WRESTLING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 169, 20 July 1938, Page 4

WRESTLING

BLOMFIELD AND RAINES TWO TOUGH MATMEN MEET TO-NIGHT THE PACE WILL BE ON ALL THE WAY. Among the many wrestlers who have visited New Zealand those who have been most popular have been those who favoured rugged tactics and were prepared to give and take hard knocks. An outstanding example of this type is Dick Raines, who is to meet “Lofty” Blomfleld at the Wanganui Opera House this evening in a match which is bound to appeal strongly to the local public. After seeing Raines and Blomfield in eight rounds of the best —and hardest—wrestling seen in Wellington this season it requires little courage for the writer to voice the opinion that Raines is going to take King Kong Cox’s place as the toughest wrestler ever seen in New Zealand. Whereas King Kong erred by repeatedly infringing the rules Raines showed a marked aptitude to do as the referee told him —and this, despite the loss of the bout by a penalty fall following on the use of his fist. Raines showed several novel— and effective—holds. His back-breaker, applied by lifting Blomfield up with a crutch hold and dropping him on his (Raines’) knee, was not a complete success as Blomfield twisted on the downward flight and landed on his side instead of his back. The giant swing saw Blomfield swung round and round for five times before Raines released the grip and it was fortunate for the New Zealander that he could slither under the ropes to escape what was to have followed. All this was in their first and only meeting. What will happen to-night in their second clash? Be there and see for yourself! It is expected that the preliminary contests will be challenge batches between a team of Palmerston North and Wanganui amateurs.