BOXING AND WRESTLING

Northern Advocate, 12 June 1931, Page 9

BOXING AND WRESTLING

TRACEY’S GYMNASIUM. FINE PROGRAMME PROVIDED. Messrs Tracey Brothers held another of their now famous club nights in the Madeira Hall gymnasium on Wednesday evening, which easily outshone any previous attempt. Tho gloved combatants displayed every kind of fight from doAvnright fisticuffs to pretty, crisp, scientific boxing, and loud bursts of applause accompanied tho termination of each bout.

In addition to tho usual boxing events, the Traceys included three wrestling matches, which were received with well merited applause. This innovation, by further varying an already well arranged schedule, added spice to the occasion. '

A number of vocal items between the bouts were avcll received and earned rounds of loud applause. Following were the songs rendered: —Mr P. J. Tobin, “Sally Horner”; Miss Agnes MacNamara, “If You’re in Love, You’ll Waltz” and for a recall “When Twilight is Here.” Mr Milton West sang “Roadways,” and on being recalled gave “Wondering Why.” The accompaniments wore played by Air Drayton Venables, The “Feathers.” An interesting featherweight boxing bout was staged between R. Sp.wry, of Hukerenui, and M. Painter, of Whangarei. So wry had the advantage' of age and was much stronger than the local boy,' but was not his equal in scientific display. Throughout each of the four rounds Painter was easily superior, his connections being crisper and cleaner, his evasions of the other, man’s blows clever, and 'whenever, a chance of infighting 1 was allowed ho showed up better in this department also. In the last round there wak some very solid fighting, when Sowry put forth his best, to be met on equal terms with a succession of rights and lefts that would have been a credit to any boxer. Acclamation was extended the boys at the final gong.

Even Lightweights. Fred Cole and “Snowy” Baker, both of Whangarei, put up a go that for evenness would be hard to excel. Both men were old hands at the game, were cool and clever, and each possessed a snappy punch well calculated to induce repose if properly connected. All four rounds wore a repetition of .one another, showing from gong to -gong a series of straight lofts variotl by right and left hooks and uppex'-euts. The exhibition was very pleasing and the applause at the end well deserved. Solid Exchanges. Two middleweights, Frank Eoughton, of Tangiteroria, and Archie Fletcher, of Kiripaka, varied the programme by giving an exhibition of hard-hitting that would have had an audience in any big city on its feet. All four rounds were signalised by heavy banging all through, and it says much for tho .stamina and condition of the men that they were able to stand up to it. Rounds one and two showed hammering and clinching, with a good deal of roughing and, wrestling. Referee Kelly, remembering with respect a smack he had received from one of these contestants in a previous bout, was not as keen as usual in walking between to break them. A stray shot from the »lightning barrage of heavy swings continually exchanged might have had a consequence not to be desired.

The last round was wonderful, both men giving of their best and mixing furiously from gong to gong. , The bucket in Boughton's corner was twice .kicked out of the ring, much to the delight of the spectators, who lost no time in passing the obvious remarks. At the Anal gong FI etc her was practically out on .his "'feet, only another light tap being required to administer the coup de grace. The Star Bout. What has been practically unanimously described as one of the best and fastest amateur bouts ever staged in Whangarei, was put up by H. Preston and A. Howie, botli local boys. The “go” was of six rounds’ duration, and there was never an idle moment. The punching of both boys was smart, crisp and clean, with excellent timing. Preston discarded the style complained o£ in these columns a fortnight ago, and boxed right up to the best form he had ever displayed. His straight left was a continual nuisance, and ho has. a habit of connecting with right and left hooks which is pleasant to watch. His j footwork was good, and a neat duck evaded many intended hits. Howie was the better throughout in the in-fighting and made a lot of use of his right. This is a new departure, since a while ago this boy depended almost entirely on a clever left to win his fights. Last night ho seldom brought the straight left into play until the fifth and sixth rounds, when ho piled up points with it.

The bout was very even throughout, each lad taking it in turn to carry the fight to the other and each boxing coolly and determinedly.

The last round was remarkable for its' pace, both boys boxing at a rate seldom seen in a first or second round, much loss the sixth of a hard go. These lads are in excellent training, have plenty of stamina, are equal in size and weight, and are game as pebbles. A match between them would be sure to meet with plenty of approbation from an audience in fhe Town, Hall.

Howie had a crop of long hair which continually straggled into his eyes, and much amusement was caused by the astuteness of Preston who neatly poked him every time he raised his guard to brush this hair from his face. An application of the scissors would be a decided advantage to him if he continues in the fight game. At the conclusion of the bout, rounds of applause for the. fine fight put up only ceased, when the opening bars of the National Anthem Were struck.

(By “Back-loop Slam.’’) Osborne v. Bettison. At the sound of the bell both men went into the referee hold. Bettison broke away and Osborne attempted to play “George Walker’ ’ straight away, that is, to dump his man. He succeeded iu bringing him to the mat, but Bettison countered with a -headlock, which he changed to a body-hold. On his rising again, Bettison baekslammed his man heavily, and instead of wing-locking went for a head-loek. Osborne then secured half-Nelson, with which he attempted to roll his mau over, but Bettison reached down and secured Osborne’s, toe and made good use of a toe-hold. Near the end of the round Osborne had his man in trouble with a single Japanese leglock. . ’

Round two saw Bettison introducing Ills recently acquired football tactics. He- went straight for Osborne's legs and forced him through'the ropes. On getting bach to business, Bettison went to pull his man to the mat, but missed and went down himself. Thereupon Osborne took a flying dive on top of him with the ostensible intention of flattening him out. Wo doubt he would have succeeded had Bettison been there, but he wasn't. He had rolled over, and Osborne hit the mat solidly (he had lost count of the stars towards the end of the flght).

Bettison then secured a reverse head-lock, but had to release it because of a, etmngle-hold. Agaia Osborne attempted to dump his man, but they both went through, the ropes.

Bettison secured another headlock which Osborne broke clean away. Bettison back-slammed Osborne again, but he countered with a Japanese leglock.

lii the early stages of the final session Bettison secured a •wrist-lock. Osborne broke free and went for the legs. Bettison then secured a bodysciseors, and with this hold and an arm-stretch nearly secured a fall. He still held Osborne with a reverse wrist-lock. Bettison then went through the motions of rowing a boat, with Osborne’s head as the oar. As fast as the latter got his head forward Bettisou pulled it back. He then dragged Osborne half-way along one side of the, ring. Bettison then secured another body-scissors and used a faoCbar to good effect. Xo fall was registered. Bevington v. Bowyer. Those men sized each other up, as they went into the referee hold. Bevington brought Bowyer to the mat with a cross-buttock and then held him in a reverse head-lock. £Bow tyet countered with a toe-hold. They 1 rested in this position for some time. Bevington then secured a single arm'scissors which he converted to a , double arm-scissors. Breaking free, [Bowyer back-slammed- his man, but to > no effect, as Bevington countered

with, a body-scissors. Bowyer was nearly successful in applying a ham-mer-lock, but Bevington held Ms arm down near the belt-line with his free hand.

Bound three opened up the same as [the two previous rounds, Bowyer us!ing his cross-buttock again. Bowyer then missed hie-only chance of securing a fall. He had both his opponent/s legs underneath his armpits in a double Japanese leg-lock, but instead of turning his man over and applying the dreaded Boston-crab he allowed Mm to kick free. He then applied an arm-stretch, and again Bevington broke free. Bowyer then baek-loop-elammed his opponent, and had he finished it with a wing-lock, as he' should have done, no doubt he would have secured a good pin-fall, i Bevington then applied a body scissors with a combined reverse wristlock. Bowyer again tried hard to apply a hammer-lock, but to no avail. No fall was registered. Hollows w. Maugham. Neither "Strangler" Lewis nor A 1 [Karasich, two famous mat-men, has anything on Maugham as a head-lock specialist. Shortly after the beginning of the round Maugham nearly secured a fall with a combined reverse head-lock and body-press, but Hollows was -too fresh. It was a little too soon to aspect a fall.

Maugham then applied a half-Nel-son to roll his man ever, and then converted it into a head-lock. Hollows is a Strong lad; and struggled free every, time. At times Maugham head-locks wore very close to strangleholds, but only once earing the contest had this hold to be broken by the referee.

After a series of head-locks and half-Nelsons, both oh and off the mat, the round ended. The second and third rounds were duplications of the first, each man striving hard for a fall. They were both very fit, and needed no urging to go on with the game. * No falls were registered. ■