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WRESTLING

EDWARDS BEATS RAY.

A SENSATIONAL BOUT.

Before the largest and most enthusiastic crowd that has yet watched a wrestling match in Dunedin, Billy Edwards (13.0), ?t -Y a ? a^ a ’ beat Tom Ra y (12.8), of the United States, in the Town Hall on Saturday night. Edwards, who figured in some sensational incidents in Australia which proyoked the interference of the police, is known as “the Canadian Wild Man,” and “e and his opponent had been billed as the two roughest matmen in Australia and New Zealand.” That these diseriptions were well deserved was proved by Saturday night’s bout, for it was easily the most sensational that has yet been seen in Dunedin. From start to finish it was fought at a terrific pace, the contestants flying at each other with the ferocity of wild animals and paying little or no regard to the rules which are supposed to govern the sport. Between fair and unfair there was no marked boundary "line, and there was more butting, punching, kicking, . and hair-pulling than any other bout in Dunedin has produced. Twice Ray was thrown from th& ring to the floor some feet below. The crowd had been led to expect a great deal, and from the opening exchanges there was scarcely a lull in the cheering. The “ all in ” methods of the contestants, combined with clever wrestling, made the bout so full of incident that the spectators became wildly excited, and the scenes at the finish, when Ray was unable to continue, were remarkable. As soon as Edwards was declared the winner the voices of any who might have been inclined to cheer were drowned by an outburst of hooting and hissing that seemed to last for some minutes, while Ray, when he was finally able to leave the ring, was enthusiastically cheered. The attitude of the crowd as the men entered the ring gave a clear indication as to the corner which had its sympathy. While Ray was applauded, Edwards received a very cool reception. The difference between the two men was very marked. Edwards appeared and later proved to be the stronger of the pair, and in addition he had an advantage in weight. Dark-skinned, beautifully proportioned, and ferocious of countenance, he presented a strong contrast to the taller and more slightly-built Ray, whose strength obviously lay in his arms and shoulders. It was immediately apparently when the gong went that the bout was to be a willing one, although in the first round the contestants were obviously trying to find the strength of each other. As the fight went on, however, one could form no other conclusion than that Ray was the better and craftier wyrestler, and he delighted the crowd with the speed with which he obtained his holds, and the skill with which he escaped from danger. But for what Edwards lacked in speed he was more than compensated by his superior strength and his clever use of his legs. It is probable that he by no means showed the crowd all he knew, for he was seldom in an attacking position. On the other hand, he seldom seemed to be hard pressed and only an experienced wrestler could have escaped from many of the positions in which he found hims If. Perhaps he was waiting his chance, and it certainly seemed that that was the case when, in the sixth round, infuriated with a series of rabbit punches, he seized Ray with a head lock and crashed him to the mat four times in quick succession with such force that the lighter man was unable to continue

The spectators enjoyed the ferocious attitudes which Edwards struck, and the tigerish mariner in which he flew at his opponent. His total disregard for fairness when he found himself in danger must have astonished the crowd at times, but in his contempt for the rules of the game he was probably no worse an offender than Ray. While Ray was cunning, however, Edwards was, as a rule, merely brutal, and it was probably this that made a crowd so hostile to him. One fears to think of what might have happened had it not been for almost courageous refereeing of Mr W. Coughlan. He kept a firm hand on the men from the start, and did not hesitate to dash into the most dangerous positions to separate them or to hold them back. The crowd was delighted on one occasion to see all three men rolling together on the mat Ray was the first to attack, and shortly after the start secured a headlock, working his knuckles into Edwards’s eye. Edwards retaliated by grabbing the taller man by the hair, the referee pulling his hands away. More hair-pulling followed a rabbit punch by Ray, who tried without success to throw his opponent out of the ring. When Ray threw the heavier man Edwards drove his knees into Ray’s body, the referee cautioning him amid cheering and hooting. Ray was pushed out of the ring when he tried a double arm bar, and, when he secured a head twist. Edwards put his fingers in the taller man’s mouth and pulled his head away. Towards the end of the round Ray obtained a short arm scissors and bar, Edwards hitting him on the back with his open hand. He was still struggling to free himself when the gon" went. °

At the start of the second round Raybrought Edwards down with a rabbit punch and then secured a rabbit hold, Edwards kicking and pulling Ray’s hair Edwards seemed to have little difficulty in , pulling free from a head twist, and when Ray chased him round the ring Edwards scurried into a corner and put his feet up to ward the taller man off Punching by Edwards and butting by Ray led to the former securing a head lock, but Ray pulled his feet from under him. Edwards punched Ray again, and the delight of the crowd was boundless when, to distract Edwards’s attention, Ray pointed to the referee and then dived at his opponent’s legs. When Ray secured a short-arm scissors, Edwards tried to kick him in the face and then stood up with him. As the gong went there was further hooting as Edwards punched his opponent.

Ray opened the third round by butting Edwards, but he went too far and crashed into the ropes. As he tried to return 'Edwards jumped on liini, and’ Ray fell out of the ring. The hooting was almost deafening. As they returned to the fray Edwards waved Iris fists about, Ray surprising him with an upper-cut and the

referee cautioning both men. Edwards’s mouth was soon seen to be bleedin-r. but tor the first time he assumed an attacking position, driving his fist into Hay’s ribs while he had him on the mat. Ray eventually crawled out of the ropes, but Edwards had the upper hand for lhe remainder of the round. Ray pulled Edwards’s nose at t'i-> start of the next round, Edwards Irvin- to kick him as he took a flying t;: -kp. method of attack was no’ relish i bv Edwards, who crouched in a corn- ■■ and was not in a hurry to return o th "cntrc of the ring. The crowd Uicerr i when the referee ordered him out. V/h h-rr-n came to grips they rolled out of' j’-.e', Edwards kicking with his km-■ th“v came back. Fast wrestling f01.’.r.-.cd and Fdw n S« y s ? cul ; ed a fi K’ire of four seizors Edwards stood up and staggered with him to the ropes. Ray tried to obtain the Boston crab without success. Edrnfa d rJP cked . h ’ m ? elf clear, and wrestlers and referee fell in a tangled heap. 4s tliey rose to their feet the referee held Edwards off. Edwards, amid uproar, shouted at the referee and aflso had som<> thing to say to Ray. Before the gong m tr,ed p " nch "' Hiiy

The fifth round began with whilrwind exchanges which ended in Rav falling clean out of the ring. Edwards tried r g, Sl +u n as f he retu ™ ed . but was held b 7 4 th ® . r ?feree. The wrestling was now fast and furious, and there -was not a lull in the cheeermg. The sixth round was opened with butting by Ray and upper-cutting bv Edand J ben Ray, began the series of rabbit punches, which were his last attacking efforts. Before many seconds had Passed he was lying helpless on the mat, the bout ending m uproar as Edwards was declared the winner.

THE PRELIMINARIES. The amateurs who provided the preliminaries were well matched, and the bouts, though not spectacular, were keenlv contested. The results were as follow (10.7) LUDaU (1 °’ 10) beafc J ’ Fla herty

bc,t M ' £,• (1 £ 0) beat N - dark (12.0). Dlr M. Coughlan refereed the preliminaries and Mr C. L. Piner was the M.C. RIVAL BODIES MERGED. HEAVY PROGRAMME AHEAD. Ti n WELLINGTON, October 8. .. -lhe Dominion of New Zealand Wi-’t-Eng Union announces that a settlement of the trouble at Auckland has bemi agreed to. The two rival bodies which have recently been promoting matches in Auckland have agreed to merge and work under a new name. The president of the Dominion Union r ,’• Bennett), who was responsible for bringing the dispute to an end, stated to-night that although there had grown up some very sharp personal differences among a number of those interested, all had agreed to place the interests of the sport first. Sir George Richardson, who is at present patron of the Ex-servicemen’s Association at Auckland, and who is also patron of the parent body at Wellington, will accept a similar office in the new association. Mr G. Henning, president of the New Zealand Wrestling Association at Auckland, will occupy the same position in the new body, which will be known as the Auckland Wrestling Association.

The form of the settlement, Mr Bennet said, was, generally, on a basis of the recognition of the interests of both bodies without losing sight of those of the wrestlers, both amateur and professional. The new body will be-affiliated to the union at Wellington, on which, it has been agreed, there will be extra representation for Auckland.

Mr Bennett said that arrangements had already been made for the visit next season of a big team of the best wrestlers from America, and the union had completed arrangements with Stadiums, Limited, Australia, for a system of exchange of matmen between, the two countries. New Zealand, however, was not to be subordinated to Australia. It was expected, he said, that all future matches for Auckland would be staged under the new association, and some big “stars” were now available. The secretary of the union (Mr J. Creeke) has retired, and is also giving up refereeing. His place is to be taken by Mr R. W. Shallcrass. BOUT IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, October 12. At the Stadium in the wrestling match between Kostonaros (13.101) and Coleman 14.0) a draw was declared. Each secured a fall, but the critics consider that the Greek scored the honours and should have won.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19301014.2.216

Bibliographic details

Otago Witness, Issue 3996, 14 October 1930, Page 49

Word Count
1,857

WRESTLING Otago Witness, Issue 3996, 14 October 1930, Page 49

WRESTLING Otago Witness, Issue 3996, 14 October 1930, Page 49

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