ROUGH WRESTLING

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 179, 27 April 1938, Page 6

ROUGH WRESTLING

Blomfield Beats McKay At Wellington LOSER INCAPACITATED BY OCTOPUS CLAMP A wrestling bout remarkable more for rough tactics than for clean, scientific wrestling, ended in "Lofty” Blomfield, professional heavyweight champion o£ New Zealand, beating the American, Bat McKay, who was unable to continue after falling victim to an octopus elamp. The Town Hall. Wellington, where the match took place, was crowded. Throughout the early phases both wrestlers made free with elbow-joits, hair-tugging, ear-pulling, and other rough tactics. In the sixth round Blomfield tripped McKay and clapped on an octopus clamp; McKay resisted stubbornly until the end of the round, but was so disabled by the hold that he was unable to rise to his feet. The match was therefore awarded -to Blomfield. After the referee, Mr. Alf. Jenkins, had spent some time -telling the two contestants the rules, they shook hands and joined battle. McKay at once made use of powerful, pulverising forearm-jolts. He grasped Blomfield firmly by both, ears and forced him to the mat, where he again drove his forearm heavily into Blomfield’s features. He picked Blomfield up with ii crotch-hold as though to dump him over the ropes; the referee interposed himself, but McKay would not release Blomfield until the official struck him a resounding jolt in the face. Blomfield forced McKay over the ropes; the top rope caught McKay under the throat, and he stuck his tongue out, and emitted choking noises. The referee made Blomfield let go. McKay protested against Blomfield’s tactics. He put Blomfield on the mat and struck him a jolt. “I didn’t use my fist!” he told the referee. “You keep off his throat,” said the letter, as McKay appeared to be making use of a strangle. In a stand-up battle of forearm jolts, Blomfield knocked McKay from his feet and pounced on him. He took him by the head and pitched him across and across the ring. McKay, however, showed an aptitude for resisting punishment, and, coming back, gave as good as he received. He struck Blomfield a most tremendous rabbit-punch on the nape of the neck, bringing him to his knees. The referee, however, warned him against repeating this. Blomfield then brought up his kuee smartly into McKay’s face, lifting him off his feet—and it was Blomfield’s turn to be admonished. An outbreak j?f hair-pulling, face-slap-ping, nose-pushing and elbow jolts followed, the referee being kept on tip-toe; but presently Blomfield staggered McKay with a jolt and again threw him repeatedly with head-throws. McKay stuck his fingers in Blomfield’s mouth, but this the referee discountenanced. Again he stood up to a rain of jolts, and, waiting his opportunity, knocked Blomfield down, rushed him into the ropes, and proceeded to tie hjm up there. The referee had to haul him off bodily. In the sixth round Blomfield, after dazing McKay with a fusillade of fierce elbow-jolts, tripped him deftly and shaped the first movement of an octopus clamp. Manoeuvring carefully, he completed the intricate leg envelopment, then rolled over, but failed to win to his feet. A second attempt was more successful; Blomfield stood holding McKay’s legs and body clear of the ground, on which he rested by his face and hands. Blomfield exerted a terrific pressure on his spine, but McKay resolutely declined to submit. He threw Blomfield off balance, but again the other managed to stand up. Blomfield bounced on McKay’s tortured legs. McKay groaned, but again refused to give in, though the referee knelt on the mat beside him repeatedly asking him what he wished to do. For some two minutes McKay resisted a hold which has usually brought a rapid submission. The crowd was on its feet, but McKay stubbornly held out. Finally the bell rang. The referee and the wrestlers’ seconds rushed to disentangle Blomfield. McKay lay on the mat. Through the brief minute's respite his attendant massaged him and a boy plied him with cold water. "When the bell went the referee waved the seconds from the ring; Blomfield advanced from his corner. McKay made an attempt to rise to his feet, but toppled and crashed to the mat. He lay prone, motionless. The referee raised Blomfield’s hand. McKay had to be lifted to a corner; after several minutes’ attention, during which he seemed barely conscious, he was carried from the ring. Amateur Preliminaries. W. Barker (Wellington, 13.2) beat K. Hart (Wellington, 13.3) on points with a fall to each. Hart took the first in the opening round with a headlock throw followed by a press. Immediately after the bell Barker took his revenge with an aeroplane spin, dump and press in spectacular style. The final lound was without fall but went in Barker’s favour. The bout was a bright one. Light-heavyweight: L. Morris (Wellington, S.O) beat J. McCarthy (Fetone, 8.0) by two falls, both rolling falls, in the first and second rounds respectively. Junior featherweight: W. Baird (Kilbirnie, 8.0) beat A. Nicholas (Petone, 8.3) by a penalty fall given against Nicholas in the third round for hooking his legs through the ropes to avoid being pressed. Featherweight: O. Clark (Kilbiruie, 9.0) beat R. A. Gordon (Wellington, 5.9) on points, there being no falls. The bout had to be postponed while Gordon removed a ring from his finger. Mr. J. 11. Thompson refereed the amateur bouts.