SPORTS AND SPORTSMEN

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20464, 2 April 1938, Page 22 (Supplement)

SPORTS AND SPORTSMEN

' ■ * (By “Spectator") - WRESTLING SEASON OPENS IN DOMINION Successful Year Anticipated : New Faces in Overseas Team Revietv of Careers of Wrestlers Already in New Zealand t Bradman s Amazing Figures : Secondary School Sports t Prospects for Next Week : Cricket Tour Itinerary. THE success of “Lofty" Blomfleld In America, culminating with his creditable draw with Bronko Nagurskl for the world's title, will make the New Zealand -wrestler more popular than ever this season and he is likely to be easily the biggest draw card In the Dominion. He will have plenty of competition and new competition at that as of the six American wrestlers who have already arrived in New Zealand there is not one old-timer among them. “Lofty" Blomlleld’s successes while in America exceeded all expectations and that he must have put up a worthy showing against the World's champion appears certain by the Immediate suggestion of a return match. There were also negotiations commenced for a visit to New Zealand by Nagursk! so that a championship match nlhy be staged in this Doritlnion but nothing definite has yet been decided. If Nagurski does agree to visit New Zealand the enthusiasts should experience a most sensational and bright season. The sport of wrestling has gathered very strong support and the persons responsible for the importation of the wrestlers have shown commendable enterprise in selecting new men this year. There is no doubt that in this type of sport It Is the new blood that holds the crowd, particularly if the new wrestlers have reputations for giving bright displays and every man this time seems to fit the bill completely. The Associations can look forward to another year of packed houses providing the matching of the opponents is Judiciously handled and it can be taken for granted that this will be the case. The season opened in Auckland last week when in a rugged bout. In which there was not as much showmanship as perhaps the crowd would have liked, Andy Moen defeated Pat McKay by one fall. Both contestants have only recently arrived In the Dominion and their first display was very encouraging. If the other members of the team also maintain their reputations there should be some great wrestling seen this season.

The six wrestlers who have arrived In New Zealand and who are looking forward to a big season are:— ANDY MOEN, 16.10 (Minneapolis). ABE VOURIBT, 16.0 (New York). PAT MCKAY, 16.11 (Tennessee). • JOE TOWTI, 15.2 (Pittsburg). AL BAFFERT, 15.0 (France). LEO JENBEN, 15.3 (Vancouver). Two other wrestlers who were on the boat but who went through to Australia were Pat Oschoker (17.2), of Ball Lake City aad Leo Mania (16.11), of Seattle. Both will come to New Zealand after their matches In Australia while Pat Fraley, the “Singing Cowboy,” and Pat Meehan, who won the; heavy-weight title at the British Empire Games some years ago, are expected to arrive in the near future from America. In view of the fact that all the wrestlers are practically strangers a review of the careers of the men already in New I Zealand is given below. • • • • Leo Jensen stands sft 9tns and he has had 700 professional matches In five years. He has, of course, had a fair number of losses but counts quite a number of prominent scalps among his collection. He ha-s wrestled in Vancouver, America, France and South Africa and he won the light-heavy-weight title of France. His particular holds are the Japanese leg-lock and arm-lock allied with the flying tackle drop kick. He says that the harder it Is the better he likes it so that he should prove popular in this Dominion. When in South Africa Jensen defeated Van der Walt and this latter wrestler gave Jim Dondos one of his toughest matches—a draw. Jensen Is also a soccer player of some repute and hopes to have a game or two in New Zealand. He has met Gus Sonneburg three times for one win and two draws. He has also defeated Gy Williams, Glenn Wade and King Kong Cox and has wrestled drawn matches against Paul Shikat and Lee Wykoff. He is out to make a name for himself as he States that wrestlers returning from New Zealand with gorgl records always get good contracts on returning home. Another small wrestler with a bundle of power and who is likely to prove one of the most popular of the contingent is Toe Tonti or ‘Little Londos. He will be twenty-six in May and hopes to celebrate his birthday by defeating the Dominion Champion. He Is one of the strortgest wrestlers ever to dril this country and has been featured in the “Believe It or Not,” series as a man capable of walking on Ms hands towing a fully laden motor car with th<» tow-line in his teeth. His specialty in the rine Is the flying tackle followed by the body slam and he Is reputed as being the fastest man In changing holds that has ever been 6een in this Dominion. He was early in the game when he defeated Dr. Fred Meyer. Floyd Mirshall. Paul Boesch and Vic Christie, who are well known to New Zealanders, and he has had many outstanding victories since then. He is a wonder at acrobatics and often performs these while in the ring. He is the only wrestler in the game who can accomplish a flying tackle when standing on his hands and he should b# a very popular draw card. An other member of the party who should make a wide appeal Is the Frenchman, A 1 Baffert. Educated at the La Fayette University, where he later took special courses in physical work, Baffert has been wrestling for 12 years. About three years ago he wrestled Henri de Glane for the French heavyweight title and the result was a draw. Since then de Glane has refused to meet Baffert, despite several offers and side bets as well a 3 big purse-s so Baffert 13 now claiming this title. He says that he would rather win it in the ring but has no chance as the holder will not wrestle him. He Is a wrestler who is not averse to a little elbow jolting and should have some interesting bouts in New Zealand. He considers that one of the roughest fights he has ever had was against Angelo Cestoldi In the States. Half way through the match Cestoldi picked up his chair from his comer of the ring and threw It across at Baffert. From then it was nothing barred, and Baffert had to be helped from the ring, while Cestoldi was lying on the fioor trying to make out what happened. Most of Baffert’s wrestling has been done in Canada and the middle West so he has met few wrestlers that New Zealanders know, but those who are known here that he has beaten include Bob Kruse. Fred Meyer, Brother Jonathan. Wee Willie D*vis and Paul Boeseh. He is another of the visitors who is eagerly awaiting a match with Lofty ’ BlomfleliL

The heaviest member of the team and the one whom most people will look at twice If they see him In the street is Pat McKay. He Is what may be termed the fireworks expert and is never more at home than when his opponents make the match tough. He has been WTestling for ten years and the men he has met include, Sarpolis, Sonneburg, Kruse, Fred Meyer, Jim Londos, Strangler Lewis, Joe Stetcher, Cantonwlne, Foresgren and Spellman, and the only losses in this party were against Londos and Lewis. McKay is rated as “The Real and should draw a full house when he appears in .Hamilton. • • • • The other heavy man of the party is Andy Moen. Moen is now 27 years of age and very fast for his weight. He has been wrestling for the past six years and specialises In flying tackles. He is another member of the gang who does not mind a willing contest an<s considers that his special screw-toe hold Is every bit as effective as BlomfleWs Octopus Clamp. He was coached by Henry Ordemann, an ?*-World title holder. He is one of the few' wrestlers who have had a shot at Nagurski and he also wrestled to a draw. He started In the game at the same time as Nagurski and is looking for another attempt at his title. He knows that a win over Blomfield w'ould place him In line for another attempt, and is keen to get to grips with Blomflcld. The wrestlers he has beaten of late include Stanley Pinto, Bob Kruse, Joe Dusek, Emil Dusek, Little Wolf, Hal Rumberg. Sarpolis, George Zaharias and Paul Boesch, and his fast moving tactics should please Waikato fans, • * * * The remaining member of the team is Abe Yourist and he has purposely made the trip as he understands that Sammy Stein is coming back to New Zealand again this season and he wants to take the Jewish heavyweight title off him. Yourist claims that Stein has dodged him for a title fight for two years but he is determined to catch up with him this year. Yourist was formerly a member of the Chicago Bears professional football team and was a team mate of Bronko Nagurski who was on the same side'. He is also 27 years of age and since his football days he has met and defeated Rudj Dusek, Joe Dusek, Lee Wykoff, Bob Kruse, Reb Russell and Paul Boesch and has drawn with Sandor Szabo and Gino Garibaldi. The one wrestler he wants to meet is Sammy Stein and that is his main reason for coming here. He is the only ortfe that is not directly after Lofty Blomfield’s scalp, but he would welcome a match with the local champion just the same. • • • • Cricket Itinerary. The following is the itinerary for the Australian cricketers’ tour of England this year:— April 30, May 2, 3—Worcester. May 4,5, 6—Oxford University. 7,9, 10—Leicester. 11, 12. 13—Cambridge University. 14, 16, 17—M.C.C., at Lord’s. 18, 19, 20—Northamptonshire. 21. 23. 24—Surrey. 25. 26, 27—Hampshire at Southampton. 28, 30, 31—Middlesex, at Lord’s. June 1. 2, 3—Gloucestershire, at Bristol. 4,6, 7—Essex, at Southend. 10 to 14—First Test at Nottingham. 15, 16, 17—Gentlemen, at Lord’s. 18, 20, 21—Lancashire, at Old Trafford. 24 to 28—Second Test, at Lord’s 29, 30, July I—Derbyshire, at Derby. July 2,4, s—Yorkshire, at Sheffield. 8 to 12 —ThJrd Test at Manchester. 13, 14, 15—Warwickshire, probably at Birmingham. 16, 18, 19—Nottinghamshire, at Trentbridge. 22 to 26—Fourth Test, at Leeds. 27, 28, 29—Somerset, at Taunton. July 30, August 1, 2—Glamorganshire, at Swansea. August 4,5, 6—Matches to be arranged by Scottish Union. 5. 9 —Durham, at Sunderland. 10, 11, 12—Surrey. 13, 15, 16—Kent, at Canterbury. IT. 18—The Army, at Aldershot. 20 to 26—Fifth Test, at The Ovai. 27, 29, 30—Sussex, at Brighton. Aug. 31, Sept. 1, 2 —An English XI., at Blackpool. Sept. 3,5, 6—An English XI., at Folkestone. 10, 12, 13—H. D. G. Leveson Gower’s XI., at Scarborough. 15, 16, 17 —Gentlemen of Ireland, at Dublin. » • * • Bradman's Figures. Don Bradman continues the role of riotous rungetter. He has piled up rinse upon 1500 runs in the season s first-class matches—the ninth 1000 in succession. Readers who keep a tab on the records that the little man l makes and remakes should note this

fact. The centuries number seven, two in one match against Queensland. In eighteen Innings he has been not out twice and scored 1437 runs at 89.81 an Innings. • • • • With the exception of his first season (1927-8), Bradman’s aggregates and averages, as follow, reveal something colossal and far in advance ot anything done by any other past or present batsman. The figures are: 1690 at 93.88; 1586 at 113.28; 1422 at 79.00; 1403 at 116.93; 1171 at 61.63; 1191 at 132.44; 1173 at 130.33; 1 1552 at 86.52; and 1437 at 89.81. 1 Some say that Don has fallen away j ' as a batsman. One cannot see that he has done so. He does not always rush the runs as he used to. But he can J put them on to the book at great ' speed when he cares to let himself go. 1 * * * * He has reached discretionary years in batsmanship. He now conserves > energies and strength when the neces- ] sity to expend them so lavishly, is not there. In first-class cricket in 1937- J . 8 he scored 11, 17, 101, 91, 62. 246, ] 39 not out. 54, 35, 107, 113, 44, 104, ’ 3, 85. 79, 144, and 102 not out. • * • * Secondary School Sports Athlctlo sports fans and those inter- ] ested in secondary education in South • i Auckland are eagerly anticipating the : sixth annual tournament of the Waikato ; Secondary Schools Athletic Association < to be held at Hinemoa Park, Hamilton j on Wednesday next. The Association, which was formed some years ago, has i been a success from its inception and going from strength to strength will stage a record meeting next week when ■ the representatives of nine postprimary schools will compete. The competitors will be graded in three i divisions, senior, junior and intermedi- i ate and will comprise representatives . from Waihi High School Thames High School, Iluntly, Te Aroha, Cambridge, and Matnmata District High Schools, ; Marist Bros. High School f and the local Technical and High Schools. With several of last years entrants again representing iheir , school®! this year compet'tion will ho kefn and spectators are assured of ( some thrilling ,flnlshes. ! « * * • In the senior half mile and quarter mile events G. Fallwell, of Waihi, who i secured places In both races list year will he hard to beat. Another Waihi j boy who is expected to perform well Is A. Tcblnson, who will be carrying Ills school colours in the senior JOO and 220 but he will have io run with J. V. Devjch of Thames and J. Day of,. Camb’’.f ge, both, of whom are reported to be in form, while L. Nisbet, of the local Technical school and runner-up . in tneir senior championsh* ■) will have »o be re ckoned with. C. .3 Martin, of ; Hamilton High School, who holds I rerrds for junior events is another j factor and G. Bowie of Te Aroha has j been running well. In the 120 yards ; i.\i •. »<;. senior, Borne and Devr.ioh . will be prominent. The senior jump- ! i:ig events wi’l be winched with inter- | o*l for Pevcich of Thtines) who was i •i.nner-up last year, i* reported to be j greatly improved and may establish a j n°\v r cold in the high Jump. * * * * In the intermediate class there is a i wealth of talent. A. O'Neill of Waihi, i who won the 880 yards last year in I tnis class and was second in the 44 0 j yaids is again an intermediate and will j be hard to beat in these events. J. G. • McCoskrie, who did well as a junior \ last year for the loci! High School, j will be prominent as a sprinter, hut will j have to contend with L. McNamara, of j Technical, who established new j records in this class at their sports last week. As in the past the junior entrants include a number of “dark horses" in their first year at a secondary school. Of these the best known is R. M. Finlay, of Hamilton High School, who comes lrotn the King j Country, whence his reputation in inter-school sports has preceded him Another junior who will be prominent is A. Ridgley, of Huntly, who is still young enough for this class vid who will be remembered for winning all his events last year except the high jump and the half mile in which he scored seconds. Ridgley is expected to establish one or two now Junior records next week. In the junior jumps J. McLean, of ' Thames, who is still in this class, per- I formed well last year and is expected to do even better this time. With the public address system to keep patrons well posted and light refreshments available at popular prices, it only remains for fine weather to ensure an | enjoyable outing for all concerned. I