PENCHEFF WILL IMPROVE

Chronicle (Levin), 24 September 1946, Page 6

PENCHEFF WILL IMPROVE

"Spectator")

l1ght but solid grappler MATCHES AGAINST LONDOS

(By '

11 a pnze was awaraea ior t-rie best all-round wrestler, it should be awarded to the Australian, George Pencheff, who has not only renowned himself' as a drop-kick and flying tackle artist, but also as a solid grappler. Being the iightest of the overseas wrestlers, Pencheff scales only 16st.-81bs., and this fact is probably an advantage fo'r his agility,. but by no means is he not at ho.he with the big and rugged wrestlers. When it comes to solid wrestling he has a large variety of holds, equalling that of any wrestler in New Zealand. Pencheff is quite a young grappler, but he has been all over the world, wrestling in Europe and America, as well as in his own country. He participated in what . are called free-for-all battles, where no rules exist and if the referee annoys the wrestlers he is thrown out of, the ring. In these sort of battles your hair is pulled one moment and your teeth are being kicked out the next. Pencheff was defeated by Jim Londos in their first meeting, in London, and later went to America, where he came in contact with him again. Altogether he has fought Londos four times for two losses and two draws. He says he is anxious to- meet the champion again when he visits New Zealand. In nearly every city that Pencheff wrestles he usually gains the popularity of the audience. This strong and agile - grappler, who has been through every stage of the game, is surely in a class of his own. He continues to fight clean and hard battles which alone enables him worthy of praise. Although he has not an outstanding record, he may improve very shortly. Here is a man who clearly justifies the saying that the best man does not always win. Meller Meets Defeat Herb Meller, otherwise known as the atomic drop expert, met his first defeat last week when he lostj to Earl McCready at Wellington. | The bout was looked"forward to as Meller, who has not been in New Zealand long, had yet to be defeated. The first two rounds were confined to solid .wrestling, but from then on both men got down to business". The American -secured the first fall with the atomic drop in the fourth roufid, but in the sixth round McCready, after a series of dumps, gained-a fall by means of a top body press: Actually after the third dqmp Meller was uneons,cio.us to what was .being done to him, but ' the Empir^J^i^foif'-dumped him twice Kiore!* when the bell went for the se'venth round Meller was linable to- enter the ring, and McCready was awarded the bout. The end came suddqnly, but this added to the excitenient of the crowd, of whom most agree that it was really ai good bout. Meller was not disgraced by his ; defeat, but -showed that he was really a first class grappler who found one too good in McCready. Meller is leaving for che U.S.A. on Thursday, as his wife has met wifh a serious accident, but he intends to return to New Zeatand as "soon as\possible. Meller's atomic drop is continuing to thrill the crowds, and • its effectiveness is aimost certain of securing a fall. Grasping his opponent by the head and neck, he throws him over his back, with the opponent's back hitting the mat in a similar fashion to a dump. Dazed for the next few seconds, his opponent usually finds himself being assisted „to his corner after a fall has been secured by Meller. . Small AfcriveS in N.Z. The successful American grappler, Babe Small, arrived in New Zealand yesterday. Outstanding ■ for his mastery of the flying tackle, he should be popular with New • Zealand wrestling fans. He meets ; Earl McCready at Wellington next 1 Thursday night and much interest i will be taken in his first perform- » ance. Stage Collapses At the Meller-Pencheff bout at ; Christchurch last week, in which L Meller won on points, the stage ! began.. to collapse while both men , were fighting vigorously in a f>nmpr Failine: to take notice of

the referee, both continued fighting while officials held up the rafters and managed to keep the ring in one piece until the bell brought relief. Boards were pushed back into their places and kept so for the remainder of the bout. Blomfield Disqualifled Lofty Blomfield was disqualifled when he failed to release his octopus clamp on Fred Atkins'at Auckland last week, and the Australian won his first bout for some time The frenzied audience was on its toes during most- of the bout, anc really got its money's worth. Bott men were engaged in solid fighting throughout the contest and gave a good variety of holds.