MAT TRIALISTS FOR GAMES

Wanganui Chronicle, 23 December 1949, Page 6

MAT TRIALISTS FOR GAMES

New Zealand amateur wrestling trials lor the selection of contestants for the Empire Games are to be held in Wellington on January 3. The trialists were chosen in Wellington by Messrs. W Rawle (Auckland), A. P. Craig (Christchurch), and J. C. Steel (Wellington), the last-men-tioned being secretary of the Dominion Wrestling Union. The trialists are:—

Flyweight. —E. Matthews (Welling*ton) v. B. Lousich (Auckland), winner to meet D. Lemon (Otago), the reigning champion. Bantamweights.—K. Ruby (Wellington) and D. Mudgway (Hawera), champion. , Featherweight. J. S. Genet (Christchurch). T. Rowe (Hawera). E. Allan (Wairarapa), W. Weston (Hamilton), J. Armitt (Auckland), champion. Lightweight.—C Price (Napier), G. Hibson (Christchurch), W. Adams (Wellington), champion. We-'erweight—C. Teague (Wellington), G. Boric (Auckland). L. J. Gfenet vu.uistchurch), J. Monoghan (Invercargill), champion. Middleweight—R. Tourrell (Otago). P Fletcher (Auckland), champion. Leight-heavyweight. A. Sneddon (Wellington), B. Walker (Otago), champion. Heavyweight.—M. Ford (Whangarei), P. O’Connor (Wellington, formerly of Wanganui), champion. OMISSION OF MAHONY. Some disappointment has been causin Wellington by the non-inclusion of K. Mahony in the middleweight class, ft is argued in his favour that in 1947 he won the middleweight title in record time, beating both Tourrell and J. Mclnpes (Christchurch), who was champion last year. He did not oppose Fletcher, who was eliminated by other contestants. Mahony, furthermore, has proved to be ideally suited temperamentally for dealing with outside competition, even when others who know his style might be capable of beating him. Mahony’s career has also shown him to be something of a paradox in that in open competition,, he has proved more effective as a light-middle-weight than when dropping a few pounds to qualify for the welter class. The selectors, however, probably argued that if Mahony was a candi date for selection as a middleweight he should have competed regularly in that class. Instead he entered the Wellington tournament as a welter and was beaten. Since the best is required for the Games, Mahony might have been given his chance, particularly as no expense would have been entailed. However, it is possible that complaints might have come from other quarters had a Wellington man had the chance to benefit from being on the spot.