A. E. COOKE v. THE BUSH.

Shannon News, 8 July 1927, Page 3

A. E. COOKE v. THE BUSH.

WAIRARAPA WILL HAVE TO IM PROVE IN NEXT MATCH. MASTERTON, July 4. Though Wairarapa swamped the Bush-team on Saturday, the fact should not be overlooked that the opposition was of the paper bag type. The football for the most part was ragged, with occasional flashes up to Ranfurly Shield standard by -the Wairarapa ' backs. , Wairarapa’s play was more of an individual nature and team work, both in backs and forwards, was rarely displayed. Had Wairarapa displayed that team work usually associated with a high grade t eam there is no knowing what the score would have been. Tie Bush defence and attack was lamentably weak. Siddels, ex-Ali Black, played a deplorable game at tall-back for the Bush, being too bulky ioo slow, and too uncertain. The fact was very patent to keen critics on Saturday that Wairarapa will have to display very much better football against Hawke's Bay if it is desired to retain the shield.

The really one bright spot in the game was the brilliance of Cooke, who scored three tries and kicked five goals. He was.undoubtedly the wizard of the team, out generailing the opposition and outwitting them at very turn. His lightning-like stalls paralysed the opposition; in fact, at times the game resolved itself into Cooke versus the Bush.

Though Wairarapa’s play was not up to the standard displayed on June 3 at Napier the fact must not lie lost -sight of that the opposition was so weak that Wairarapa did not take the' game as seriously as they would had it been Hawke’s Bay that was being {■played. Their work was consequently ' verv happy-go-lucky on occasions. They were not on their mo 111 e.