FINE MARGIN

NZ Truth, Issue 1175, 7 June 1928, Page 14

FINE MARGIN

Verdict Could Be Either Way (From "N\Z. Truth's" Hastings Rep.) For so early m the season the meeting of Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay was fast and fairly snappy, although scarcely up to interprovincial standard. THE flnai whistle saw Wairarapa on A top by eleven points to eight. Both sides were lacking when it came to. finishing off movements. The game was no time m progress when close scores were foreseen, the play being most even. Despite a lack of quality the game was full of incident, some of which, it must be said, was rather regrettable and could have been greatly reduced if stronger control were maintained. There was not one r.eal passing rush m the whole game. Wairarapa hooked from scrums with a seventy per cent, advantage, thus giving the green backs greater opportunities than the Bay to show up. Roach and Smith are full-backs certainly worthy of selection, neither making a mistake. The Bayite ; was brilliant at times, but neither possesses the .kicking' boot of Nepia. The Wairarapa three-quarters were a solid combination and, as a line, were superior to the home side, who were without ; South (injured). Cundy and. Cooke, through their hookers gaining possession, were enabled to outshine Bennett and Gordon Yates, but at. attack the magpie paii 1 showed to better advantage. Cooke, although the mainstay of the winners, has been seen t6 much better advantage; The Bay boys,' through marking Cundy effectively, prevented Cooke from seeing too much of the ball. , Gordon Yates justified Norman McKerizie m placing, him as first fiveeighths. The two half-backs, . Hiroti and Cashmore, v were but mediocre and the latter showed that m a hard game he is scarcely up to, Edwards, last year's half.' Craven played • better .and cleaner football than "Ginger" Donald and so takes the palm as wing-forward. , Reid and Reside were, the pick of the green, forwards. ! The absence of Swain and the two Brownlies was not noticeable, which says a lot for the black and whites pack. ; With the strengthening of. the back division the Bay will' field a much bet r ter fifteen next time out. Huxtable, on Monday, was next to Cooke, the best back playing, and promises to reach higher honors this season.