SHIELD LOST.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19366, 19 July 1928, Page 13

SHIELD LOST.

♦ ONE POINT MARGIN. CANTERBURY UNLUCKY. COOKE'S MASTERLY PLAY. It was not Wairarapa who took the Banfurly Shield from Canterbury—it was Cooke! This will be the reply of almost every Canterbury supporter who saw yesterday's great game at Lancaster Park, in years to come. And most of them will adfl that Canterbury were decidedly unlucky. Their comment on Wairarapa's successful bid for the premier Rugby trophy will be that the Greens without Cooke would have been an average—perhaps a mediocre side in the backs, but they will recall the relentless Wairarapa packsmen in the second half, when they played as though inspired. Cooke is the player of the century. When Australians talk of great footballers, the conversation always turns to Dally Messenger, the "Nonpareil," and perhaps Cooke will be known as the "master." Somebody has said that he has mastered every phase of the game. That Bums it up. He is so natural a footballer, anticipates so wonderfully, line-kicks so superbly, gathers in passes so surely, that 'his football yesterday was hailed as uncanny, and when running he is the poetry of motion. Canterbury had Wairarapa beaten—the Shield held—by seven points to three until Cooke's great chance arrived. Then he divined his opportunity in Cundy's dart towards touch and short punt, sped up and gathered in the oval from his very toes on the lowest of bounces, beat his opponents with a twinkling run to the line, and raced "round, eluding others, to touch down in the place which gave the conversion kick most chance, midway at the back of the uprights. Trusting nobody but himself, he sent a low kick over the bar. Yesterday afternoon was not a public holiday, but it certainly was an unofficial one. Offices and business places were reduced to skeleton staffs, when the great trek to the* Park began before 12.30 p.m. By 2 p.m. the crowd exceeded an ordinary Saturday attendance, and by 2.45 p.m., when the match started, -the spectators packed every vantage point in serried ranks, and crowded the grandstands. Have schoolboys ever had a larger audience at the Park, than that the teams of midgets intrigued with a thrilling encounter before the big game commenced f It was estimated that quite 20,000 people were present. Visitors from the North. Among the thousands who followed the Shield game with such intentness were hundreds of. people from Wairarapa, including at least two hundred who arrived yesterday morning, and thousands from the country districts of Canterbury. It was easily a record crowd for a Wednesday, -proving the ereat appeal Shield matches make, to the public imagination. A light nor'-east-erly blew across the ground, favouring slightly the defenders of the end towards the entrance, and the sky was. overcast, while underfoot the conditions were such as to give no excuse for poor football. Tet as a spectacle the game was more a desperately hard struggle, brightened by a fair number of good passing rushes, and the outstanding individual brilliance of Cooke, than a polished exhibition of the handling code. Before the interval, which came when the challengers had a three-points lead, nothing had appeared to set the hallmark on Wairarapa as a champion side. Bather the reverse was true. Playing, as the second spell proved, well above themselves, the Canterbury pack were taking the ball in the Bcrums from the hookers of great reputation opposed to them, pushing Wairarapa >n the tight, and tearing through in the loose. Thev brought astonishment anil then enthusiasm, which found expreasicm in a.roar of cheering when they beat their doughty opponents, time after time. In the line-outs the Beds were superb, Sd won nearly all of them. The ba<*s stood up close to Cooke and bottled up the Wairarapa inside men, Cooke, o backs made thrust after thrust, only to be dogged by wretched misfortune. Everything was in their favour for Cundv was easily tackled, and did no reS the attentions they were giving him The three-quarters, too,were handling shockingly, and the full-baek cave no cause for confidence for Wairarapa supporters. Indeed, whatever the reason might have been some of the attempts to gather in the ball by Yates and . Stringfellow were almost ludicrous", and Jury was dropping more than his share of passes. Cooke they would plainly have veloped into a rabble. A Changed Team. Sombeody must have talkcd Dlainlv to the northerners at half-time, for after the interval, they -were a changed side. Almost at once the hookers got more of the ball, Cundy apparently decided that after a the Bed inside men were not so terrible, and the three-quarters started to show that nervousness had been their ch e trouble before. Always landing a little off the scrum or line-out was the übiquitous Cooke, waiting for the great opportunity, or, as the genius of defence, speeding round to save when his three-quarters or even his full^ fitted There was not a man m tne Wairarapa side who did not know how to line-kick, and Cooke and Yates were scintillating in this department. Eoi}<* was a Bock of Gibraltar now, patching the ball like a cricketer and bursting past following-up forwards to set the three-quarter line in motion. Like the skill of a cricketer, too, was the fac Sty which the great Cooke had for driving those beautiful ground punts into the gaps. It was becoming plainer to everybody that Canterbury had lost their great chance, except through a breakaway, after Cooke had scored so sensationally When they had snatched the lead "through Chesley's accurate peniltv kick and Oliver's wonderful drop over the bar, they refused to keep the frame tight, and this was their undoin B . Thev might have held the Greens by not giving their backs a chance. Oliver's field goal deserves a para„rat)h by itself. Canterbury had Suple of Sards' to move in, but it was enough Like a flash his leg shot ♦ oval went dead over the out and the ouii into the centre of the bar. air. Canterbury,were m front. Wairarapa Last Better. There was only oneJ®*® m betted, to increase that

single-point lead. It was a time of wild excitement. Somebody was bold enough to break through the fence and rush over to • the touchline. There was a stampede, and the t _ bankers wavered. Would they pour' in thousands on to the oval?' Luckily the majority kept their heads, and the number of invaders did not get above the hundreds. There was enough of them, though, and they encroached far enough on to the playing area, to force a cessation of play for several minutes. When the teams took the field, it was seen that the Wairarapa side was unchanged, but Hart went back into the Canterbury team, Dorreen being compelled to withdraw, owing to a bereavement in his family. They were greeted by a burst of cheers.. > , There were numerous penalties against Canterbury in the first half, but ai rarapa did not get off scot free. Infringements became fewer in number as the game advanced, and the Wairarapa footwork, always good, showed a progressive improvement. The selectors have placed their finger on Hart s weakness. It is on defence. He was as dangerous as on Saturday when in possession, but his faulty tackling was several times almost fatal. Against him there was the sturdy Jury, reckoned as next man to Cooke, whose fend was very effective, and whose side-step-ping was something which Hart could not counter. . . Harris was as good as his vis-a-vis, Roach, in the first half, but not nearly so certain when the latter settled down after the interval. His judgment is not nearly so accurate as it was last season, and more of his kicks go ou on the full. , It must be remembered that Wairarapa line was inviolate, but Canterbury's waß crossed twice m ® game. Chesley'a Hard Luck. About the most unlucky back among the Reds was Chesley, who got r ® a "y few opportunities, and swung his hand in exasperation when Grant threw the ball lower than knee-high to him after the whole of the Wairarapa team, including the redoubtable Cooke, had been disposed of. Sound on defence, Chesley was very tricky when the ball was his, but he was always cramped. Just as on Saturday, Oliver was more dangerous in the first half than in the second, showing real brilliance on attack. His opportunities were _ fewer after Cooke or Mr McKenzie had had that heart-to-heart talk with the Greens at half-time. The Canterbury inside men were breaking through beautifully in the first spell, Page and Grant being dangerous and Hay solid on attack and defence. They could always hold Cundy and Hart, the half-back, but they could not counter the super-opportunist, Cooke for ever. When Stringfellow failed to accept Cooke'B pass under the post, they must have realised that, unless somebody potted a goal, they would keep the lead for Canterbury, provided always that Cooke could be bottled up. They held all the other backs safe. Attempts to pot were numerous, but, like all the Wairarapa shots from penalties, all failed. . In line-outs Montgomery was in a class .by himself, and Jackson was also very good in this department. Although statistics are not_ available, Canterbury must have won 75 per cent, of the line-outs, and the hookers covered themselves with glory. Not the most sanguine Canterbury man expected Cottrell and Clark to do so well against hookers of International reputation, such as Irvine and Donald, whom most people would like to see try g their skill the magnificent rakine of the Africans. The country forwards did not Bhow out like they did on Saturday, and the referee had a strict eye for Fookes. He relaxed sometimes, though, and it was amazing to see the latitude allowed the wing-forwards once or twice. Taken all round, Canterbury played right up to their best form, and confounded a host of critics. Not Up to Expectations. People were expecting great things from Wairarapa, but did not see them. Their combination was never as good as that of Canterbury, and their handling was not to be compared with that of our men. As already stated, however, their kicking was beautifully accurate, and the backing up was splendid on defence. Yates was especially good on line-kicking, making amends for crude handling in the first half. Cundy is endowed better with football brains than spectators were led to think, and he was playing really good football towards the end. Many fine runs were brought off by Hart, whose passes from the base of the scrum wgre not always accurate. The same might be said of Cundy s transfers to Cooke, but the champion gathered them in just the same. Stringfellow does not strike one as a classy three-quarter, • and taking passes and fielding the ball are not his forte. He appeared to be affected as greatly as anybody by the magnitude of the issue. Donald's reputation was not tarnished, nor was that of Irvine. Both of them are. now approaching the veteran stage, but they are still of the type Shield defonders would much prefer to have on their side than against them. McGregor was in the picture a great deal in loose play, and for the most part the Wairarapa following-up was of the highest order. Some of the incidents of the game worthy of special mention include the faulty fielding of a cross-kick early by Cooke. The way he ran up and grassed Chesley once at this stage evoked a great round of applause. Then there was the failure of Stringfellow to accept a pass when his backs were running clear. It was evident early that Chesley was determined Cooke was not going to break through on his wing. Once Eoach did not have much time to spare when Page made him force. The latter was cutting through prettily at times. When Jury tackled, Oliver with plenty of vigour the crowd gave him a "rally." There was a good deal of hard play, especially at scrums, and when these broke up, the Wairarapa men, in their eagerness, showed a tendency to overrun the ball. Canterbury's Territorial Advantage. Territorially, Canterbury had a decided advantage before half-time. Once when Jury got out of a tackle in mirafculous fashion the crowd showed its appreciation. When Cooke tackled it was as though some giant had cut the legs of the Canterbury men from under them with a great scythe. Most of the play at first was confined to the forwards. Grant drew applause with a very fine' mark as Cooke bore bim down. Towards the end of the first spell Wairarapa did better, holding their own territorially, and at this stage the game was remarkably even. Wairarapa's first try was not the kind to arouse much enthusiasm, coming, as it did, through the faulty handling of some of the Canterbury backs. Kicking off in the second half, Cooke sent the ball out on the full. Wairarapa did a good deal of intercepting in this- half, and many of their own passes went forward. Once Fookes fumbled badly and let the ball roll out. It was noticeable that the challengers were playing to Hart's wing. When Stringfellow had intercepted cleverly, and was about to pass to Yates, the latter held up his hand, appealing against an illegal tackle, and a scrum was ordered. Some of the Wairarapa line-kicks wero positively superb, gaining as much as 50 yards. When Roach ran up and sent

Stringfellow away, and the latter cut through at centre, it was one of the brightest interludes in the game. Every time the Reds gained ground there was a deep-throated roar. Cooke was taking the Wairarapa free-kicks, and gaining great slices of territory with them. Midway through the spell men were being bowled over like ninepins, so devastating was the tcakling. It~\Fas a pretty clean game, however, and nobody was hurt seriously. Cooke saved a certain try when he used his great speed to overtake Oliver and lay him low. The crowd sighed relief when he had a golden chance for a cut-in, but did not see the opening. When Cooke did score his try, it was great to see him set out from over the line at the corner to get behind the posts. There was more fire in the Wairarapa attacks after that, but the backs could not get very far. The Canterbury backs were less reliable towards the end, and their judgment not nearly so accurate. Tne Play. The following were the teams: — WAIRARAPA (Green). Full-back: L. Roach. Three-quarters: W. Yates, C. Stringfellow, R. Jury Five-eighths: A. E. Cooke (captain), R. Cundy Half-back: L. Hart. Wing-forward: M. Parker. Q. Donald W. Irvine M. Willoughby McGregor K. Fairbrother S. Willoughby K. Reid CANTERBURY (Red and Black). Full-back: J. H. Harris. Three-quarters: G. F. Hart, C. Oliver, C. D. Chesley. Five-eighths: D. G. Grant, D. Hay. Half-back: M. L. Page (Captain). Wing-forward: S. F. Fookes. A. I. Cottrell F. Clark T. Lawson J. B. Jackson Toby Robinson Tom Robinson A. Y. Montgomery Canterbury played against the wind, and right at the start Cooke' set off and sent out to Cundy, whose pass went astray. The Reds' forwards came away, Grant, who followed up quickly, getting offside. Then Hay accepted a pass and set off down the line. When faced by the full-back, he passed to Hart, who crossed the line but Hart's foot had gone oat. For a scrum infringement Canterbury were awarded a penalty, but Chesley was unable to rise to the occasion, the Greens forcing. The Wairarapa forwards pressed, but the Reds were able to clear. A kick infield was badly mishandled by Cooke and then a Red forward got offside, Yates taking the kick and missing. The Reds' forwards were too keen, and were getting offside with frequency. At length the Green forwards got offside and Chesley cleared with a lengthy kick. The Wairarapa backs started passing, but Cundy failed to accept in his turn. Passing by th'e Reds broke down when Chesley was collared. Then the Greens got away, Cooke, after the rush had broken down, kicking and following up at top speed, but Harris cleared. A hard kick saw Page just beaten •in a race for the ball by Roach, who forced. Chesley beat Yates badly and passed to Oliver, who was collared on the touch-line. Page ran round from behind the scrum and passed to Oliver, who was pulled down. Canterbury nearly scored' a moment later, Hart being pushed out a yard from the line after some pretty passing. The Red forwards were beating the Greens in the line-outs and were getting a fair share of the ball from the scrums. Cooke had a chance to score a moment later but knocked-on and was called back when just getting into his stride at half-way. McGregor and Reid broke away in a rush from the line-out, Chesley stopping them. Jury raised the hopes of his side a moment later, fending off several tacklers. ■ He was setting off for the line in fine style when Harris just managed to drop hipi. Bad passing by the visitors' backs saw a likely movement break down at Jury. Canterbury again pressed,. but a pass to Tom Robinson was knocked-on when a score was imminent. At this stage Lawson was hurt, but was able to carry on. Grant, accepting a pass from the scrum, kicked well downfield, the ball bouncing out nicely. Chesley made a great run but was collared just short of the line. Montgomery picked up and tried to bullock over but was unable to touch down. Page nearly got over a moment later, but from the resulting scrum Cooke passed back to Eoach, who cleared. A beautiful line-kick by Oliver put Canterbury in a handy position, but Cooke cleared with a beautiful kick. The Green backs came away in a passing rush with Yates making a splendid run along the line, the effort breaking down inside the Reds' twentyfive. The Reds were having the better of the play and Cooke was working like a Trojan on defence, doing three men's work to keep the attackers out. He was also opening up most of the attacking movements for the Greens. Hart broke away and passed to Page, that player's pass being intercepted by Fairbrother. Canterbury got from a, scrum, and Page cut in to send to Hay, to Oliver, the ball coming back to Hay, who got offside. Yates was weak on the wing, failing to hold some easy passes. Cundy was penalised for hanging on to the ball, and the Reds from the resultant freekick cleared. Passing' by the Greens got as far as Jury, who fended off several tacklers before being accounted for. At length Harris failed to take a mark and the Green forwards dashed up, Fairbrother picking up and passing to Jnrv, who crossed near the corner. Cundy failed to convert, half-time being called immediately afterwards with the scores: Wairarapa 3, Canterbury nil. On resuming the Canterbury backs essayed pasisng from the scrum, Oliver being smothered. Then Cooke tackled Oliver in possession, and the Wairarapa forwards Bwept down towards Canterbury's line, the ball going- out just a yard or two short. Fairbrother got offside, and the Reds cleared. The Reds attacked by means of passing, but Stringfellow intercepted, and set off, only to see his. pass go astray. The Reds' forwards pressed, and Hart picked out of the scrum, Chesley kicking a penalty goal, making the scores equal. The Green.forwards were now playing a better game, and were bustling the defence. Cooke centred, and Harris's returning kick failed to reach the line, allowing Cundy to have a pot at goal, which missed. Cundy made a dash in front of Canterbury's posts, and sent to Cooke, who was waiting offside. A beautiful piece of passing, in which all the Green backs handled ended in Jury being tackled. Wairarapa was the "only team in it now, and their backs were 'showing pretty football, but the defence held. Oliver kicked and followed up. Cooke tried to stop the ball, but failed

to fall on it. Oliver kicked over the line, but a Wairarapa defender managed' to force. It was hard luck for the Keds. Hay now showed up with two splendid line-kicks, which placed the Reds in an advantageous position, and then ame a score, which sent the local team's supporters mad with delight. The Red pack secured from a line-out, and play swung across to the centre of the field in front of Wairarapa's posts, where Oliver secured, and, stepping back, kicked a beautiful field goal, making the scores: Canterbury 7; Wairarapa 3. A pretty piece of passing, in which the chain of backs handled, ended at Hart, who failed to accept a high pass. A forward pass in front of the posts robbed Canterbury of a sure try a moment later, and Harris had a pot at goal the next minute. A high kick to Harris saw that played just kick in time to evade a tackle by Cooke. Donald waß hurt, but was soon able to resume. The Canterbury backs again got going, and Oliver set off for the line, Coolie just managing to reach him, when a try seemed assured. Play was most exciting, the advantage generally being with Canterbury. /Tho Eed backs again pressed, and the forwards joined in the passing. Several players handled before the full-back got Fookes. The ball rolled on, and Roach managed to save by a kick into touch. Roach was injured, but was able to carry on. Cooke then scored an similar try to the one he obtained for Hawke's Bay against Canterbury on Lancaster Park two years ago, A line-kick by Hay failed to find touch, and Cundy secured to ran across field. He punted short, and Cooke, running up at top speed, picked the ball up on the bounce, beating Hart and Harris for it. Crossing the line at the corner, he ran round behind the posts, beating three Canterbury men who endeavoured to prevent him from so doing. Taking the kick himself, he landed a goal, the ball just Bkimming the bar. More passing by the visitors' backs again had Canterbury on the defensive, and two pots in quick succession missed Canterbury's posts. Wairarapa was now playing like a winning team, but Oliver changed v the venue by dashing upfield. He was not supported, and his pass back ended any danger there was to Wairarapa. Then Grant badly beat Cooke, and passed to Chesley, who had a clear ran in, but- to the disappointment of the crowcl the wing failed to hold the pass, which was much too low. Time was called a moment or two later, with the scores: Wairarapa 8; Canterbury 7. A. E. Cooke's Viewß. In conversation with a representative of The Press after the match, Cooke, captain of the Wairarapa'team, stated that Canterbury had had hard luck in being defeated. The way the Red and Black forwards had worked in the loose and the line-out and altogether had been a real surprise packet. The backs, too, had given a good performance. They had stood close up to the Wairarapa backs, and had bottled him up effectively for three-quarters of the game. He considered that Canterbury, after they got in the lead, should have kept the game tight, instead of which they did the opposite. PRESENTATION OF SHIELD. The Ranfurly Shield was presented to the winners last night at a dinner tendered to both teams by the Canterbury Rugby "Union, the president, Mr S. P. Wilson, presiding over a Ityge attendance, which included several exrepresentative players and All Blacks. In proposing the toast of the Wairarapa team, Mr Wilson said that he hoped the team had enjoyed itself during its stay in Christchurch, and he had pleasure in congratulating both sides on their display. The referee, too,* was deserving of congratulation, for he had been the means of keeping the game bright and interesting. He considered that there had, on the day, been little between the teams. Although the Shield, had been lost by Canterbury, after all it was the game that mattered. There' had been arguments concerning the Shield, but if all matches for the trophy were played in as. good a spirit as yesterday's it would be for the good of the game. He then handed the Shield to A. E. Cooke, the visitors' captain, whose name, together with that of Mr E. McKenzie, manager of the team, was coupled with the toast. Mr McKenzie expressed pleasure at the success that had attended the team's efforts. Wairarapa, he said, was not very large in area, but the district displayed great enthusiasm for football and this was why it could put a team in the field able to hold its own with other provinces. As sole selector, he was pleased with the results of the matches played so far this season, not a match having been lost. Mr Cooke congratulated Canterbury on Us game, and said that Wairarapa was "just a little lucky" to win. The game was played in a fine spirit, not a single blow being struck throughout the match. Mr M. L. Page, captain of the Canterbury team, expressed the hope that

Wairarapa would retain the Shield until the Canterbury side next visited the district. Mr J. B. Jackson, vice-captain of the Canterbury team, proposed the toast of the referee, stating that that official's decisions had given general satisfaction to both sides. Mr E. Herd, the referee, said that he was grateful for the opportunity given him of refereeing in a Shield game, which was the fastest in which he had ever participated. Included in the telegrams of congratulation received by the Wairarapa representatives was one from the Mayor of Masterton, in which he made the suggestion that the. Shield should be dropped overboard! THE CURTAIN-RAISER. In a curtain-raiser match between Waltham "and Elmwood light-weight schoolboys, the former won on the call of time by 6 points/to 3.