WRESTLING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23501, 16 May 1938, Page 2

WRESTLING

MEEHAN BE:ATS KENNEDY ONE FALL IN HARD BOUT When two men each weighing oven 16st and trained in primitive tendencies get together in a ring there is sure to be action. Pat Meehan (16.3) and Jack Kennedy , (16.4) both come into that category, and while the latter is more of the “man-eating” type than the former Canadian mounted policeman, Meehan can also forget the niceties oi manner when there is occasion for unexpurgated action. There were, consequently, the usual frills when the two met before a good house in the Town Hall on Saturday evening. Kennedy introduced most of them; but the bout was mainly one of good straight wrestling., Here, too, it was Kennedy who did most of the work, but, to the satisfaction of the crowd, it was Meehan who took the decision. He gained the only fall of the match with a bodypress in the sixth round. There was an enthusiastic reception for Meehan, who established himself with Dunedin “ fans ” by his fine display against Elomfield a few weeks ago; but things were made difficult for many by the fact that both appeared in dressing gowns adorned by shamrocks. General support was soon assured for Meehan, however. Kennedy got down to business right away with wristlocks, hammerlocks and toeholds and proved himself a master of submission holds A severe head scissors gave Meehan a sample of his wares early in the piece, and for a great part,of the first round his jaw was none too gently massaged. He made up some ground by means of a forward toehold before the gong, but Kennedy repeated the treatment in the second round and then started on the series of hammerlocks which gave Meehan considerable trouble throughout the evening, Kennedy moved very well with his man and there certainly was artistry in the manner in which he kept his hammerlocks in operation. He was given a dose of his own brand of grief and pain for the first three minutes of the third round, but when Meehan got to work with a rockingchair splits he whipped up quickly and stood up' with an Indian deathlock. He tried to get the full leverage with the aid of several jolts to Meehan’,; chin. He was still trying when the gong sounded, and even that did not stop him. A vicious effort before the referee could break them brought the crowd’s “ boohs ” to a crescendo, Meehan in Favour Another Indian deathlock in the fourth round was attended by its series of jolts, sitting shots of which the crowd did not approve. Meehan countered with a barred toehold and then took his turn on the punishing end of the deathlock. Kennedy was always on the move, though, and a punch to the , stomach helped him out of trouble. The crowd did not approve of Kennedy very much, and it was pleased when Meehan tied him up in a barred toehold towards the end of the round. Kennedy got to work again with head scissors and hammerlocks in the fifth, but he scrambled for the ropes when Meehan turned him over for a Boston crab. A few Irish whips spread Meehan about the ring, and Kennedy brought off another beautifully-timed leg trip and roughed Meehan in a step-over toehold. The crowd cheered while Meehan rocked and bumped Kennedy in a fi.'fek’e-four scissors and again Kennedy haj resort to the ropes. He butted Meehan in the stomach and went for a dropkick. Meehan ducked, tipped Kennedy up and pounced on him for a bodypress and a fall. The crowd was delighted. Kennedy was annoyed. More hammerlocks and some sidedrops and toeholds were Kennedy’s means of evening the score in the seventh round, but he was nearly pinned again when Meehan went for a half-nelson. Kennedy was still keeping close and working roughly in his holds. He held them all for a long time, and was apparently not fully adapted to wrestling eight-minute rounds. Meehan spent nearly five minutes in a barred toehold, and it was only the suppleness of his legs that enabled him to stand up to this onslaught, Kennedy tripped him again for the toehold early in the last round. Meehan was countering with headlocks, but he did not appear to have any real defence to these holds, and the agony was only delayed. He spent another two minutes in a barred toehold, headlocked himself out of it, but was soon writhing again while Kennedy pulled him about. There was no likelihood of a fall, and he saw the round out safely. The crowd was pleased. There is no doubt about Kennedy’s quality, and he has colour. As a straight wrestler he can have few masters in the team at present in New Zealand. He was responsible for 90 per cent, of the work in this bout, but Meehan was able to take everything that was going and come back strongly. Mr Frank Anderson had a busy night, but Kennedy gave only an occasional hint of dyed-in-the-wool “ rough stuff.” PRELIMINARIES J. Donaldson (8.8) beat J. Nichol (8.11), scoring a fall in the third round with a forward body press and a grapevine. B. Marks (8.10) won against J. Daly (9.4) by a fall in the second round with a reverse double wristlock. C. Keach (10.4) scored a fall in the first round against J, Vaughan (10.11) by means of a deadlock and a bodypress. W. Chalmers (9.4) attacked all the time against H. Vent (9.12). and won on points. L. Small (9.10) gave away a lot of weight to N. Pay (11,0), and beat him on points. C. Turner (12 0) scored a fall with an armlock in the first round against It. Tourcll (12.4). Mr T. Samson was the referee for the preliminaries. FRALEY DEFEATS BAFFERT (Per United Press Association) WHANGAREI, May 14. In a spectacular bout last night Pat Fraley beat Alf, Baffert by a submission fall in the sixth round. On a basis of points Baffert was slightly until that, stage. A DRAWN CONTEST (Per United Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH. May 15. Leo Jensen and Andy Moen drew on Saturday night in one of the best wrestling exhibitions seen at New Plymouth. Neither man secured a fall.