COOKE WINS BACK RANFURLY SHIELD FOR HIS PROVINCE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6665, 19 July 1928, Page 7

COOKE WINS BACK RANFURLY SHIELD FOR HIS PROVINCE

Wairarapa Improve to Beal Canterbury, 8-7 DEFENDERS OUTCLASSED TOWARDS END Per Press Association. • ' CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. Canterbury lost the Eanfurly Shield by the harrow margin of one point to-day when they were beaten by Walrarap , tv.-> tries, one converted, to a potted goal and a penalty goal. Canterbury lost many opportunities and to that extent luck was against them. But the Wairarapa side were ua- ■ questionably superior; This superiority, however, was wholly owing to the presence among the Wairarapa baeJss of Cooke. He it was who won the Shield for his province. Without Cooke "the Wairarapa backs would nave been a very moderate ride, possibly a mediocre one, • The Wairarapa forwards, on the other hand, played with tireless energy and determination, especially in. the second spoil. Cooke’s play was superb in , all departments. His anticipation was uncanny, > his -hands sure, his tackling deadly, and his line kicking accurate. Cooke Takes the Chance. . Canterbury had Wairarapa beaten 'with a lead of seven points to three until Cookers great chance came. Gundy’s dash along the line looked like an opportunity for a short punt infield which Cooke anticipated and ho was there to gather in the ball. Ho took it in his incomparably safe hands from his very toes when running at good speed, beat his opponents with one of his characteristic swerving runs, dodging some, outspeeding others, to- touch down behind the goal. Trusting no one else h,o took the kick himself and sent a low kick over the centre of. .the, bar. This was fifteen minutes before no side and Wairarapa held that one point advantage quite safely. The day was not an official holiday in the City, but it was certainly an unofficial one, for tho crowd must have numbered 20,000 easily a record for a Wednesday match. Highly Exciting Game. , The game was not very spectacular, though highly exciting, a desperately hard struggle brightened by a fair number of passing rushes and the outstanding brilliance of Cooke. Before the interval when Canterbury against tho wind had only a three points’ deficit nothing had happened to suggest Wairarapa as a champion side. The Canterbury forwards held decided superiority taking the -■ ball in the scrums from the Wairarapa hookers, pushing the greens back in tight play, tearing, through on the loose, and winning nearly every line out. ' The red and black backs stood close up guarding Cooke and the other Wairarapa inside men, so that the green back attacks were all nipped in the bud.; ■ v 1 ■ , ■

The red and black backs passing well made thrust after thrust only to fail at critical moments. The green, backs ■yyith'the exception of Cooke inspired ho confidence in their supporters. After the interval the greens were a changed side. The hookers got more of the ball. Gundy who had been disappointing at five-eighths became safer and more determined, and the handling of the threequarter line, which had been indifferent was up to inter-Pro-vincial form. ' The greens were definitely superior now ■ and it Was plain to everybody that Canterbury’s lost chances in the first spell would never offer again. Oliver’s Feijd Goal. Oliver’s field goal was a smart piece of work. The goal was twenty yards away and ho had but two yards in which to,move. He kicked like a and the ball sailed over the centre of the goal. If the reds with a lead of four points at this stage had played for safety they might have kept the ball from Cooke and Co.. , When Cooke made his sensational score it was. plain the match was over for Wairarapa were definitely superior and their superiority grew more marked until at the end the whole side lasting better than the Canterbury men were fighting feverishly to increase the single point lead. It was a time of wild excitement for the spectators, Some of whom jumped the fence and encroached on the ground necessitating cessation of play for a few minutes. Greens Lucky to Lead. The teams played as announced with the exception that Doreen, the Canterbury wing-thrcc-quartcr, was replaced by Hart. Canterbury, playing against the wind yet held a decided territorial advantage in the first spell. Postures of tho play were the poor handling of the Wairarapa backs on defence, tho frequency of penalties, chiefly against Canterbury for serum infringements, and tho failure of several easy kicks at goal by both sides. Tho only score of the spell was a try by Jury owing to tho breakdown in handling by the Canterbury backs, following an ignominious attack. Second Spell Wairarapa’s. Immediately on changing over Wairarapa invaded and held advantage

as they did for most of the spell. , Before the. gamp Jiad been resumed very long, Chesley kicked a penalty goal from an easy position for Canterbury, making t tho score throe all. Ten minutes-later Oliver potted his remarkably fine goal and Canterbury led, 7-3. : ;V;' ,'.V: Play after this/was very oven. Wairarapa won a succession of scrums and after oho on tho / Canterbury twentyfive line, Cundy cut out towards the wing and short punted, and Cooke scored tho try which proved to bo the turning point of the match. After the score, except - for a few flashes by Canterbury, the visitors had decidedly the better of the game. SOUTH ISLAND MINOR UNIONS’ TEAM FOR MATCH AT PALMERSTON. ; CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. The following team has been selected to represent the South Island Minor Unions against the 1 North Island at Palmerston North :-r-Full-back: P. , Mansfield (North Otago.) Three-quarters: P. Snodgrass (Nelson), W. .Reed (Nelson), D. Wise (North Otago.) Five-eighths: G. Day (Ashburton), H. Kent (North Otago). Half: J. McCleary (West Coast,) Forwards: R. Tunnicliffe (Bailor), W. Cameron (North Otago), G. Stewart (Buller), R. Cameron (North Otago), F. Freitas (West Coast), J. Mulhern (Ashburton), 0. Roberts (Golden Bay), G. Dalton (Ashburton). Emergencies: (Back) A. Lash (Golden Bay); (forward) A. Clark (North Otago.)