LIVELY WRESTLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22512, 1 September 1936, Page 16

LIVELY WRESTLING

DEFEAT OF BLOMFIELD TWO FALLS IN CONTEST KRUSE WINS ON POINTS The professional hoavy-weight wrestling contest in tlio Town Hall last evening between "Lofty" Blomfield, of Auckland, lGst Gib, and Bob Kruse, of America, lost, was won by Kruse on points, after each wrestler had secured a fall. Characterised bv rough tactics, especially on the part of Bloinfield, the bout was contested at a lively pace. There was a large attendance. Kruse took the initial fall in the fifth round. He was slightly groggy after Bloinfield had thrown him heavily, but suddenly he reversed the position by bringing Blomfield hard to the mat with a flying mare. Thrown heavily several times by his opponent, Blomfield finally fell a victim to a body press. Blomfield evened the falls in the final round by means of his octopus clamp hold. The Aucklander feigned grogginess before suddenly catching Kruse unawares with his speciality grip, the latter submitting after a briof struggle.' As Blomfield stepped away from the prostrate Kruse, the referee pointed to the American as the winner, the decision meeting with a mixed reception. The winner required the aid of his seconds to leave the ring. Winner Troubled Throughout the contest rough tactics by Blomfield frequently had Kruse in trouble, the latter several times appealing loudly to the referee for what he considered a foul. jVloro than once he shouted for the referee's assistance when Blomfield applied a hold that looked like a strangle. "Jumping" Joe Savoldi, of America, former holder of the heavy-weight championship of the world, was introduced. Savoldi won the title when he defeated Jim Londos in 1934. Savoldi has been engaged by the New Zealand Union to make appearances in the Dominion. The winners at the recent amateur provincial championship tournament were also introduced. Mr. C. Pollard was referee in the professional contest, while Mr. J. McLean officiated in the amateur bouts. Bough tactics, such as hair and earpulling and elbow jolting, marked an exciting opening round. Kruse complained to the referee that his opponent had stretched his mouth with a finger. Kruse later earned the crowd's displeasure when he escaped rfroin Blomfield's elbow jolting by crawling through the ropes. A particularly punishing wristlock had Blomfield in difficulties in the second round. When the Aucklander attempted to escape by rising to his feet, he was hauled forcibly back into the hold. Octopus Clamp Succeeds Two powerful elbow jolts had Kruse in trouble in the next round and the American complained to the referee that his opponent was striking with his j clenched fist. Kruse employed similar j tactics, however, to fell Blomfield with ; a stiff jolt to the jaw. Kruse kept j Blomfield subdued with an Indian j deathlock, using his arm, instead of his { leg, as a lever, the Aucklander escap- j ing by pulling Kruse's fingers apart, j . In this round Kruse wns frequently out- | side the ropes. Strenuous wrestling and j rough methods were witnessed in the j fourth round. The fifth round had not j been long in progress when Kruse i secured the first fall. A rocking-chair splits caused Kruse discomfort in the next round, but. when he craped, the American made Blomfield writhe in a series of per-fectly-applied wristloeks. Blomfield had Kruse in an Indian deathlock in th« seventh round, but the former failed to make the hold effective. Kruse was loudly hooted when he escaped from Blotnfield's octopus clamp by crawling under the ropes. Kruse attacked at the commencement of the eighth round, but Blomfield applied his octopus clamp very quickly to ev<m the falls. Amateur Preliminaries Light-weight. —C. Hammond, 9st. beat 0. Fribence, 9st 31b, by one fall secured with a body press in the second round. Fribence tried hard to even the falls in the final round, during which he had his opponent in trouble, with a body scissors. Welter-weight.—o. Fraser, lOst. 71b., drew with W. Kaike, lOst. 81b., after a lively bout. The second round provided the excitement, elbow jolts being fmely.exchanged while both contestants were warned for punching. Kaike, who wrestled well throughout, had easily | the better of his stronger opponent in the final round. Flv-weight.—Kisba Bana, 7st. 121b.. beat P. Hill, 7st. 121b., by two straight falls. Kisha Bana took a fall in the first round with a body press. In an uninteresting second round the winner, too quick and scientific for his opponent, held a marked advantage. He took the winning fall in the final round with a body press. Special Challenrre Bout. —F. Murphy, lOst. Gib., beat R. Double, lOst. 61b'., on points, in the best amateur contest of the evening. There was plenty of action and both wrestlers displayed a wide knowledge of holds. Murphy came close to securing a fall in the third round after be had dazed his opponent by hurling him three times against the ropes. The winner was en top in the final round and the decision met with a popular reception.