REFEREE DID NOT HESITATE

NZ Truth, Issue 1274, 1 May 1930, Page 13

REFEREE DID NOT HESITATE

Grime Landed One Low and Received His Marching Orders

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Taranaki. Representative.) With astounding suddenness the Tommy Donovan-Billy Grime mix-up at Hawera ended m the eleventh round, when, for the third time m his short but sensational career, the Waitara ' fireman saw his bout terminated by a foul.

IT was early m the eleventh that the Australian — his opponent moving back into' a comer — crouched low and let fly his swinging left. There was a dull thud and down <went Tommy to the boards. Grasping himself below th-e belt he rolled m agony. He endeavored to rise, but fell again. Grime retreated across the ring. There had been vociferous outbursts from the crowd at the early onslaughts of the round and while the crowd gasped m wondey and speculated at the result Referee Earl Stewart promptly went to Donovan, assisted him up, and then across to Grime with the fateful words: "You're disqualified, Grime," left the ring. Owing to the deafening din very few of the crowded house could tell what had happened, so as soon as he could secm-e silence Announcer Meyriclc said that "Donovan wins on a foul," being greeted with cheers and boos, for Billy had a host of supporters. Billy appeared flabbergasted at the unfortunate ending and maintained that he had fought fair. He did not think the blow had landed low, but if it had though it was unintentional. Grime went to Tommy's dressingroom where it was plain the Waitara fireman was hurt and m reply to Grime's announcement said: "Well, I

'was hit low. I don't go down for nothing." They then shook hands. . Tommy weighed 9.3, 31bs. above his ordinary, so it looked as if he had not been taking the contest top seriously. Indeed, one of his strong supporters considered it only a pipe-opener for the Sarron bout, but Grime, who went 9.7, staged a great come-back, giving the best showing he has made m New Zealand. With his left he continually kept Donovan off and scored heavily to the heart with his right. Certainly Tommy was the more aggressive and flashed m his left frequently, but Grime, who varied his stance at times, gave the impression that he was keeping something m reserve. Tommy, fresh as ever, was leading on points at the time, but had it gone the "full distance either might have won on points or by the k.o. route for some solid punches were traded. The Hawera Opera House proved too small for the crowd that rewarded the young association's enterprise and some windows got smashed m the rush to secure seats. Up to the fateful blow, which landed apparently m the groin there had not been an illegal punch, though there had been a lot of clinching, for' the bout was rugged rather than spectacular. ■