LIVELY CONTEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22475, 20 July 1936, Page 15

LIVELY CONTEST

TOWN lIALL WRESTLING BLOMFIELD BEATS RUSSELL WINNER GETS DECIDING FALL By securing two falls to one, "Lofty" Blomfield, of Auckland, defeated "Cowboy" Russell, of America, in a lively wrestling contest at the Town Hall on Saturday night. Russell gained the first fall, a submission one, with an Indian deathlock in the fourth round. Blomfield drew level with a submission in the seventh round by tho application of his own creation, tho octopus clamp. Russell, who was wearing a knee bandage throughout, had to bo assisted to his corner, and when the gong sounded for the commencement of the eighth round, ho rose from his chair limping badly. Blomfiekl tripped him and applied a reverse toehold with which ho gained an iinmcdiato submission and victory. There was a fairly largo crowd present and tho spectators appeared to thoroughly enjoy tho bout. Blomfield had an advantage in size and weight, turning the scales at lOst. 81b. against Russell's lost. -lib. Probably because of such disadvantages, Russell was tho favourite with tho crowd. Whenever Blomfield employed forearm jolting he was roundly hooted by a section of the public which, on the other hand, cheered tho American for similar tactics. Right from the commencement there was some solid forearm jolting by both men, who reeled from these blows, which usually landed on the ribs, or under tho heart or jaw. Resentment was frequently shown by the contestants when either considered he was being subjected to something bordering upon tho illegal. This led to a lew bouts of fisticuffs, but the alertness and firmness of Mr. C. Pollard, the referee, kept the wrestlers within bounds. Russell Creates Diversion Apart from tho excitement which prevailed almost throughout the bout, it was productive of a great deal of interesting wrestling. Both men revealed a wide knowledge of holds and abilit3' to counter same, while the grips which won them their falls wero cleverly angled for and applied. But apart from the deathlock and octopus submissions, there were in evidence wristlocks, toeholds, full nelsons, strangles—in fact practically every hold known in tho. sport. Russell created much diversion in the fifth round when he had the Aucklander fastened in a crucifix. He tenderly patted Blomfield's cheek and stroked his hair, at the same time looking up at the referee and remarking: 'He's a nice quiet boy now." Few contests have been enjoyed so much by the Auckland public. Amateur Preliminaries Light-heavyweight.—T. Irving, list 21b., drew with R. Jugum, list. 101b., each securing a fall. Irving pinned his opponent with a headlock in the first round and Jugum evened with a body press in the next. Light-weight.—M. Sewell, 9st. 61b., beat C. Curtice, 9st. 61b., on points, no falls being gained in a rather dull bout. Welter-weight.—W. Kaike, lOst. 71b.. beat E. Johnson, lOst. 131b., on points, the winner having a comfortable margin. Light-weight. —W. Williamson. 9st. 71b., beat H. Franklin, 9st. 61b., in a special bout of five rounds, by two falls to one. Williamson's falls were obtained in the second and fifth rounds, both being submissions, the first with a Chinese twist and the other with an octopus. Franklin's fall was secured in the fourth round with a body press following reverse headlocks. This was a spectacular match, which appealed to the public taste. CONTEST IN SYDNEY V BOUT STOPPED BY POLTCE (Received July 19, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 19 At the Leichhardt Stadium last evening a wrestling contest between Lurich and the Englishman, Douglas Clark, was stopped in the fourth round by the police. Lurich was awarded the decision, which had a mixed reception. Neither wrestler secured a fall. Lurich twice threw Clark over the ropes into the crowd m tho fourth round. KRUSE BEATS ZAHARTAS [BY TF.T.EGRArH mF.SS ASSOCIATION"] GREYMOUTH, Sunday In a professional wrestling contest here last night Bob Kruse defeated Chris Zaharias by two submission falls with hammerlocks, the bout ending in the fourth round.