WRESTLING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 121, 22 April 1938, Page 8

WRESTLING

WIN FOR BLOMFIELD. PENALTY FALL ONLY. The wrestling season in Palmerston North opened auspiciously last evening. when “Lofty” Blomfield, the New Zealand champion who recently returned from America, where he competed with remarkable suocess, secured a win by a penalty fall over Pat Kennedy, who conies with a good repiitation from Texas, United States. The pair had never met before. There was an overflowing attendance. From the outset Kennedy gave his opponent no quarter; he was generally the aggressor and when it came to elbow jolts, in which the New Zealander has come to be regarded as something of n past-master, the American was equal to the occasion. At times they stood toe to toe ; on other occasions one chased the other round the ring to the delight of the crowd. Tiie fall came in the fifth round, when Kennedy had Blomfield a little troubled. A series of successful ‘lying tackles finished up with Blomfield lying outside the ring; when he attempted to return Kennedy sent him back again in no uncertain manner, and was warned by- the referee. I? lis 1 is happened a second time, whicii brought another warning and before Blomfield could get clear of the ropes on his third attempt to return Kennedy hurled his full weight into him again, the referee awarding a penalty fall to Blomfield. .. Kennedv battled hard to equalise in the remaining rounds, hut he could not pin the New Zealander. He had no chance throughout the bout to demonstrate his favourite kangaroo kick” while the New Zealander, although he had the ‘‘stage set 011 several occasions in the last two rounds, could not stand up to successfully apply his famous octopus clamp. BlomfiekPs weight was announced at 16.10 and Kennedy’s at 16.4. Botn wrestlers, particularly the New Zealander, received a great ovation on entering the ring. Blomfield wore his now popular All Black go" n, vh Kennedy, who is of Irish descent, appropriately chose emerald green. The officials were as follow:—Referee. Mr Vv. Nicholls; announcer, Mi J. Pearson; timekeepers. Messrs w. Crystall and R. Hopwood. THE BOUT DESCRIBED-

There was a little delay In getting down to business, but Kennedy clapped on a short-arm scissors which had the New Zealander in trouble. Blomfield tried several counters, including the standing splits, which was successful at the third attempt. Kennedy broke free just before the gong, lho action that was lacking m the . w round was certainly manifested m tne second. Elbow jolts were exchangee! lotover a minute, Kennedy flooring Blomfield with a hard jolt to the heait. Up again, Blomfield went for his opponent and there was a vicious exchange of head scissors. Kennedy ap plied the rocking chair splits and transferred it to the Indian deathlock, which Blomfield’s elbow jolts prevented him from completing. Ivennedv had liis opponent in a fignte-fom body scissors at the gong. Blomfield made the pace in the third round and he held Kennedy in a couple of pamtul toeholds, the Irishman breaking nee by kicking Blomfield under the chin. There was an exchange or jolts anct Kennedy took the New Zealander to the mat with a side chancery. Blomfield countered with a head seissois and the pair rolled through the ropes. Blomfield brought Ins elbows and knees into action and Kennedy had to see K the protection of the ropes Into it again, Kennedy smartly applied a ‘eg scissors, the gon ? saving Blomfield some pain. The fourth round opened spectacularly, Blomfield bouncing oft the ropes to fell Kennedy with a series of flying tackles. Ken net A. 1 taliated with jolts which had the New Zealander in trouble in the cornelThe short-arm scissors was applied with some effect, but Blomfield retaliated with a bar .toe-hold, his opponent breaking free by working vigorously on Blomfield’s liair. Blomfield was the aggressor at the end of the round. Elbow jolts marked the beginnin of the fifth round, these being followed up by a number of flying tackles bj Kennedy. Blomfield was obviously in trouble “and when lie was shot out of the ring Kennedy persisted twice m tackles before his opponent had properly returned. Despite a warning he did “it a third time and the referee awarded a penalty fall to Blomfield. Kennedv came to light m the sixth round by “applying a hammerlock and a wristlock combined. Blomfield s aim was sore from the previous round and Kennedy gave it no peace. A senes ol hammorlocks was followed by a bod} scissors, and Blomfield was struggling in this at the gong. Blomfield opened the seventh round by trying to entwine Kennedy’s arms and head in the ropes. Kennedy applied a full and a body scissors, and changed it to the first stage of the Boston crab. He could not step over, however, and Blomfield claimed the ropes for safety. Kennedv applied a body scissors and Blomfield tried hard to counter with his now famous octopus clamp. He had the hold applied, hut could not stand up, the gong saving Kennedy. The referee had to untie the tangled leJ The final round saw Kennedy still the more aggressive following up a series of headlocks with a punishing arm stretch. The New Zealander freed himself and went again for his clamp. He fought hard to get the ropes with which to stand up but without success and Kennedy broke free. Blomfield had the hold applied on the mat once more, hut could do nothing with it and the bout ended with Blomfield the winner by the penalty fall. THE AMATEURS. B Matson (Feilding) 10.3 v. B. Coulter (Shannon) 10.3.—Coulter was the aggressor in the early stages, but once they settled down the pair were fairly evenly matched. A series of headlocks characterised the second round, proceedings being enlivened by an exchange of elbow jolts. Coulter opened the third round with an elbow jolt which took Matson unawares. A little later Coulter got Matson off Ins balance and was down on him quickly for a fall with a body press B Murrell (Palmerston North). 10.0 v. M. Yanovitch (Wanganui), 10.0. — The pair were matched in the first round and there was more life in the second, when the Wanganui boy held Murrell in a number of headlocks. Yanovitch was the more aggressive ill the third round and secured the decision with a rolling fall. A. Anderson (Palmerston North), 11.0 v. W. G. Ivory (Dannevirke), 11.3. A. greater variety of holts was produced in this bout, Ivory using arm bars and hammerlocks with some effect. In the second round Ivory gained a fall with a body press and, setting out to equalise, Anderson was quite ready to mix it. Ivory awaited his chance and secured a second fall and the verdict. vr in n -m W Cudby (Palmerston North). 11.10 v. T. Waldron (Rata), 11.4.—There were plenty of fireworks in this bout, there being a readiness on both sides to mix it. Although there was little serious wrestling the showma.nship appealed to the crowd. Waldron was at a disadvantage in height and reach. There were no falls and the result was a draw.