UNRULY WRESTLER STAGES SCENE AFTER LOSING CONTEST

Evening Star, Issue 26153, 15 July 1947, Page 3

UNRULY WRESTLER STAGES SCENE AFTER LOSING CONTEST

Dissatisfied with a clear-cut decision against him, Jim Wright was in a hostile mood at the end of his contest with Earl McCready last night. There was a tense moment when he rushed over to MeCready’s corner and tried to come to grips again, the invitation to continue proceedings being repeated with gestures as his opponent left the ring. McCready quietly departed for his dressing room at the suggestion of the police, but Wright remained in the ring for several minutes, addressing the audience, a section of which threw missiles in his direction. This unedifying scene by Wright was the climax to the most eventful contest in seasons, and the Town Hall was packed.. Wright had no occasion to dispute the. decision, for if ever a wrestler deserved to incur a penalty fall for illegal tactics it was he. It may have been that he was disgruntled at not equalising the match ,by luring the,wily McCready into his Boston crab snare after attempting this fall-producer three times in the final round. In any case, a wrestler of Wright’s skill had no reason to indulge in rough-house tactics throughout the eight rounds. The referee, Mr D. Samson, had no option but to step in during the sixth round and award the only fall of the contest to McCready after Wright had let loose a series of punches and then refused (to break a hold. This was the third time the two had .met, and each had a win to his credit. The contest had aroused much interest, and throughout it the crowd was in a simmer of excitement. Apart from Wright’s frequently indulging in pulling McCready’s hair, applying strangle holds, and using him _as a punching ball, there was brilliant wrestling. It is not often that .the even-tempered McCready becomes ruffled, but as Wright’s., tactics continued to become more illegal, so did McCready’s patience become thin. He retaliated . strictly according; to the rules, often with fore-arm jolts, but mostly with holds that were meant to hurt. And he had the full approval of the crowd. McCready had a counter for all Wright’s holds, but he could not provide • an effective barrier when his opponent made for the ropes' and sought sanctuary there, as he did time and again to the chagrin of the crowd. There were many spectacular and diverting phases during the contest. McCready became really exasperated in the fourth round after Wright had commenced to punch him, and he staggered Wright with crashing forearm jolts that ended in his being dumped by Wright .with an inside crotch. McCready in turn did the same ,to Wright. 'The punishing -double “grape vine” hold was. also applied: by both men in turn after McCready had suddenly bounded off the ropes and sprawled Wright with two flying tackles. That was in the fifth round. Before McCready was awarded the penalty fall in the sixth he cleverly wriggled out of a threatened Boston crab, a Wright speciality. McCready revelled in standing stepover. toe holds, and they were usually applied with all force after Wright had disregarded the flexible rules of wrestling.

Before Wright went into his tantrums at the end of a contest which was easily, the most colourful to be staged in Duiiedin for several years. McCready nearly secured 1 another fall with . successive “ rocking-chair ” splits,, but his opponent persisted in tangling his feet in the ropes. The crowd w r as in an uproar as Wriglit vainly tried to equalise proceedings with his Boston crab holds, and it left the hall with the impression that the better man won. amateur Preliminaries. D. Lemon (7.11) beat J. Angow (8.0) by two straight falls. R. Meinung (10.0) drew with I. Hammer 10.6), no falls being recorded. ,itt. Tourrell (12.10) beat J. Moyle (13.6) by one fall. F. Keach (11,3) defeated F. Reggett (11.3) by one fall. ELOMFIELD DEFEATS BOESCH (P.A.) AUCKLAND, July 14. . Lofty Blomfield (17st) beat Paul Boeseli (17st) by a fall, gained with an octopus clamp in the fifth round of a professional wrestling bout.