I didn't expect to start a debate about techniques.. but always good to hear from more experience.
I was trying to come down at 70 kts as taught and crab into wind.. and then should have straightened out at the last minute before touch down (had I have made it down).
Flying with an instructor here during the checkout - they teach - wing into wind, and keep the nose aligned with the rudder - which is side slip - but that clearly didn't work for me.
At a maximum back home in the UK in a strong wind - the instructor during my PPL said you should not be faster than 75 knots as the piper in a cross wind will land at 70kts if you keep the power on.
Reviewing my notes from yesterday the wind was 140/16 G **something** couldn't quite work out what the AWOS recorded message said..maybe my hearing or the thicker accent.
Anyway I'm glad I canned it and made it back in one piece to my base.