BRIGHT OPENING

Evening Star, Issue 22638, 3 May 1937, Page 2

BRIGHT OPENING

THE WRESTLING SEASON BLOMFIELD AND RICHARDS DRAW in one of tho best opening matches for some years, “ Lofty ” Blomheld (16.10), of Auckland, took a submission fall from Ray Richards (17.0), of Nebraska (U.S.A.), in tho last round of a scheduled eigbt-ronnd contest at the Town Hall on Saturday night by means of his favourite octopus damp, this enabling him to emerge with a draw, Richards having secured the first fall in the second round with a crotch hold and body press. Tho hall was packed for the opening of the season, and the spectators were treated to a solidly-contested and bright match, which marked the first appearance here of Richards, whose record m tho States is an impressive one and who was a pupil of the famous exworld’s champion, Joe Stecher. Richards and IBlomfield met in Auckland a fortnight ago, and on that occasion Blomfield won by the only fall registered, this being a submission in the seventh round from his octopus clamp* . For the return, both appeared in fine form, Richards’s appearance being rather deceptive and scarcely an indication that he was four pounds heavier than tho New Zealander. The American showed himself to be a fast and clever wrestler, and he did everything so smoothly and so coolly that in his application of the most effective holds ho made them look easy. As an illustration of the value of co-ordina-tion of movement he could not have been bettered, and ho was equally at home on attack or in countering rlomfield’s holds. . . Richards showed good variety in leg holds, a flying leglock being one of his most spectacular moves, but ho also proved himself a good dumper and a man with the all-round knowledge of the game that one would expect of a pupil of tho great scissors expert, coo Stecher. It was apparent from the start that Richards was puzzled somewhat by Blomfield’s efforts to recurc tho octopus clamp, but he thwarted the Aucklander’s most strenuous endeavours until tho last round, when ho began to feel the effects of the -echo had set and was unable to withstand Blorafield’s last desperate effort to secure the equalising fall. Blomfield'had to resort to every trick he knew to keep out of trouble, and he turned on the lively display always expected of him. His use of tho forearm joilt puzzled Richards, who apparently could not see the oividing line between this legitimate means of attack and a straight-out, full-blooded punch. Thus at times they were some quite hectic exchanges, but both contostants responded immediately to the commands of tho referee, Mr Trank Anderson, who handled the bout aumirably. If any fault could be found •■ith Blomfield’s wrestling, it was his tendency to concentrate too much on his octopus clamp and Indian deathlock, to tlie detriment of other holds in his repertoire. The Aucklander is wrestling with more finish than before, and he is still as colourful as ever, nut in Richards he met a very powerful opponent. In the earlier stages, especially, Blomfield found the American a very tough handful, and the audience was not slow to show its appreciation of the efforts of both men. THE MATCH DESCRIBED. The contestants took time to warm up, and the first round was fairly even, Blomfield securing a nice leg hold, which Richards countered by coming over and tripping Blomfield, shifting from a reverse armbar and leg hold to a head scissors, still holding a Japanese armbar. Several times Lofty stood up with Richards, but tho American, forced him back to the mat, holding him for three minutes until Blomfield lunged out and countered with a head scissors. Richards came round easily and secured a punishing cross-barred toehold, which Blomfield broke with a headlock. Richards was caught with his head up and the rope across his throat, the referee having to assist him out of the “ hangman’s hold.” Richards employed a head scissors to get out of a headlock and then shifted to a short-arm scissors, sitting well back with it and rolling Lofty round the mat. Just before corners (Blomfield secured a crotch hold, which ho held at the gong. Fast wrestling opened tho second round, Blomfield tripping Richard's by picking one leg up, and on the mat he turned it into a barred toehold. Richards manoeuvred to get Blomfield off balance, and a beautiful flying leglock sent “Lofty” spinning, Richards coming on top with a straddle. Moving smoothly, he went from a reverse vvristlock to a short-arm scissors, and when “ Lofty ” secured a leglock Richards straightened his leg out and kicked Blomfield off. The_ latter assailed his opponent with a series of forearm jolts, and Richards retaliated with a full-blooded drive to the chin. Following a merry mix-up the American picked Blomfield up and dumped him hard, securing a body-press. He came over to take the first fall with a crotcli hold and body-press, “Lofty ” making some pro,tesi> as to the legitimacy or Richards’s jolts. Some good legholds were applied by both men in the third round, Blomfield having a figure-four scissors on Richards’s leg and just missing his octopus clamp. The New Zealander tried hard for an Indian deathlock, but the referee stopped him from catching the rope to straighten up, and when he did grab the top rope Richards let go an elbow jab. Blomfield got behind his man quickly and put on a full-nelson, shifting to a hammerlock. Richards refused to be bustled and went for a dump, Blomfield grabbing the ropes. A flying leglock took the latter to the mat, and ho came round to stand up for his octopus clamp, Richards breaking it with a cross-barred toehold. “Lofty ” rolled out, and from a biding scissors on the liead whipped into a. short-arm scissors. When Richards had Blomfield hopping round on one leg at the start of the fourth round the latter earned the referee’s displeasure by making a tug at the American’s ears, but the latter wristlocked and dumped Blomfield, and there followed an exchange of forearm jolts in mid-ring, Richards putting in a couple of short flying tackles which drove Blomfield out. A reverse headlock and armbar gave “ Lofty ” some respite, and he made his opponent grunt with forearm jolts to the stomach. Richards got clear, and the New Zealander dropped to the mat to avoid a flying tackle. Blomfield put on a flying leglock and rolled Richards round, but when he stood up for his clamp the American straightened his leg out under “ Lofty’s ” arm and threw his opponent off. Blomfield was working hard at this stage, but Richards was keeping him off balance cleverly and secured a leglock and legbar, one of the best legholds seen here. From another leglock he secured a standing splits, Lofty countering with a wrist- *° Both missed with legholds at the start of the fifth, in which Blomfield ,\yent for an Indian deathlock, .but

Richards had his knee behind his opponent’s and Blomfield could not straighten his leg up, the American keeping him off balance. This was a fairly quiet round, but there were some good rallies in the sixth, in which Richards tried to turn “ Lofty ” for the Boston crab, and then sat down with him in a double leghold. Blomfield countered with a barred toehold, shifting from a standing splits to a straightup toehold. Richards kicked his opponent off, and following an exchange of forearm jolts “ Lofty ” got behind his man and brought him down to apply a body-scissors and wristlock. Richards countered by applying a leglock and ehinlock, Blomfield getting clear and dropping on to Richards’s back with both feet. After a mix-up in the ropes the New Zealander took Richards down with a leglock, but the latter held a ehinlock at the bell. The seventh found Blomfield working hard for an Indian deathlock, but Richards circumvented his attempts to obtain it by the skilful use of scissors holds and armlocks, “ Lofty ” then securing a straight-up toehold, shifting his clutch to a barred toehold. At the bell Blomfield held a good hammerlock. Richards came off the ropes in the eighth round with two flying tackles, but Blomfield evaded them and secured a double toehold. From the ropes the New Zealander secured a standing armstretch, and following several jolts he tripped Richards and very quickly stood up to apply his octopus clamp, the American submitting and giving Blomfield tho equalising fall, the match ending in a drew. THE PRELIMINARIES. —P. Reach (10.9) beat A. Sandes (10.6) by one fall.— Reach showed too much cleverness for Sandes, and in a bright match, introducing plenty of variety, his superiority being so marked that he was safely able to take virics in shifting from one hold to another. Reach gave a very good display, and took the only fall of the match in the third round with a headlock with the arm in. —G. Terry (11.7) beat L. Williams (11.10) on points.— This was a lively go from gong to gong, and at the beginning of each round Williams went for a short-arm scissors, but Terry was always able to upend him, and each time had Williams in danger, the latter having to let his hold go. Both men made things willing, but Terry worked more surely than his opponent, and .secured the only possible decision on points, being over his man for the greater part of the distance. —L. Scurr (9.12) drew with A. Beveridge (10.5), no falls being recorded.— This was a well-contested match, and once Scurr settled down he moved along nicely against a boy with rather much experience. Beveridge was very facile in tho use of wristlodks, which were rather apt to tie a new man up. Scurr wrestled much better in the later stages, and kept Beveridge moving. He worked a nice headlock and slipped behind Beveridge, making it hard for the latter to get the upper hand. The decision was well received. —A. M'Millan (12.3) beat R. Meek (12.4) on points, no falls being recorded.— These men infused plenty of action into a good bout, applying their holds surely and working some good headlocks and rolling chanceries. M'Millan had his opponent in trouble in the last round, and took his opponent to the mat from a waistholcl, holding him .ith a body press when the gong went. M'Millan gained a points’ decision. The amateur bouts were listed for three five-minute rounds, and were refereed by Messrs Colin Turner and Maurice Coughlau. Mr Alf. Clark was .he announcer. NEXT SATURDAY’S MATCH. The contest next Saturday will be between Sam Stein and Hal Rumbcrg. Rumberg appeared here some years ago, but this will be the first appearance of Stein, who is rated one of the world’s greatest wrestlers, and has beaten many of those in the top flight, including Earl M'Cready. ANOTHER WIN FOR STEIN [Pk» United Press Association. I AUCKLAND, May 2. Tho contest on Saturday night between Sammy Stein and Gordon M'Kenzie, two Americans, ended in favour of Stein, who obtained the only fall. It was secured in the fifth round, following a series of flying tackles, each of which sent his opponent sprawling. Stein had no difficulty in pressing M'Kenzie’s shoulders to the mat. M'Kenzie lay in the centre of the ring, but in spite of the attention paid to him by his seconds, had not recovered at the end of the interval, and the contest was awarded to Stein.