N.Z. wrestler leading vaunted rivals

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33446, 30 January 1974, Page 10

N.Z. wrestler leading vaunted rivals

(By

J. O. COFFEY)

There is a distinct chance that a New Zealander, David Aspin, will interrupt the expected procession of Canadian and Indian wrestlers to the victory dais when the Games finals are decided at the Town Hall auditorium this evening.

Aspin gained his second fall — at the expense of Ronald Grinstead (England), the man with whom he shared the bronze medal at Edinburgh — in as many bouts to take a clear lead in the 82kg class.

He is already assured of at least his 1970 placing.

There was no doubt in the minds of the very enthusiastic crowd that Aspin was the most impressive of the six wrestlers in his division. He required only Imin 55sec to dispose of Grinstead, but had used that time well to take a 5-0 points advantage. In contrast to the speed with which Aspin went about his assignment, there was much inactivity in the other middle-weight bouts. Indeed, it was the passivity of Satpal Singh (India) and Wesley O’Brien (Australia) that assisted Aspin to the comfortable position in which he now finds himself. SINGH DISQUALIFIED

O’Brien, who had been Aspin’s victim in the opening round, and Singh were disqualified 2min 22sec into the last round for failing to attack. Singh now has five penalty points—one short of the elimination figure—and O’Brien’s total was taken over the maximum and he has dropped out of contention.

It was an unfortunate fate for the Australian, for he had held his own in what exchanges there had been, trailing only 5-6 when the referee and judges invoked the disqualification. Singh will go into this morning’s elimination series knowing that _ a points defeat would restrict his chances of the bronze medal.

The only other survivor in the section is the well regarded Canadian, Taras Hryb, who added a points win over Charles Kelly {Scotland) —sufficient to put paid to Kellv’s chances of advancing further — to the win against Grinstead. Gordon Mackay, who drew the bye in the 74kg class, is

quite favourably placed to claim a bronze for New Zealand. Although he lost to the Indian, Raghunath Pawar, on Monday evening, he could well have the measure of Grant Lavallee (Canada) and Bruce Akers (Australia), whose appearances so far have resulted in a shared draw and decisive points defeats.

DOWNEY, KNIGHT FALL

New Zealand’s oldest Games wrestler, 34-year-old Jim Downey, did not have a happy introduction to the competition after a firstround bye. Downey and his

Scottish opponent, George Allan, were level at 1-1 at the first spell, but Allan soon took the initiative and pinned Dowrey lmin 40sec later. The other 90kg contest also ended early; Netrapal (India) losing on a disqualification to Terry Paice (Canada). Gary Knight, the New Zealand lOOkg-plus representative, had the unenviable distinction of suffering the fastest fall of the Games, in the grip of the Canadian, Bill Benko, who combines his sporting interests with his occupation as manager of a demolition company.