WRESTLING BOUTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27307, 6 February 1950, Page 5

WRESTLING BOUTS

HIGH STANDARD SET A WIN FOR ARMITT From the Sports Editor AUCKLAND, Feb. 5. A high standard was set at the first sessions of the Empire Games wrestling in the Town Hall on Saturday night. John Armitt was the only New Zealander to win a bout, but Arthur Sneddon had a win by default when his opponent, Fernand Payette (Canada) was unable to pass the doctor. Armitt’s win in the featherweight class was clear cut. He is shorter than his opponent but more muscular, and was able to attack more aggressively and to use his superior strength in effective counters. One of the most impressive wrestlers was J- C.« Little (Australian welterweight), a fast and smooth mover and a distinct prospect for the title in his class. He beat J- Monaghan (Southland) in their first bout. R. Garrard (Australia) should have no trouble in retaining the Empire light-weight title he won in 1934 and in 1938. Garrard, who was runner-up at the Olympic Games in 1943, is a strong and well-built wrestler, who proved a tough opponent for G. Hobson (Canterbury). Hobson replaced W. Adams (Wellington) at the last minute when the Wellington man was dropped because It was alleged that he would not conform to the training schedule. The New Zealand heavy-weight. P. J. O’Connor, was beaten by J. Armstrong (Australia), who was third at the 1948 Olympic Games. The championships are decided by eliminating competitors on a bad-points basis. No competitor is eliminated until five bad points are registered against him: thus, all first-round contestants still have a chance to recover. A competitor winning by a fall receives no bad points but his opponent receives three. If a bout is decided by the unanimous vote of the jury, the winner receives one bad point and his opponent three. If the jury votes two to one, th. e winner receives one bad point and his opponent two. Results in the first round were:— Feather-weight.—J. C. Armitt (New Zealand) defeated A. S. Parsons (England) 1 bad point to 3. Welter-weight.—J. C. Little (Australia) defeated J. Monaghan (New Zealand) no bad points to 3; H. Hudson (Canada) defeated M. E. Jooste (South Africa) 1 bad point to 3. Middle-weight.—B. Arthur (Australia) defeated E. Bowey (England) 1 bad point to 2; M. Vachan (Canada defeated P. Fletcher (New Zealand) no bad points to 3. Light-heavy-weight. A. Sneddon (New Zealand) defeated F. Payette (Canada) by default; P C. Morton (South Africa) defeated T. Trevaskis (Australia) 1 bad point to 2. Heavy-weight—J. Armstrong (Australia) defeated P. O’Connor (New Zealand) no bad points to 3: K. A. Richmond (England) defeated A. Overdon (Canada) no bad points to 3.