WRESTLING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 7 October 1936, Page 5

WRESTLING

BLOMFIELD DEFEATS KRUSE LAST NIGHTS COLT AN UNSATISFACTORY ENDING In n professional, wrestling bout staged at the Majestic Theatre last evening before a large crowd, 810/n----fielcl defeated Kruse, the contest coming to an end early in the eighth round when Kruse crawled out under the ropes and lay prone while Referee A. Jenkins (Wellington) counted him out. Blomfield in the previous round had secured a fall with his octopus clamp and Kruse was assisted to his corner. Kruse in the fourth round had obtained a fall by means of wrist> locks and a body press. While Kruse showed himself an expert on wristlocks during the bout one could hardly imagine him ever beating Flomfield, who was not extended during a match that frequently was dull. '

ILL-MATCHED PHYSICALLY Blomfield, the New Zealander, weighed in at IGst Gibs, and Kruse (of Portland. Oregon) at 15st, and Blomfield’s physical advantage was evident: c o much so that when Kruse attempted a bear hug early, his tall opponent merely stood on tiptoe as a counter, and twisted Kruse’s ears. Blomfield kept placing one big hand on top of Kruse’s head as they came together, and Kruse at once began a series of protests to the referee asking him to warn his opponent about something or other. “Why don t you tell him about it?” he complained. Ho then appeared thorougnly aroused and had a scramble with the referee who became mixed with the pair when they refused 1o break while on .the ropes. Later Kruse indicated that lie disliked being pushed in the eyes, and Blomfield did it once more for good measure. Kruse got out underneath the ropes from where he argued v/ith the referee, but when he saw that the latter was in earnest with his counting he re-entered and attacked with a head scissors, the only apparent insult of which was to leave Blomfield with a skinned nose. The wrestling continued to be spasmodic each concentrating on the other’s ears and hair, and resorting t n any extraordinary means to free themselves from the holds. Kruse later in the second round began to wrestle in earnest and used his wristlocks to good eifect. He dragged Blomfield off the ropes having secured the first stage of the Boston Crab but fell over in trying to complete the move. Blomfield meantime was getting in some work on Kruse’s head with hcadlocks. Somehow, by using his height advantage in the next round he trapped Kruse’s head in the American’s own arm and brought him to the mat where the.pair were separated. Kruse volubly complained that he could not understand the referee at ali, and that he did not know why the latter had come over in the first place. Round four brought a sumrise when Kruse secured a fall with a wristlock and body press. His mat work at this time was superior to Blmnfteld’s.

EQUALISING FALL A stalemate occurred in mid-ring in the next round when Blomfield was held in a keylock for several minutes. He replied in kind m round six, and trapping Kruse’s hand he worked interminably on the fingers, now and then glancing at the referee as though ha'f-expecting him to put an end to the trick, as many began to wish he would. Kruse eventually tired of the game and the wrestlers became almost inextricably linked with identical toeholds each on the other. Round seven saw Blomfield trap Kruse’s legs and secure some moments later h ; s octopus clamp, and the equalising fall. Kruse was dragged to his corner, and lr.ler staggered bade to the centre of the ring for the final round. Blomfield made an attempt to wrestle with him but Kruse collapsed to the mat, crawled out under the ropes and was counted out gazing at the ceiling.

THE PRELIMINARIES The best of the preliminaries was a bout between H. McKegncy and G. Russell, each 12st, Russell winning by the only fail of the match. The two were well matched and wrestled strongly. A variety of holds with some appreciated showmanship characterised another good bout between I-I. Muncaster and G. Bate, both 9st. Endeavours to trap the referee, Mr N. Fowler, kick the gong, and parading round outside the ring were among Bate’s stock in trade. Muneaster was the better wrestler and won by a single fall, Bate protesting to the referee. Other results were: J. Smith defeated G Morris by two falls to one.

B. Cox defeated B. Smith by a single fall.