"NINTH HOUND" EXCHANGES

Evening Star, Issue 22443, 14 September 1936, Page 11

"NINTH HOUND" EXCHANGES

LIVELY WRESTLING MIX-UP ILOMFIELD BEATS DAVIS Eight fiercely-contested rounds of lively and colourful wrestling did not terminate, proceeding in the match between Lofty Blornfield (16.10) and “ Wee Willie ” Davis (18.0) at the Town Hall on Saturday night, and after Blornfield obtained the only fall in the final round, the men engaged in a mix-up which threatened for a few moments to develop into as unseemly a disturbance as to’ok place when Joe Woods met Paul Boesch here a few weeks ago. Blornfield paved the wav .fur his fall with three perfectly-timed jolts to 1 be jaw. pinning his man with a Teverse headlock and body press. As the referee (Mr Frank Anderson) loft the ring, Davia rushed over and addressed himself to that experienced official Mr Anderson refused to be drawn, and Davis then directed his verbal broadside towards Blornfield. The Aucklander wasted nd time in words, but connected with a forearm jolt to the jaw, and before another second had passed the men were, at it hammer and tongs. What might has developed into an even more regrettable affair was averted by the prompt action of the M.O. (Mr Jack Kilmartin), who was in the ring in a Hash, brouc the men apart without ado, and led the reluctant Davis to his corner. At the same time, the police entered the ling and Blornfield was induced to go to his corner. These “ ninth-round ” rallies may appeal to a section of the onlookers, but such disturbances might lead to something more serious, and steps should be taken to see that wrestlers confine their activities to the eight rounds allotted them, under penally of suspension. Whether wrestling is to be looked upon as a sport or purely as an entertaining show, it is, not, edifying to see two men, engaging in a scuffle after the official decision has been given. It is not tolerated in, any other snort, nor should it be allowed in wrestling. The audience was the largest of the season, the Town Hall being filled to capacity, and the onlookers were treated to the most spectacular encounter of the season. Davis, the biggest man yet to appear here, is a real “man mountain,” stanling Cft 7in and weighing 18 stone. The burly Blornfield appeared comparatively small beside Davis, but in streugtn proved quit© the equal of the big fellow. It is doubtful if ever before there has been such a torrid and gruelling display of real forearm jolting as both men gave. From mid-ring they frequently engaged in toe to too rallies to the ropes—and sometimes over them but they showed their calibre as wrestlers also, with surprising speed on their feet as well as m the application of the attractive variety of holds used. ' Both exploited the headlock effectively, Davis especially using it in most punishing fashion. He, has a variation of a body scissors, using a cradle as well, which troubled Blornfield considerably at times. He showed cleverness in the use of u:s arm holds, a hammerlock being oarticulurh’ wellapplied. He moved exceptionally well for so big a man, and his showmanship was of the order that appealed to the crowd. It was certainly amusing to see Davis using both forearm jolts (as allowed) and elbow jabs (which are not), and then, when Blornfield retaliated in kind, making an appeal to the referee. Blornfield proved a match for Davis in every respect, and, more often than not, forced the bigger man to tiivo ground when they started m to rock each other with jolts. The New Zea-

lauder shows much greater variety in attack than he used to, counters well, and moves fast. He used some very clever leg holds, and his application of the short-arm scissors was very well done. He exploited most of the holds, and it was from a reverse headlock that ho gained the fall which won him the match. It was fast, willing, and smart wrestling, and it was a pity it was marred oy tho outbreak at its close. Messrs T. M'Oracken and S, Drown wore the timekeepers. THE MATCH DESCRIBED. Fast work by both men, good wrestling, mingled with punishing forearm jolts, marked a spectacular first round, m which Davis brought Lofty down with a headlock. The hug© American held it strongly, and as a last resource Lofty elbow-jabbed to get out. When Lofty put on a reverse wristlock Davis made a grab at his opponent’s hair,, and then the men came to their feet to irfdulge in a fierce exchange of forearm jolts.. Reverse wristlocks, headlocks, and forearm jolts were freely used by the contestants, and when Lofty clamped on a headlock Davis picked him up bodily and brought hifn down; but Lofty held the headlock, Davis eventually countering with a head scissors and armbar. Lofty lunged out, but was dropped with an elbow jab, the referee cautioning Davis when he kicked Blomfied as he lay on the mat. Blornfield slipped on a reverse wristlock just before the bell, and was holding a reverse headlock at “ corners.” Bringing Blornfield down with a reverse headlock in tho second round, Davis rolled o/er the top of him and secured a double wristlock, the referee breaking them up on the Topes. _ Davis was showing speed in working his arm holds, and altnough Lofty pulled him over in a back-slain, Wee Willie held to a hammerlock. Davis was using good variety, and from a wristlock he shifted to a short-arm scissors, Blornfield being forced to the mat when he tried to come up. Eventually Lofty countered with a splits, and, twisting the foot away, gave Davis a very painful time until a Japanese leglock caused Blornfield to break it. Just before the bell Lofty grabbed at Davis’s ear in an effort to make him let go a toehold, and Wee Willie became very annoyed, anddropped Lofty with a forearm jolt to tho jaw. It was the lively wrestling that the onlookers always enjoy, and the third round saw no let up, some tough rallies taking place on tho mat, with each man giving as good gs he took. The Aucklander secured an armbar, and also put in some elbow jabs to the chin when the referee was behind him. Davis c-anio round on top and grabbed a forward toehold. He lay well over his man. and put in some elbow jolts while he held a cradle. Ho persisted in the use of his elbow, and was warned by the referee, but Lofty showed that he could deal out just as effective punishment with forearm jolts and there was a fierce exchange, Davis flooring Blomfield with a forearm _ jolt under the heart. When Lofty missed with a flying tackle. Davis put on a headlock. and Lofty back-slammed him three times in succession. Lofty followed Davis to the ropes, and put m a series of forearm jolts, almost tying him up on the ropes. The referee broke them up, and Davis came in quickly, paving the way for a rocking chair splits, which Lofty countered by a wris j 1 ick and toehold, quick!-' shifting his clutch in an endeavour to obtain an Indian deathlock. Although it was a little too high to bo effective. Lofty gave Davis a punishing time, and he was working towards better balance when tho bell came to relieve Davis.

Exchanges of forearm jolts opened tho fourth round, and when Lofty put on a Japanese leg trip Davis cleverly roled to the ropes, and came back with

a reverse headlock, Lofty climbing up on the ropes to break it. Davis was attacking strongly, and when he secured a hammerlock Lofty broke it with a jolt to the stomach. Lofty obtained a wristlock and shifted to a hammerlock, sitting well over his man. Davis rushed to the ropes and somersaulted right over tho top to break the hold. Lofty went for another hammerlock, and the referee moved very quickly to stop Davis from slinging his opponent over the ropes. Davis followed up some severe lofts with a body scissors and cradle, lifting Blornfield up and dumping him to the, mat again. Lofty endeavoured to come round and obtained a punishing toehold, forcing Davis to let go a head- 1 twist. Lofty eventually broke the scissors and held a headlock at the bell. The feature of the fifth round was the way Lofty held a short-am scissors for nearly five minutes. Davis came in with a rush, and after securing a reverse headlock put his knee in to the chin and dropped Lofty with a forearm jolt, sending him reeling round the ring. Lofty camo back with a couple of solid flying tackles and drove Davis to the ropes, where the referee applied a count. From a reverse headlock Lofty shifted to a short-arm scissors, and when Davis stood up Lofty brought him back. Davis managed to break the scissors, but Lofty quickly secured the hold again, and the round was nearly over when Davis countered with an armstretch, Loftv coming round on his knees to break it. Torrid exchanges of jolts and, fierce wrestling on the mat were seen in the sixth round in which Davis brought his man over with a reverse headlock, Blornfield trying hard for a Bostom crab, Davis ,put on a body scissors, and when Lofty broke it threw Lofty with three reverse headlocks, putting in some jolts when Lofty was caught in the ropes. Blornfield retaliated in good measure, and a terrific forearm jolt to the stomach had Davis seeking refuge in the corner, where Lofty landed on top of him. The referee tried to break the men up, while Lofty continued to sink jolts to the stomach. Blornfield was thrown off, and fell over the ropes, putting in a “ sock:” at Davis as he clambered back. More jolting took place, and Loftv shifted from a leg trip to a beautifully-applied barred toehold, Davis crawling through the ropes. ‘ The men were engaged in a mix-up at the bell, and Davis managed to get one in as they went to their corners. Davis made a wild rush for Blornfield in the seventh .and when Blornfield put on a wristlock Wee Wilie picked him up and dumped him. Blornfield came back with some heavy forearm jolts, and the men stood toe to toe and engaged in most punishing forearm jolts, Blornfield flooring Davis and missing with a drop kick. Davis then jolted Lofty to the mat and missed with two flying tackles, Loftv bringing him over with a stomach throw each time._ Blornfield headlocked Davis, brought him up, and put in two flying tackles. Following a series of headlocks, Blornfield threw Davis over the ropes, and when Wee Willie came in again ne tore after Blornfield, who-held him on the mat with a crucifix at the bell. Davis came straight from his corner as the bell went for the last round, but Loftv sidestepped beautifully, and put in three perfectly-timed forearm jolts to the jaw which had Davis badly staggered. Blornfield had little difficulty in. bringing him down with a reverse lieadiock and taking tho fall with a body press to win the match. The crowd w. 'ted expectantly as Davis addressed himself to the referee, and in the mix-up that followed it was fortunate that Mr Kilmartin had the presence of mind to prevent it from developing into a serious disturbance. THE PRELIMINARIES. A. Sands (9.4) beat A. Logan (9.6) by on© fall. This was a lively match between two willing boys. Sands used a well-varied attack being particularly effective with scissor holds, and also using headlocks and armbars. Logan offered stout resistance. but did not work on his holds as surely as Sands, who went right after a fall in the last round, and eventually pinned his man with a headhold and body press. H. Taylor (8.7) and C. Reid (8.13) wrestled a draw, each securing a fall. This was a bright bout, both boys moving smoothly and showing speed and sureness in the application of their holds. Tho first round was very well contested, with Reid getting behind his man and staying there. In tho second round Taylor used some good counters, and, after breaking a body scissors, picked Reid up for an aeroplane spin, and took tho first fall with a body press. Tn the third round Taylor threw Reid with a series of headlocks, but the latter trapped Taylor when he went for another aeroplane, and, slipping over his man, Reid pinned him with a body press, the referee awarding a draw. N. Thompson (10) beat E. Cockburn (11.0) by two falls to one. This «was a fast and interesting match between two good workers, both hoys slipping from one hold to another in good style. Cockburn clamped on some good headlocks in the first round, and took the first fait with an armbar and body press. Thompson brought bis opponent down several times with a good faccbar and a further nelson, taking the equalising fall with a beauti-fully-applied cradle bold. Cockburn damped on ft beadloek in (bo third round but Thompson secured an arm-

bar and reverse headlock to take his second fall and the match.

L, Williams (12.0) drew with H. Hunt (13.0). This was a vigorous match, in which no falls were recorded. Williams did most of the attack, and used a good headlock and head scissors, though he was unable to pin his heavier opponent. Munt countered fairly well, but for the greater part seemed satisfied to hug the mat. He was very lucky to be given a draw. AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP LUNCH RETAINS TITLE Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, September 12. Wrestling for the heavy-weight championship of Australia at the Sydney Stadium, the title-holder, Tom Lurich, received the verdict in the eighth round against Fred Atkins. Both obtained a fall early, and Lurich obtained a second fall after a fast exhibition in the final round. WALKER BEATS WAHLBERG SYDNEY, September 12. In a contest at the Leichhardt Stadium, the Canadian. George Walker, defeated the Dane. A 1 Wahlberg, with a fall from a jack-knife hold in the fifth round. In a preliminary bout, Sam Rogers defeated the New Zealander, Bob King, by one fall. Rogers finished off his opponent in 18 minutes.