WRESTLING BOUT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24041, 12 August 1941, Page 5

WRESTLING BOUT

ATKINS ANT) MEEHAN CONTEST ENDS IN DRAW EACH MAN OBTAINS FALL

One of the moat exciting wrestling matches seen in Auckland took place at the Town Hall last evening when Fred Atkins, of Australia, drew with Pat Median, of America. Each man obtained a fall. Median was awarded a penalty fall in the fourth round when Atkins made use of his knee. Atkins drew even in the seventh round when, after a succession of elbow jolts, he lifted his opponent for a slain and body press. The crowd, which almost filled the Town Hall, was wildly excited as the men strove throughout the final round to gain a deciding fall. Although on this occasion Atkins was not quite the same wild man as when lie defeated Joe < orbett the previous week, he still -required a lot of watching. He was warned occasionally for alleged punching, but so, too, was Median, who was not slow to retaliate. In between the application of punishing holds, the pair indulged in more spectacular methods, such as jolting, flying tackles and dropkicks. On two occasions the referee became involved in a melee when he went in to separate the contestants who were grappling near the ropes. With his feet being twisted by both wrestlers the referee winced and hi; had to struggle for some seconds before gaining release. Needless to say the onlookers enjoyed his predicament, immensely. Another highly diverting incident was when Alkirtti rcir.onstrated with the referee between I lie second and third rounds. The wrestler ■tiier, wen; to his corner to sit down, tbut he missed the chair and fell heavily on the mat. He rose in anger and kicked out with his right foot,: His toes hit the chair hard and he hopped round the ring holding his loot in the air. The crowd was anything but sympathetic. , The Australian jumped through the ropes three times in the final round to evade Veehan's flving tackles and it was generally thought he may have lost sufficient points by th-se tactics to cost him the match A draw however, appeared to give satisfaction to the partisans. Atkins weighed ITst 51b and Mrehan Hist Olb. Mr. J. McLean was referee. , The Preliminaries. —An entertaining professional bout was provided by two AiicKlanders, Fred Irvine. 14st 71b and \ in Cares. 14st 21b. Irvine obtained a fall in the third round, Carey submitting: to a punishing" nam* merlock. The winner was in better condition than his opponent, who, however, made a gallant attempt in the final round to draw level. Mr. J. McLean was referee The amateur bouts resulted as li-ims lost beat J. Vi right. 10st 4UJ, r>> one fall; D. Harding, tost, beat B. Hoare, t Tib, on points. Mr F. Murphy feree and Messrs: C. Browne and G. Heald were the judges.