WRESTLING

Southland Times, Issue 23835, 5 June 1939, Page 4

WRESTLING

ABRUPT ENDING TO MATCH BLOMFIELD LOSES AS RESULT OF INJURY I ■■ ■ I—— (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 4. There was an abrupt and unsatisfactory ending to a wrestling match at the Town Hall on Saturday night between Lofty Blomfield, of Auckland, and Jack Donovan, of America. The contestants collided in the fourth round, with the result that Blomfield’s left eyebrow was deeply cut and blood streamed down his In spite of attention by his seconds at the conclusion of the fourth and fifth rounds, the wound continued to bleed freely and at the end of the sixth round, the referee walked to Donovan’s corner and raised his hand as a signal that he was the winner. There was an immediate outburst of disapproval, and Blomfield walked towards the official announcer, Mr V. Salek, who made a statement to the crowd that Blomfield was very dissatisfied with the result and wished to challenge his opponent to another match on a winner-take-all basis. This announcement was greeted with vociferous cheering. Donovan, who had left the ring, to the accompaniment of loud hooting, subsequently told the Match Committee of the Auckland Wrestling Association that he was, perfectly willing to meet Blomfield again and he was also agreeable to forgoing his share of Saturday night’s purse. When the men meet again, therefore, probably on Monday night next, it will be for a double purse. The bout opened in a sensational manner, as at the first gong, the Aucklander attacked his opponent with a succession of elbow jolts and obtained a fall with a body press within half a minute.

The sympathies of the crowd, which filled the house to overflowing, were definitely with Blomfield after he received his injury in the fourth round. Donovan’s action in persistently tapping the injured - eyebrow, only made him more unpopular with the onlookers. Apart from his fall, the Aucklander had the better of,the exchanges and the margin of points in his favour must have been substantial.