochmann, W.Pine, Prusek, Wimmer, J.Knisek, Masata, Havlin, Spic
Referee: Mr Kaye-Perrin
Western Australia was out-played to the tune of 11-3 by Czechoslovakian team Bohemia in the first of six internationals to feature the State team in the middle months of 1927. Despite the wintry weather, 2,000 spectators fronted up at Subiaco Oval to witness a sparkling display in Bohemia's first game of an Australian tour. “No further comment is necessary to emphasis the superiority of the visitors in every department of the game. Their clever team work was an education to all who witnessed the match” (1) reported the ‘West Australian’ newspaper.
The game opened with chances at both end of the park, Harry Bubb shooting wide after being put through by his captain Jock Warden before Bohemia got the ball past goalkeeper George Kirk only for Andy Gordon to clear. However, the visitors were not to be denied and on 5 minutes J.Knisek sent a clever pass into the path of Wimmer, who drew the defence before teeing up Masata to fire into the net. The ball was quickly tuned over on the restart and Havlin rattled the upright with a terrific drive.
Wimmer doubled his teams lead in the 8th minute with a swerving shot that had Kirk beaten all the way. Warden attempted to reduce the deficit but his free-kick was just wide of the target. Bohemia countered with another lovely exchange of passes on the end of which Wimmer sent a low shot into the net to make it three-nil. An incorrect offside call denied Wimmer his hat-trick as the visitors looked like running away with the game. Jack Conduit raised the hopes of local supporters when he broke through only to be thwarted by advancing ‘keeper Sejbl.
As play streamed from end-to-end the visitors’ fourth goal arrived via Masata, who applied the finishing touch on a tidy passing move. On the half hour Masata was allowed to advance from an offside position to walk the ball into the net, and two minutes later the same player drove brilliantly past Kirk to blow the difference out to six-goals. Western Australia then enjoyed a period in attack during which Sejbl made a stunning save to keep out Jimmy Gordon’s fierce close-range attempt. Warden pulled a goal back by blasting in a free-kick from 22-metres after a handball decision went against Pine.
It took only three minutes of the second half for Bohemia to post their seventh goal which Havlin placed neatly past Kirk. Jimmy Gordon’s rattled the crossbar as the hosts attempted an immediately reply. Fine movement of the ball between W.Dando, Ben Newall and Conduit resulted in another chance for Jimmy Gordon who this time made no mistake. However, there would be no stopping the visitors as Knisek netted from a centre by Wimmer, who completed his hat-trick with a long-range strike.
Havlin burst out of midfield but his powerful shot on the run crashed into the upright, while Kirk did well to deny Wimmer another goal. But the State custodian was beaten soon after as Spic, and for Bohemias’ final goal Knisek walked the ball over the line after tying the defence up in knots. Newall got away down the left but his centre was put wide by Jimmy Gordon as Western Australia sought a late consolation. It arrived with five minutes left when Newall, Jimmy Gordon and Conduit combined for the latter to slam past the ‘keeper.
(1) p.15, the ‘West Australian’ newspaper, 6 May 1927
Status: Friendly
Date: 7 May 1927
Venue: Cottesloe Oval, Cottesloe, Western Australia
Western Australia: Alec Marr, John McIntosh, Ernie Nichols, Andy Gordon (c), H.Johnson, George McKenzie, Eric Wilderspin, Tommy Guthrie, Jimmy Gordon, Jack Conduit, Ben Newall
Bohemia: Sejbl, Knejei, Kineva, F.Hochmann, Eisner, Prusek, Wimmer, J.Knisek, Masata, Rubes, Spic
Referee: R.Pepworth
Czechoslovakian side Bohemia took out the second meeting with Western Australia 6-4 at Cottesloe Oval. The five changes made to the State line-up resulted in a much- improved performance by the hosts, who were rewarded with goals from Jimmy Gordon (2), H.Johnson and Jack Conduit. “What a difference from Thursday’s rout! Although the State XI were beaten they were not by any means disgraced. Every man played well, and if the match had to be played tomorrow I venture to say the same eleven would wear the green and gold,” (1) proclaimed the ‘West Australian’ newspaper.
Western Australia attacked from the outset but Jimmy Gordon was called up for offside before Tommy Guthrie shot weakly at goalkeeper Sejbl. The Czech’s responded by taking an 8th minute lead courtesy of Rubes’ low strike past Alec Marr. Despite the rain, the crowd of 5,000 was given plenty to cheer about as Conduit and Ben Newall going close for the hosts before Rubes was denied a second goal by John McIntosh’s timely intervention. The home defence was opened up by a speedy counterattack on the end of which Rubes shot into Marr’s net to make it two-nil.
Conduit rattled the crossbar before Marr saved from Spic and Knisek, that latter at point blank range. Western Australia was rewarded for their efforts when Johnson lobbed Sejbl after collecting a poor clearance. The teams were brought level just a minute later with Conduit finishing a tidy move. The crowd had barely finished celebrating when Masata restored the visitors lead from close in. The half came to a close with the hosts on top but Conduit’s powerful strike was saved by Sejbl while Jimmy Gordon fired just the wrong side of the post.
The game swung back in Bohemia's favour early in the second period with Masata converting at close-range before Eisner’s speculative shot from distance slipped through Marr’s hands and into the net. The State custodian made amends soon after by thwarting Knisek when he seemed destined to score. A lovely centring pass by Eric Wilderspin wasn’t claimed by the ‘keeper before Jimmy Gordon hooked in to make it three-five. The Czech’s had every intention of ending the game then and there but Marr came off his line to thwart Masata before making another important save from Rubes.
Sejbl was called up on push wide a shot by Guthrie, play swung immediately to the other end where Marr tipped over another long-range effort from Eisner. The State side were by this time enjoying some good possession but that amounted to nothing when Masata punished some poor marking by placing beyond Marr’s reach. Newall shot into the side netting as the State side continued to push for another goal. It arrived soon after when Jimmy Gordon made no mistake from close in after the entire forward line linked in the lead-up.
(1) p.11, the ‘West Australian’ newspaper, 9 May 1927
Status: Friendly
Date: 4 June 1927
Venue: Fremantle Oval, Fremantle, Western Australia
Western Australia: Alec Marr, Ernie Nicholls, John McIntosh, L.Harden, George McKenzie, Andy Gordon (c), Ben Newell, Jack Conduit, J.Daniels, Jimmy Gordon, Eric Wilderspin
China: H.H.Chou, T.S.Li, Y.T.Lei, Y.T.Leung, S.W.Wong, C.W.Chen, K.C.Fung, W.T.Lee, K.S.Tso, L.K.Tai, K.I.Chan
Referee: F.Major
China handed out a lesson in finishing by dispensing of Western Australia 4-1 in the first of three friendlies between the teams at Fremantle Oval. Although heavy showers kept crowd number down to around 4,000, those who did attend were treated to “A sparkling display of the code with the Western Australian representatives quite as good as their Chinese opponents in all things except goal shooting,” (1) according to the ‘West Australian’ newspaper.
The opening exchanges saw both teams create good chances on goal, State custodian Alec Marr making a couple of important saves while going in the other direction Ben Newall and J.Daniels placed wide of the target. A promising move in which Lee transferred play to K.I.Chan was nipped in the bud by John McIntosh, then good work by Jack Conduit allowed Eric Wilderspin a shot which H.H.Chou saved.
China opened their account after 10 minutes, Lee collecting a centring pass and playing in through Tai whose shot from 18-metres was too good for Marr. For a while it looked as though the visiting team would add a second goal, however, the State defended staunchly before regaining their composure. After Chou saved from Newall, play moved quickly to the opposite end where Fung’s shot on the run flashed the wrong side of the post.
Western Australia were determined to get back on level terms but Jimmy Gordon’s first time effort was blocked by Chou, then Conduit failed to take advantage of an open goal at close-range. China’s speed was causing the hosts all sorts of problems and Tai completed a tidy passing move by again beating Marr to make it two-nil. The State side responded with a series of attacking of raids but could find no way past Chou, while Lee and Fung went close to further increasing the visitors lead.
A brilliant move by the State team led to the deficit being halved within minutes of the restart. Newall got things started by cleverly beating a brace of opponents before moving the ball on to Conduit, he transferred out wide on the right where Wilderspin sped forward before centring for Jimmy Gordon who blasted into the net first time. Western Australia continued to attack and Jimmy Gordon would have had a second goal had it not been for Chou.
A lightning raid by the Chinese restored their two-goal buffer with Lee tucking in after Marr failed to hold on to Chan’s attempt. The scoreline was made complete three minutes later when Lee crafted an opening which Fung converted from close in. Western Australia were not yet finished and attacked relentlessly over the closing stages but could find no way to beat Chou for a second time before the referee’s final whistle signalled the end of an entertaining encounter.
(1) p.9, the ‘West Australian’ newspaper, 6 June 1927
Status: Friendly
Date: 6 June 1927
Venue: Cottesloe Oval, Cottesloe, Western Australia
Western Australia: Alec Marr, Ernie Nicholls, V.Hall, Andy Gordon (c), George McKenzie, Harold Boys, Jim Speedie, Jack Conduit, Jimmy Gordon, Ben Newell, Ted Jones
China: H.H.Chou, T.S.Li, Y.T.Lei, Y.T.Leung, S.W.Wong, C.W.Chen, K.C.Fung, W.T.Lee, K.S.Tso, L.K.Tai, K.I.Chan
Referee: G.Brown
China came from behind to edge out Western Australia 2-1 in the second meeting of the teams in three days. The four changes selectors made to the State line-up clearly paid dividends with Jack Conduit firing the hosts into an early lead only for W.T.Lee’s brace to tip the balance in China’s favour. “The Western Australian side made a particularly good showing and the visitors were somewhat lucky to win by an odd goal,” (1) reported the ‘West Australian’ newspaper.
An entertaining start to the game had both teams push deep into attack where they encounter strong resistance from the respective defences. The State team looked the more likely to score with Jimmy Gordon twice placing wide of the target before Conduit grazed the upright with fine shot. H.H.Chou did well to save from Jimmy Gordon but was then beaten from the resulting corner with Conduit heading in from Jim Speedie’s precision delivery.
China immediately set to work on equalising and from a free-kick S.W.Wong’s daisy-cutter whizzed just past the post. Ben Newall’s first time strike met with the same result at the other end after he combined with Jimmy Gordon and Conduit in the lead-up. C.W.Chen’s lovely shot beat Alec Marr but not Andy Gordon, who was positioned to head the ball away from the net. Lee placed his shot too close to Marr and not long after the State custodian picked the ball off L.K.Tai’s toe.
A brief respite had Andy Gordon test Chou from distance after which Newall drove an individual effort high. Back came China with K.C.Fung and Wong getting into good scoring positions only to be thwarted by V.Hall, while Ernie Nicholls, Andy Gordon and Harold Boys each cut out promising moves. In between these Newall beat two opponents but lifted over the crossbar, and Jimmy Gordon had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside decision.
A lovely piece of play by the Chinese was rewarded when Lee found the back of the net at close-range to level the game. Lee was involved again not long after when he raced clear to unleash a strong drive that Marr managed to save. Five minutes out from half-time Lee appeared to handle the ball before slamming a low shot past Marr, however, referee G.Brown saw no such misdemeanour. Conduit was within inches of grabbing a quick response but grazed the post.
Chou found himself in the thick of the early second half action as Western Australia drove forward in numbers in search of a second goal. A good effort by Conduit was taken by the ‘keeper, Newall’s powerful attempt was deflected away by a defender before State attacker tested Chou with a low shot. Newall then beat three opponents and passed to Ted Jones who thundered into the side netting.
Marr wasn’t too trouble by a lofty drive from Fung as the game slowly but surely swung back in China’s favour. Chan brought the ‘keeper into action with a dangerous knee high shot, then Marr again saved the day by diving to keep Lee’s attempt out of the bottom corner. The State countered through Andy Gordon and Speedie with the latter’s cross finding Jimmy Gordon but his shot was deflected away by Y.T.Lei.
Play continued to stream from one end to the other as full-time nearer. Marr did well to halt an acrobatic effort by Fung, Boys then hurried his shot and failed to test Chou. The Chinese ‘keeper was required to keep out Jimmy Gordon’s attempt on the turn before Lee placed high of the bar. Conduit missed what appeared an easy chance from close-range and, cheered on by the crowd, Jones fierce drive was captured by Chou for the last action of the afternoon.
(1) p.9, the ‘West Australian’ newspaper, 7 June 1927
Status: Friendly
Date: 11 June 1927
Venue: Cottesloe Oval, Cottesloe, Western Australia
Western Australia: Alec Marr, Ernie Nicholls, Syd Hinton, Andy Gordon (c), George McKenzie, Harold Boys, Eric Wilderspin, Tommy Guthrie, Jimmy Gordon, Ben Newell, Ted Jones
China: H.H.Chou, T.S.Li, Y.T.Lei, Y.T.Leung, S.W.Wong, C.W.Chen, K.C.Fung, W.T.Lee, K.S.Tso, L.K.Tai, K.I.Chan
Referee: R.Pepworth
A powerhouse second half performance saw Western Australia defeat the visiting Chinese team 4-0 on a wet and windy afternoon at Cottesloe Oval. Tommy Guthrie and Ben Newall scored twice each to give the State their first - and only - win from the six games played in mid-1927. Only hours after the final whistle the Chinese players began the lengthy train journey to Queensland for their final outings of a 25-game Australian tour.
It was raining hard as the players made their way onto the pitch before a crowd of about 1,500. Like the game of a few days prior, the early passages were full of attacking intent as L.K.Tai placed wide, George McKenzie and Jimmy Gordon did likewise going the opposite way before Alec Marr was called upon to save from W.T.Lee. K.S.Tso shot weakly when well placed, H.H.Chou tipped a Newall effort over and Jimmy Gordon failed to capitalise on a close-range opening.
The defensive efforts of Ernie Nicholls and Syd Hinton as well as their opposite numbers, T.S.Li and Y.T.Lei, ensured the deadlock remained. Eric Wilderspin and Guthrie worked an opening which Jimmy Gordon put into the arms of Chou. After several failed attempts China also found a way through but Lee’s rasping shot was taken by Marr as three opponents scampered in hoping for a loose ball.
Wilderspin’s first time shot crashed into the upright before C.W.Chen sent wide after latching onto Marr’s punched clearance as the teams traded blows. The hosts were now starting to get on top but despite chances coming the way of Jimmy Gordon, Wilderspin, Newall and Guthrie they were unable to find the goal they sought. China too had their chances with Lee driving wide and K.S.Tso denied by Marr.
China almost took the lead soon after the break, Hinton’s mis-kick putting Marr under pressure with the ‘keeper recovering the situation under pressure. Western Australia finally claimed the lead with Guthrie heading in from a Ted Jones corner. Keeping up the pressure, Andy Gordon fired wide from a good position before Jimmy Gordon went close with a hooked shot from close in. Lee then wasted a good chance to equalise by lifting high K.C.Fung’s lay off.
That miss was punished when Newall drilled into the net after receiving a pass from Wilderspin on the counterattack. Tso wasted a golden opportunity to pull a goal back by placed badly when Marr was caught out of position. The result was put beyond China’s reach when Boys, Jones and Newall linked up to play in Guthrie, who stepped past one defender and thumped into Chou’s net. Newall put the icing on the cake by putting away the State’s fourth goal late in the game.
Status: Friendly
Date: 2 July 1927
Venue: Fremantle Oval, Fremantle, Western Australia
Western Australia: Alec Marr, Ernie Nichols, Syd Hinton, Andy Gordon (c), George McKenzie, Harold Boys, Eric Wilderspin, Jimmy Gordon, Tommy Guthrie, Ben Newall, Ted Jones
Bohemia: Sejbl, Knejei, Kucera, F.Hochmann, W.Pine, Prusek, Spic, J.Knisek, Masata, Havin, Hybs (Wimmer 46)
Referee:
A crowd of 2,000 were given full value for money as Western Australia pushed visiting Czechoslovakian team Bohemia all the way before going down 3-2 in the third and final meeting of the teams. Jimmy Gordon put the State ahead only for Masata, J.Knizek and Wimmer to put the game in the visitors favour before Tommy Guthrie set-up a tense finish. “The Czechs were by far the cleverer team whilst at the same time they readily admit that they were lucky to win. Their first goal was obtained while our lads were standing amazed at an obviously wrong decision … whilst their third and what proved to be the winning goal was and still is hotly disputed by the home goalie,” (1) reported the ‘West Australian’ newspaper.
The Czechs won the toss and quickly pushed into attack with F.Hochmann and Hybs putting shots wide of the target. Sejbl was called into action for the first time by pushing over Ted Jones’ header, and from the resulting corner Ben Newall also tested the visiting goalkeeper. Havlin had the goal in his sights when Syd Hinton rushed across to rob him of a shot, play quickly transferred to the other end where Guthrie slipped past W.Pine but his low shot was comfortably saved by Sejbl. A tidy exchange between Jones and Newall created an opening for Guthrie whose rising shot grazed the crossbar.
The State defence was being kept busy by the visitors’ short passing game, Ernie Nichols and Hinton nipping a couple of promising moves in the bud while the offside flag twice went against Havlin. The home crowd were finally given something to cheer about when Jimmy Gordon headed in a lovely centre from Jones after he’d been send down the left by Newall. A clear foul on Harold Boys by Hochmann should have resulted in a free-kick to the hosts, however, the referee signalled in the other direction and in the blink of an eye Masata drilled in a controversial equaliser.
Stunned by what had transpired, Western Australia was then thrown further onto the back foot when Knisek rifled into the roof of the net on the end of another passing move. The State attacked on the resumption but Guthrie’s low strike was pushed around the post by Sejbl, and a minute later he saved courageously at the feet of two opponents. Masata looked set to score the visitors third goal when Alec Marr plucked the ball off his boot. The final chance of the half came the way of Guthrie but he headed the wrong side of the upright.
The second half had been in motion just five minutes when Pine transferred the ball to Havlin, who exchanged passes with second half substitute Wimmer before getting off a powerful low shot which the referee deemed to have cross the goal line, despite Marr’s assertion to the contrary. This further dampened spirits within the State camp and it was a testament to their defence that the margin didn’t blow out further at this stage. Eventually the hosts steadied their ship and an explosive Andy Gordon shot was pushed away by Sejbl as the two sides traded attacks.
Newall was within inches of pegging a goal back with a fierce drive that smacked into the outside of the post A few minutes later the difference was brought back to a single goal, nice combination between Jimmy Gordon, Eric Wilderspin and Guthrie saw the latter beat two opponents and from 20-metres slam into the net. The crowd were on the edge of their seats as the clock ticked down. The Czechs’s drove forward in numbers only for Hinton to come to the rescue with a timely clearance, while Sejbl denied Western Australia a draw by saving a late free-kick from Jimmy Gordon.
(1) p.12, the ‘West Australian’ newspaper, 4 July 1927
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