WRESTLING

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25552, 21 July 1948, Page 6

WRESTLING

KENNETH AND FRALEY IN DRAWN BOUT Ken Kenneth, New Zealand’s only riv«* to “Lofty” Blomfield in the wrestling jtM* '’ fession, perpetrated the joke of the sen» son when he drew with Pat Fraley, oha fall each, at the Civic Theatre last evening. Throughout the winter, Fraley’s fly» ing toe-hold has won him fall after fall, and it was ranked with Blomfleld's octopus clamp. Claybourne’s drop-kick, and, in America, with Gorgeous George's. hks». : pins, as among the deadliest wrestling. Imagine the surprise then/ which must have been felt by the few who were lucky enough to be present, when they not only saw Kenneth break this dreaded grip repeatedly, but win * submission fall himself with it. Since Kenneth was last in Christchurch two years ago, he has picked up many tricks of the trade, and the only real t criticism of his performance is in hte attempts to simulate rage. Fraley, taa was nothing more than a tradesman. He I made little attempt to wrestle, but gave full rein to all the wrestling vices. He applied his punches with the phlegmatic air of a carpenter driving nails, or of a tramway employee punching tickets—it was just another day's work to him. The first round of the bout had little to enliven it, but the spectators immedi*. ately. displayed a most parochial outlook, Fraley being roundly hooted for doing nothing more than holding Kenneth ana punching him in the stomach. The second, round was hardly more entertaining, in the third Kenneth was caught in the first of the suHeit of flying toe-hoid*. Naturally, the crowd expected a fall, but Kenneth, with a tremendous display of strength, did what others had been incapable of, and broke free. He was immediately caught again, and again got free. Fraley walked off disconsolately, like a test match batsman bowled first ball by a long hop. When, at the end of the round, Kenneth was in possession of a troublesome step-over toe-hold, Fraley attempted to Use the ropes and when the referee intervened, he looked really angry for a moment. His cup of bitter* a ness was full in the fourth round, when Kenneth applied the toe-hold and won * frill. A few of the more hooted this success. The fifth round had nothing in it to remember, but there was a Boston in the sixth, a rare delicacy which Fratey refused. The fun was at its the seventh round. First, there . plenty of punches and kicks, elbow end/ knee jolts to punctuate the proceeding*, and then Fraley applied his dreadful toehold seven - tin-.es. On each of the fiMt six occasions. Kenneth, straining every sinew and the nerves of the spectator* l broke the grip, and on each occasion Fralev was ejected across the ring, .HI > a cork emerging from a toy cannon which has seen better days. The seventh time, the gong saved Kenneth. Kenneth wag applauded to the roof for his skilful display. In the eighth round, Fraley obtained, rij fall with a press after a back-breaker. Of the 40 orthodox grips. Fraley held and Kenneth 19. In amateur preliminary bouts, G. Hob-’ son (lost 21b) beat P. Jackson (lOst 51b), on points: R. Stenhouse (lOst.) beat R, Afrc kinson (9st 131 b) by two falls; J. Edward* (lOst) beat W. Kidd (lOst 11b) by one fall to 0; R. Smith (lOst) beat R. Frazer (lOrt 51b) by two falls. ~ OR