BLOMFIELD WINS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23104, 1 August 1938, Page 5

BLOMFIELD WINS

BRIGHT WRESTLING LEO NUMA MAKES HIS DEBUT ONE FALL TO EACH MAN DECISION AWARDED ON POINTS Roused to a high pitch of excitement by the bright exchanges, a large number of spectators at the Town Hall on Saturday night rushed to the ringside to witness the closing stages of a stirring professional heavy-weight wrestling contest between Lofty Blomfield, of New Zealand, and Leo Numa, the American exponent. With each man having a fall to his credit at the end of the sixth round, the contestants had a great struggle for supremacy, victory finally going to the New Zoalander on points.

Numa, who was making his New Zealand debut, was the first to establish an advautage when ho took a fall in the third round. Hold in a vicelike body scissors and pummelled in the back by his opponent, Numa twisted unexpectedly and in a fierce scramble came up on top to pin Blomfield's shoulders. Blomfield's Olamp

The equalising fall came in the sixth round, when Blomfield, reeling under a barrage of jolts, suddenly dropped to tho mat, trapped Numa's legs, and arose with his favourite octopus clamp fully applied. The American wasted no time in submitting. The contest was one of the brightest witnessed this season, both men moving at a remarkably fast pace from start to finish. Blomfield, with the exception of a little by-play on the ropes, confined rough tactics to a minimum and concentrated on straight and spectacular wrestling. He seemed particularly confident and was prepared to take more risks than usual in an effort to open up the exchanges. He found a willing opponent in Numa, who impressed with his speed and all-round wrestling knowledge. Although conceding half a stone in weight, Blomfield being 16st. 71b., and his opponent 16st., Numa nullified this handicap with his quick footwork and neat countering tactics. He impressed an a type of wrestler likely to prove very popular with New Zealand crowds. Into a number of the more orthodox holds he introduced a new technique which won tho applause of the spectators. Preliminary Bouts

An excellent showing was made by two local professionals, R. Douglas and F. Irvine, in a preliminary to the main contest. The men were fairly evenly matched in strength, but Douglas had a slight advantage in science. Douglas took the decision with a submission fall secured in the fourth round with a Boston crab.

Amateur Welter-weight.—V. Rawle, lOst. 101b., defeated J. McPilce, lOst. 101b., on points. Amateur Light-weight.—K. Brewer, 9st. 121b., defeated B. Freake, lOst. 41b., by one fall.

Amateur Heavy-weight.—H. Young, 13st., defeated R. McGregor, ' 13st. 61b., on points. The officials wore as follows:—Referees: Professional, Mr. J. McLean; amateur, Mr. J. Brown. Judges: Messrs. C. Brown and G. Heald.

SUCCESS OP DETTON ONE FALL AGAINST MOEN [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION"] NEW PLYMOUTH. Sunday . Dean Detton had difficulty in beating Andy Moen in the wrestling contest here last night. Moen probably led on points until well into the last round, when Detton gained the only fall of the bout. DRAWN CONTEST [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WESTPORT, Sunday The wrestling bout between Pat Fraley and Pat Meehan drew a good house last evening, and proved very interesting. Fraley gained a fall in the fourth round after a series of elbow jolts and a flying toehold. Meehan equalised in the eighth round with a body press, the bout - resulting in a draw.