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Status: Friendly
Date: 21 March 1904
Venue: Fremantle Oval, Fremantle, Western Australia
Western Australia: Bert Fletcher, Pope, W.Taylor (c), Pat Savage, Riley, Fred Burt, Brereton, Harper, George Hatton, Thompson, R.Taylor
England Cricket XI: Wilfred Rhodes, Dick Lilley, Whitfield, Arthur Fielder, Johnny Tyldesley, George Hirst, Herbert Strudwick, Len Braund, Bernard Bosanquet, Reginald Foster, Albert Relf
Referee: Mr Knight
The visiting English Cricket Team was fortunate to win their second meeting with Western Australia 3-0 on a sunny afternoon at Fremantle Oval. The State team dominated their counterparts but were unable to find an avenue to goal, leading English captain Reginald Foster to comment “it was one of those occasions on which the better team had lost.”
After an uneasy start by both teams it was the English that settled quickest and, playing with the breeze, showed the greater composure. The State team eventually got into rhythm but were thrown onto the back foot after 14 minutes when Reginald Foster evaded a couple of opponents before hitting an unstoppable shot into the corner of Bert Fletcher’s net.
Western Australia responded by increasing their work rate with W.Taylor, R.Taylor, George Hatton and Pat Savage asserting themselves on the game. Unfortunately, a lack of direction in the finishing department robbed the hosts’ of their best scoring opportunities. Some intense pressure was put on fullbacks Dick Lilley and Whitfield as well as goalkeeper Wilfred Rhodes with each proving themselves up to the challenge.
When play resumed Western Australia looked the more likely team to score but, despite dominating possession, goals simply would not come. As the State pushed forward in search of a goal they were always in danger of being exposed on the counterattack, and through such moves Johnny Tyldesley and Len Braund were able to widen the difference to three-goals.
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