ROUGH WRESTLING

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 249, 18 July 1944, Page 6

ROUGH WRESTLING

Blomficld Beats Kenneth

That Lofty Blomlicld is still the undispuled professional hen vy weight wrestling champion of New Zealand, he proved before a large audience al the ’Town Ball, Wellington, last night, by beating Ken. Kenneth, the husky Auckland challenger, after each had secured a fall. The Aucklander was disqualified in the sixth round for illegal tactics against which he had been repeatedly warned. Blornliold sealed test. 101 b., and the Aucklander four pounds less. They were also well matched as to height and reneli, and opened at a brisk pace, Kenneth speciaiizing in toe-hohfa. Bioinfield took the first fall in tlie first round with his famous petopus clamp. They warmed to their work with a series of dying tackles, ami took it in turns to hurt each other over the ropes. Blomfield came close to getting a fall with an Indian death-lock, the gong sounding sweet; music to Kenneth. After some heated cxelianges, Kenneth evened willi a surfboard hold, tc which islomlield submitted after tlie round laid been going for -tinin. Usee, They spent (tie fifth round in taking turns to liurl each other through tlie ropes, ami often continued their arguments outside Hie ring, tlie referee having a lively time in separating them. Kenneth took the aggressive in tlie sixth round, in which he repeatedly threw bis opponent through tlie ropes, and kept preventing Blontlielil from returning to tlie ring, despite the referee's repeated warnings. Kenneth persisted, and after tlie round had been in progress for liiniii. tlie referee disqualified Kenenth for his illegal tactics, and awarded the contest to Blonteeld. The men put plenty of ginger into tlicir work, and tlie large crowd appeared to be well satisfied witli tlie entertainment they provided. Mr. liny Allen refereed (lie professional limits, and came through a lively ordeal witli credit.

Local Professionals. —Tlie local middleweight professionals, Jack Prestney (Navy), 11.9, and Bob Locklie.'ld (I‘elone,, 11.10, met in n special bout over live tlircemiuute rounds, ’i’licy made matters willing from Hie opening gong. After some clever straight, wrestling, they took it in turns to throw each other over tlie ropes, and spent almost as luueh time outside as inside the ring. Prestney, who is a clever wrestler, took Hie first fall with a python elutcli in the third round. Lm-kheail laiimlicd a scries of living Inckh’S ami elbow jolts in Hie fourth round, and had Prestney groggy al Liu- end of Hie round. In Hie’last round, l.ocltlioad felled his man witli a eouple of Hying tackles, toll, in charging for the third Prestney sent liiin sprawling over the ropes witli a slomm'li throw, amt. n< Lockheed could not regain tlie ring within tlie stipulated two minutes, an entertaining contest went to Prestney by one fall to nil. Amateur' 'Preliminaries.—W. Hobson (Kmdmatis), 5.7, beat. It. Peareo (City Mission). 8.111. by two straight falls. Hie winner proving himself a smart wrestler; L. Balloek fl’etone), 8.1. beat J. Chung (Koolimins), 8.7, liy two strnight falls, the winner showing pace; G. Calder (City Mission,. lu.S. proved 100 strong for IL Gough i Kilhirniei. 10.0. winning by two straight falls in quick time; Hie two lads tlie Kill'irnie gym.. K. Mahoney. 11.9. and M. Churchward. ll.i. pleased Hie crowd with tlicir rapid-fire tactics, tn.; former winning by a fail in the third round. Air. L. W...Woods was tho.referee.