DOUR WRESTLING

Evening Star, Issue 22461, 5 October 1936, Page 4

DOUR WRESTLING

KRUSE MAKES THE PACE BUT SAVOLDI CALLS THE TUNE Most'of the large crowd that filled the Town Hall on Saturday night for the professional wrestling match between “ Jumping n Joe Savoldi and Bob Kruse, which was listed for eight 10-minute rounds, went there in the expectation that Savoldi would emerge the winner, and in this respect they were not disappointed, as the former world’s champion took the match by two falls to one. The first was gained in the third round and the second in the sixth, Kruse gaining a submission fall in the fifth. Yet, while Kruse lias to be given credit for his clever display of straight wrestling, the audience may _be forgiven for gaining the impression that Savoldi. called the tune to his liking from the second round onwards. Kruse certainly prevented him from opening but with any colourful moves, and in this respect the match was somewhat disappointing, being of the dour, solid type, but Savoldi, whose weight was given at 15.6, seemed too strong for Kruse, fine wrestler though the latter is. Kruse was announced as weighing 15 stone, but that probably flattered him by a stone, to say the,least. While Kruse did some brilliant wristlocking and employed a very “effective headlock, Savoldi usually had a counter ready, and without over-exertion appeared to have Kruse’s measure. He was certainly in trouble when Kruse evened up in the fifth, but quickly ended things in the sixth. These men have met several times already, and. since Savoldi;has-yet to be defeated in the Dominion, it is no discredit to the lighter man to say that Savoldi has always proved his superior when the men started to grapple in earnest. Mr Frank Anderson again handled the bout in first-class style, and Mr F. J. Campbell was the M.G. THE BOUT. Attacking hard from the start, Kruse worked well in to his man, showing good balance and spreading himself well out when he brought Savoldi down with a reverse headlock, getting splendid leverage. Kruse unloosed a couple of forearm jolts, but Savoldi came back with a very crisp short snappy right, which dropped Kruse. The latter quickly secured a reverse wristlock, but Savoldi broke it by the simple expedient of smashing a forearm jolt to the jaw. This was the signal for Kruse to protest volubly to the referee, who waved him into action, and Bob took his opponent to the mat with a reverse headlock, Savoldi picking Kruse up and dumping him. Kruse was working fast, but so far the wrestling had been dour rather than! spectacular,, and Savoldi secured a hammerlook, which he held in spite of Kruse back-slamming him three times. When Kruse tried to pitch Savoldi oyer the ropes the referee broke them, up, .and, Kruse slipped on a wristlock which he shifted to a hammerlock, also, securing a chinlock. Kruse sat comfortably over his man with a grapevine on the legs aiid both arms out, but Savoldi came over for a forward bodyhold, and held a reverse wristlock at the hell. The second round gave the impression that Savoldi was merely biding his time, for although Kruse prevented him from opening out in spectacular fashion, he countered effectively, and Kruse was not able to hold him for very long. Jt was not very colourful stuff, though Kruse showed out well in straight wrestling. When Kruse secured an armlock, Savoldi countered with a flying head scissors, Kruse putting in several forearm jolts. Then as Savoldi pranced about as if to drop kick, Kruse, like Brer Rabbit, lay low, and nothing much eventuated until the men i?ot together in mid-ring and tried their hands at hair-pulling, the' referee intervening. When Savoldi let go a few jolts as if he meant it, Kruce started to climb up the ropes, and Savoldi went after him, the referee having to break them up. More jolting, and then Kruse slipped on a really good wristlock with the palm up. Savoldi wasted no time in endeavouring to break it, but essayed the age-old expedient of tapping his opponent on the back as if he were the referee, indicating submission. Kruse fell for the trick, and then, like a spoilt child, again uttered voluble protests to the referee. Why, it would be hard to say. Kruse did some good work with a reverse wristlock, which he shifted to a hammerlock, but Savoldi broke it and put in a dropkick. Kruse going for a nice wristlock just before the bell. Savoldi started to wrestle in earnest in the third round, and when Kruse obtained a barred'hammerlock, Savoldi palmed Him off, ‘and was warned by the referee. Kruse put in some forearm jolts, and again started to jabber at the referee when he was checked for using the elbow.; Savoldi clamped on. a good headlock, which Kruse broke by using his knee in Savoldi’s back. After a further exchange of jolts, Savoldi sent .Kruse spinning with a flying tackle, and, moving fast, he picked Kruse up for a heavy dump to take the first fall with a body press. Kruse recovered Well in the fourth round, which" was' solid rather than exciting, with Kruse showing perfect balance and leverage against liis stronger opponent, who still seemed disposed to allow Kruse to make the attack. Kruse was making good use of a headlock, lying close in to his man and pressing his head in to the mat with his own shoulder. Savoldi was twice thrown by means of halch holds, but he came back with a headlock, Kruse getting clear to put on a hammerlock. Savoldi rolled over to secure an armlock and body press as the bell went. The fifth round was conspicuous for a brilliant display of wristlocking by Kruse, and Savoldi caused laughter when ho again - endeavoured to get Kruse to break the hold by tapping him on the-back. Shifting to a barred toehold, Kruse weakened his opponent and then cleverly slipped on a punishing wristlock with the palm up. Holding Savoldi on the mat. Kruse gave him a very punishing time, and the more Savoldi lunged the tighter Kruse sat, and it was not long before Savoldi conceded a submission fall. The end came in the sixth round, however, and in an unexpected manner, too. Kruse began a fierce attack, and following some jolting be picked Savoldi up to dump him. As thov came down on the mat Savoldi rolled right over on top of Kruse, turning the tables to' pin Kruse with a body press, and thus winning the match by two falls to one. THE PRELIMINARIES. S. Blakeley (10.0) beat D. Dougherty (10,6) on points. This was a bright and lively _ bout between two willing boys who introduced plenty of variety into tbeir work. Both snapped on their bolds in very nippy fashion, working well on wristlocks. leglocks, and short-arm scissors. The ilr.>t two rounds were fairly evenly contested, but Blakeley was all over bis

opponent in the last round, and gained the decision. H. Stevens (10.6). heat L. Hamill (10.2) by one fall. Some clever work was seen in this bout, Hamill making a good showing against his solid opponent. Stevens worked very surely on las holds and countered nicely, and he took the only fall of the match in the last round with a headlock and body press. A. M'Millan (12.4) beat R. Meek (12.4) by one fall. M'Millan gave one of his best displays this season, working his holds with plenty of speed and moving very nicely. Meek made a good showing, but could not hold M'Millan, who exploited a flying scissors very effectively. M'Millan secured a fall in the third round with an ambar and body press. L.. Goughian (12.0) heat L. Williams (11.12) by one fall. This was a rough and vigorous bout, with Goughian “ ladling out ” more than he got. Both resorted to unorthodox methods in their efforts to secure a fall. Williams made good use of a headlock, but Coughland was too tough, and took the only_ fall of the match in the last round with a body press. Mr D. Samson refereed the amateur bouts.