Rice And Wright Wrestle To Draw

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1947, Page 2

Rice And Wright Wrestle To Draw

In an unspectacular wrestling match which was liberally plastered with showmanship, T. Rice (17st), of USA, drew with J. Wright (17st), of USA, at the Whangarei Town Hall last night. Although the match was not up to the standard of some of the others which have been seen in Whangarei this season, the crowd which three parts filled the hall, thoroughly enjoyed the fare.

Wright and Rice both showed themselves to be fast wrestlers and capable of introducing rough house tactics when the occasion was opportune. Wright became unpopular in the early phases of the bout and as it progressed Rice's popularity mounted. POPULARITY The enthusiasm shown when he obtained his equalising fall from a press following a series of flying tackles, was an indication of how the crowd thought the match should finish.

Wright's fall was gained in the sixth round from a Boston crab after he had jolted Rice around the ring. On the whole Wright (appeared the better matman, applying a good series of holds.

In an amateur preliminary J. Slater (Whangarei) beat W. C. Ford (Portland) by a fall in the third round of their three-round contest. Mr B. Hollows refereed the main bout and Mr N. Johnson was referee for the preliminary match.