WRESTLING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 55, 26 March 1946, Page 5

WRESTLING

KENNETH DEFEATS JULIAN CONTESTS IN GRAND THEATRE WHAKATANE ASSOCIATION’S FIRST VENTURE Many residents of Whakatane had their first experience of witnessing a wrestling match on •Saturday evening, when the newly established Whakatane Wrestling and Boxing Association staged a number of con-

tests in the Grand Theatre, in support of Princess Beverley for the R.S.A. Queen Carnival. Main feature of the evening was the professional heavyweight bout between Ken Kenneth at 17 stone 21bs. of Auckland and Joe Julian at 18 stone of Kumeu which resulted in a popular win for Kenneth in the seventh round, Julian submitting to a boston crab. A number of preliminary bouts of a high standard were also contested by wrestlers from Waihi, Rotorua and Hamilton, and these wei’e

followed with intense interest by the crowd, which, although not a capacity house, filled a large section of the theatre, and showed itself to be an excellent wrestling audience. In the Grand Theatre, a well-made ring had been carefully constructed for the night. Built out over the first six or eight rows of seats, it was in such a position that any seat in the house afforded a good Ringside seats were on ydiat normally is the stage. Mr H. Cowan, of Waihi, officiated as referee for the amateurs bouts, whilst. Mr V. Rawle refereed for the main contest. Mr F. Cameron was announcer, Mr H. Armstrong timekeeper, Mr C. R. Coates call steward, and Messrs. P. Dixon, R. Whittaker and C. Jones seconds.

Prior to the commencement of the main bout, Mr H. G. Warren delivered a short address, in which after apologising for the unavoidable absence of the President, Mr J. Creeke, he thanked the visiting wrestlers for their gesture in coming to Whakatane to support the R.S.A., and also the audience for the manner in which it supported the 'event. The Professional Bout Feature of the evening was th§ professional heavyweight contest of eight rounds, between Ken Kenneth (17st. 21bs.) of Auckland who defeated some of the world’s best on his Australian tour, and has beaten Lofty Blomfield, and Joe Julian (18st.) of Kumeu, who, while overseas, distinguished himself against some of the best in the American Army.

The opening of the contest, which throughout was marked by speed and plenty of action proved to be no more than a foretaste of what was to come in the succeeding rounds. Julian launched a series of forward headlocks on Kenneth, and then held him to the mat. Kenneth broke the hold with a figure four scissors to the head and followed with a short arm scissors, which Julian had failed to break When the gong went.

Fall to Julian

The first fall came in the second round. Kenneth opened with a flying tackle but missed, and Julian, stepping outside him pinned him with a body press. Kenneth opened round 3 with another flying tackle, and fastened on a head scissors. Julian broke the hold and stood up with an Indian deathlock on Kenneth, who however, came out through Julian’s legs, and clapped on a barred toe hold. Julian crawled through the ropes. Coming in again, Julian took some nasty elbow jolts, and was making for the corner of the ring to break a hammerlock when the gong went. Round 4 was a field day for toeholds. After holding Kenneth on the mat with a forward toe hold, Julian was forced to crawl for the ropes to break a double barred toe hold. The gong went with Kenneth holding Julian on the mat with a reverse double barred toe hold.

Julian opened round 5 with a flying leap at Kenneth, who dodged, and applied a crucifix hold changing it to a body scissors, and then back to a crucifix, rolling Julian round the ring. Julian managed to get a toe hold, and then after throwing Kenneth twice, sent him through the ropes with a twisted headlock. Round 6 was a tough one for Kenneth. After breaking a hammerloek applied by Julian, by climbing up

the ropes, and a barred toe hold, by straightening his leg, Kenneth took more punishment than in any other round when Julian held him in a standing leg splits, for well over a minute. Just before the gong, he managed to release himself and ap“ply a keylock. Kenneth’s Victory

A rather unexpected finish to the contest came in round 7. Kenneth opened by throwing Julian with a forward headlock. Julian applied a barred toe hold. Kenneth kicked his way out, and clapping on a boston crab, gained a fall, Julian submitting.

The gong went for round 8. Kenneth charged out of his corner, but Julian was unable to continue and Kenneth was declared the winner.

Throughout the match, each contestant was hotly supported by his particular section of the audience, and the cheers and applause which arose at the decision almost lifted the roof. Preliminary Bouts Of the preliminary bouts which were fought, easily the best as far as the crowd was concerned was the lightweight contest, of four five minute rounds between C. Jones (lOst. 61bs.) of Rotorua, three times New Zealand Champion, and 12 times Auckland Champion, and N. Sakey (lOst. 21bs.) of Auckland, an exAuckland Champion. Action marked the contest, with plenty of ‘tough stuff’ which brought constant applause. The crowd definitely did not like Sakey’s methods of jumping on his opponent, but although Jones suffered at first, he showed himself well capable of retaliating. The decision went to Jones in the 4th round when he pinned Sakey with a press from a headlock. The V. Rawle v D. Marsh Middleweight contest was also popular, chiefly through the clowning which Rawle went through in the ring. There were, however, may who did not realise that beneath the comic exterior, was one of the most brilliant exponents of wrestling in the country. Rawle is an ex-New Zealand, North Island, and Auckland Champion. Exhibition of Holds

A novel feature was the exhibition of wrestling holds, which took place immediately prior to interval, and in which Rawle and Kenneth displayed any holds requested by the audience. Much to the satisfaction of the crowd, the two wrestlers obliged by going through the whole ‘works’ from a drop kick to the octapus clamp. Preliminary Bouts

Results of preliminary bouts were as follows:

Lightweight: R. Johnston (Waihi) v O. Lloyd (Waihi). Fall to Johnston in the 3rd round; W. Dunstan (Waihi) v R. Armitt (Ohinemuri). A no-decision contest, Armitt’s shoulder being dislocated in the 3rd round; C. Jones (Rotorua) v N. Sakey (Auckland). Fall to Jones in the 4th round.

Featherweight: M. Hearn (Waihi) v G. Tyssen (Waihi). Drawn bout. Bantamweight: J. Frewin (Waihi) v R. Gordon (Waihi). Drawn bout. Middleweight: V. Rawle (Auckland) v D. Marsh (Auckland). Drawn bout.