WRESTLING REVIVAL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 202, 24 May 1944, Page 10

WRESTLING REVIVAL

That wrestling still has a large army of followers was proved by the crowded attendance at the Wellington Town Hall last night at the tournament with which the Wellington Wrestling Association set the game going again after a three-year break caused by the war. The crowd were well entertained by a lively contest between Lofty Blomfleld, the New Zealand heavyweight champion, and Harry Andrews, Australia. Blomfleld scaled Ifist. 101 b„ and. the Australian was 101 b. lighter. Some clever work was seen in the early stages, both men employing a wide variety of holds, and Infusing plenty of life into their work. Both proved clever at getting out of difficult positions, and the rapid fluctuations kept interest at a high pitch. They warmed to their work in the fourth round, but after 2mln. lOsec. of strenuous ■wrestling- Blomfleld obtained the first fall with his famous octopus clamp hold. The fifth round had only been going for Imin. 55sec. when Andrews got on a painful -short-arm scissors hold to which Blomfleld had to submit There was great excitement when the Australian launched a Series of flying tackles in the sixth round, which bounced the big Aucklander all over the ring. Blomfleld, however, came back’ at his man like a catapult, and knocked him flat with a flying tackle. Unfortunately, in employing this he used his knee to his opponent's stomach, and was promptly disqualified by the referee, Mr. Ray Allen, who awarded the contest to Andrews. Mr, Allen made -a most efficient referee, being not afraid to take a hand in the rough stuff when the big fellows were transgressing the rules. Two Wellington lads, C. Shannon <11.10) and F. MoSs (42.4), infused plenty of life into their professional contest over five rounds. Drop-kicks, jolts and flying tackles figure in their lively argument. Shannon obtained a fall -in the third round after dumping his opponent heavily a couple of times, and Moses evened things in the fourth round with a reverse double armbar developed from a crucifix. An even and entertaining contest w’ent to Shannon en points. Mr. Ray Allan was the referee. Amateur Preliminaries.

E. M’rigley, 7.12, beat M’. Hobson, 8.0, in two straight falls; C. Teague, 11.5, beat K. Mahoney, 11.6, on points; J. Edwards, 9.4, beat K. Hughes. 9.6, in two straight falls; C. Slater, 12.7, beat L. Taylor, 11.8, in two straight falls. , Mr. J. H. Thompson was the referee, and Mr. A. Pope made au efficient announcer.