GOOD ENTERTAINMENT

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11535, 28 August 1930, Page 5

GOOD ENTERTAINMENT

PAHIATUA BOXING TOURNAMENT A WRESTLING INTERLUDE, There was “standing room only” in the Forester's’ Hall last night for the second tournament of tlie Pahiatua Boxing Club. The hall was packed and the Auckland, footballers figured prominently among the spectators, or for that matter, the performers too. Good boxing was interspersed with hard fighting and a great night’s enjoyment was provided. Several scheduled bouts did not eventuate owing to the non-appear-ance of some, of tlie combatants, but in most eases excellent substitutes were forthcoming and the contests lost nothing in interest. After two tiip-top bouts between members of the Auckland football team A. Knight and A. Finlayson, two heavyweights capped all by giving a burlesque wrestling match. Will the spectators ever forget those three hysterical rounds, refereed by the one-time New Zealand wrestling champion, Mr Gordon Smith. The two grapp,levs were l more terrible than any Turk and crowded all the thrills they could think of into three never-to-He forgotten rounds. The handsome ten guinea cup for the most scientific boxer went to Harold Beeves, of Konini, and, judging by the applause, the award was a very popular one. A medal for the gamest loser was awarded to C. Allsopp, of Ruawhata. At the conclusion of the tournament, which lasted for three hours, the trophies were presented to the winners by the president. Mr G. O. C. Oxley. The visitors were then entertained to supper at the Savoy tearoom®.

The principal officials were: Referee, Mr Geoff. Watehorn, assisted by Mr AI. O’Brien; judges: Alessrs A. J. Havill and M. O’Brien ; timekeeper : Air R. Oxley; announcer: Air W. Dudson.

All arrangements went smoothly and this was a tribute jo the excellence of the organisation. Air Chester M. Burt’® orchestra provided music during the intervals Descriptions of the various bouts al e as follows:

the BOUTS DESCRIBED. Two flyweights, V. Cosford, 5.5. (Pahiatua) and N. Christensen 5.3 (1‘ eildmg) set the ball rolling at a fast pace. _ Christensen sailed in at one© hut “Bub” Cosford wag not to be outdone and rushed his opponent onto the ropes. They traded blows gallantly for three fast rounds dur■ng which both used energetic lootwork. Cosford was a hit stronger than the Feilding lad, and wore a game little opponent down by the fierceness of his blows, in which a hard left swing predominated. Coslord got the decision and both got a good clap. Two welters, Pike (10.7), Feilding, and Lawrence (10.7). a novice from N. realm. had a short and sweet encounter. Pike got to work first and planted a left hook to the head. LqWrenoe slipped to the canvas hut was up again at once. Again Pike went close to his man and. the first decent blow that landed, another left hook, sent the local lad down. He staved for nine and it was evident he, was very new to such harsh treatment. For the third time Pike rushed and in a flurry of blows connected with his left, a light blow. Down went Lawrence and lie did not look as if he wanted to get up so tlie referee raised Pike’s hand, and that was that.

Sefton Walsh. 6.7 (Pahiatua) was to have fought a namesake from Feilding who unfortunately could not come up to (scratch. He met a substitute in C. Allsopp (8.0), of Ruawhata. Although giving away a stone a,nd a half, science was altogether too much for brawn. Allsopp poked out a long left but Walsh was not perturbed and got in close to land the majority of blows. Repeatedly lie dotted the big chap with snappy lefts to the face and an occasional right, though he had to, reach well up to do so. Round two was a repetition of the first and Walsh led bv a mile on points. He used his head and his feet to pile up the points. Allsopp fought better in round three and tore in for a, while till Walsh landed one to the nose which drew the,claret. Uhe decision rightly went to the “little ’un.”

Ron Pratt 6.6 (Pahiatua) next met P. Williams 6.13 (Feilding) in3 twominute rounds and it was a gory encounter. Pratt packed a right that promised fireworks hut the "Feilding boy was nothing loath to mix it. The first round was Pratt’s and the second went to William®, because of-his use of a long left. Williams waded in for the final flutter and crowded his smaller opponent constantly. Pratt, however, fought him off. dotted him on the nose, and drew blood which was soon covering both hoys.. The crowd cheered the pair on and a close decision went- to Pratt who was th,o more experienced boxer of tlie two.

G. Gregory 10.0, (Pahiatua), v. J. Davies 9.8, (Ha.mu a). These were two fast boys who went to it with a flurry, using mainly a snappy left. In close they pummelled one another freely. Gregory’s ear showed red, but he knocked Davies back with a solid right. I he Hamua boy began to cet through the other’s guard with his left- in round two and was fight ini* strongly at the gong. Tn the last round he rushed his opponent and r.Vj.ncd in the blows. Gregory, who

learned the gentle art at college, was game as a pebble and traded blows heroically. Davies was, too strong for him but he liad to work fox' the decision and the loser was given a hearty clap for a good performance. F. O’Styke 9.3, (Pahiatua) v. N. Sinclair 9.7, (Palmerston North) had a, ding dong go and, the referee could, not separate them at the, finish. O’Styke was landing the most blows in round one but the majority were with the open glove and he was cautioned. Sinclair waded in and concentrated on the body, the round ending everi. The Palmerston North lad got home with a solid right to open, round two hut O’Styke came hack n ith a left and right to the head in return. O’Styke moved round looking for each opening but lie could always he assured of a warm reception when lie did, start hostilities. The local boy took the round and the third was purely a free for all. O’Styke was fighting viciously to, keep off a persistent opponent. Toe to toe they waded m Hinging blow for blow and the crowd .yelled deliriously their encouragement. It was even pegging all the way and a draw proved to be a really popular decision. F J. Holden 8.12, (Pahiatua). v. B. Coughlan 9.3, (Palmerston North). Both started timidly but warmed to it and were boxing prettily. Holden took the first, round by a small margin. Coughlan livened up in the second round and there was more sting in the blows. Holden took a left in the face and sent back a. right in reil'jv, Coughlan winning the round. Hie deciding round saw both trading blows with the heavier boy very aggressive. Holden stung him with a left swing and came in with a hard right. Holden now was making the fignt and took a narrow decision from a worthy opponent. A- Ford 11.0, (Palmerston North) v. H. Reeves 11.10 (Hamua). The spectators sat up when these battler® faced one another. Reeves got a left to the face and sent another to the chest. Ford planted Iris l-iglit to the local hoy’s head hut ran into a stiff left as lie followed in. Two right crosses i»ave Reeves the round. Ford went, after his man in the second round but Reeves was 'punching solidly and the. lighter boxer was feeling the force of the blows. A stiff right from Ford shook Reeves and the. break was even that time. In th e last flutter both went into it hammer and tongs and traded mighty blows. Ford was carrying the fight but Reeves wa s cool and sent him off his balance with a right wallop. Fold is as game as a pebble and, never thinks of calling a truce. He rushed in like a. Briton hut ran nito a terrible lot of ram-rod lefts. J fie judges voted for Beeves as the cleaner hitter and he deserved tlie decision for a cool and impressive display. •U O’Reilly 9.13. (Ashburton) v Johnny Beech 9.0, (Pahiatua). O Reilly danced round and Beech did not quite know what to make of him Beech piled in some solid rights and knocked the other back onto his Am n ti 1,1 the second round. O Reilly smothered well hut tlie other was too strong and the third round was not gone on with.

J. Hesketh (Feilding) 8.13 v -T Hawkins 9.0, (Eketahiina). The Eketahuna lad proved to be a rugged hitter and made it a fight fronTthe word go. Hesketh punched hack gamely and made the other’s nose bleed. Hawkins kept on the aggressive and won a brisk bout liy a fairlv comfortable margin. OXLEY BEATS FORWARD.

In the star bout Ted Oxlcv 9.1 (Pahiatua) met Roy Forward "9.7 (Wanganui). For the first three rounds Forward used his greater reach and practically held his own against the Pahiatua boy who seemed content to have it so, clearly waiting to -stage a grandstand .finish. Forward streaked out a. light left which landed frequently although Oxley neatly duelled anything that looked dangerous and sent a wallop or two in return. Oxley jumped into it at the commencement of the last round. He caught his man with a left and right, swing followed it up with a vicious right and sent Forward staggering onto the ropes. The Wanganui man fought back but his blows lacked the force of Oxley’s whose left swings were finding the face regularly. The end was in sight when Oxley sent over a hard right and hooked a beautiful left to the other’s open jaw. Forward went down and could not get up till nine. The mob was yelling lor a K.O. but there was only a few seconds to go and Oxley very wisely was merciful. He took the verdict and that was enough. OUR AUCKLAND FRIENDS.

F here was a crow of delight from the visitors when two of their stalwarts, Watty Jones (13.10) and Cliff Satherley (12.7) stepped into the rmg. Advice was tossed freely at the contestants who sported their own seconds, Palmer and Jamieson being m the respective corners. Satherley rushed the Alaori three-quarter at once, but slipped, and Jones missed with a right haymaker. Jones ran into a left swing and there were yells of “Hit him in the beer basket.” Jones soon wore out one pair of gloves and stopped to change. There was at once an admonition from the pit; “Time off ref. Start all over again.” The Alaori lad was warming up and beaming broadly as he crashed a terrific right swing to Satherley’s bead which completely knocked the forward off his balance. “Take his suspenders off,” advised someone but Satherley needed no molly coddling.* “Hang on with that bell, Hoy,” urged Jones between the round and he must have had a premonition that lie was going to get

a thump on the nose. Anyway the blood spurted and so did the Maori. Satherley was battling into the tight now and coming through with fierce lefts and Jones could not quite get the mark with some terrific swings. Satherley caught the judges’ eye by a shade and went over to console with Brother Jones. The loser playfully punched him on the jaw and the pair staggered out the best of friends.

Jock Barnes (12.10) and Arnold Berridge (12.7), prancing to get into it-, promised more fun. Berridge skipped round like a two-year-old and dodged in to tattoo Ins more serious opponent. “Open out, Big Bov,” called a voice and Barnes let go. “Another few feet and you’d have had him.” wailed the good counsellor amidst a roar of laughtei. With a rush worthy of two international packs the pair clashed in mid-ring and Arnold was warned “to keep his eyes open.” Honours were easy in that round. A Knight was seconding Berridge and quelled all criticism from the pit bv spra-yin" his fellow-tourists with water out o'? the bucket. Berridge was so fit that lie was jumping out of his skin, and in the next mix-up legs became tangled and Barnes fell flat on his opponent. Things were looking lively when the centre-three-quarter ran into a, right wallop and sat down for nine. He got up gamely but a left landed in the plexus and the referee awarded a technical k.o. to Brother Barnes.

But it was left to Arthur (“Bubs”) Knight (16.0) and Angus Finlayson (14.3) to provide the tit-bit of the evening. 1 hey called it a wrestling exhibition and as a burlesque on the grappling game was alone worth the price of admission. They perlormed all the antics and tried all the holds they could think of in the tjiree three-minute rounds. Knight. ‘‘The Terrible Turk,” did everything but hurl liis active opponent into tlie audience. He rolled him out of the rmg, bumped him down onto the press table, lifted him over his head. But Finlayson took some pinning. From the crucifix or the Boston C rah lie wriggled with ease and pounced on friend “Bubs” who finally went Beserk. He walked in for the last round carrying eliair and all with a horrible leer across his handsome features. The chair he hurled over his shoulder anil there was a scatter round the ring-side. Down on all fours the two fell and arms and legs were terribly tangled. After a period of valiant straining there came a small voice that may have been Corner’s: “It’s your own leg you’ve got hold of Bubs.” This broke the crowd up. After ccashing tin ough the ropes into the orchestra a memorable bout ended without a single fall being registered. Knight, who practices with George Walker m Auckland sometimes, showed a tendency to tackle Referee Gordon smith but finally his thirst for blood abated and be was Jed quietly away, ft is a long time since the sports in this district saw such a unique entertainment.

The visitors well deserved tlie vote of thanks thev received from tlie officials of the Pahiatua Bovine Club.