WRESTLING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 219, 16 August 1937, Page 10

WRESTLING.

BLOMFIELD v. COX. “Lofty” Blcmfield, who was largely instrumental in all attendance records being broken the last time he appeared m Palmerston North, will compete in this city again next Thursday night, when his opponent will be his greatest rival in Now Zealand, “King Kong” Cox, The success of any wrestling season is very largely dependent upon whether rivalry becomes particularly keen between one or two wrestlers, but never before has tho public_ displayed as much interest in the doings of two matmen as it has in the contests, between Blomficld and Cox. The first time they met, at Auckland, the Town Hall ivas completely sold out on the Friday before the match, which took place on a Monday. On the night of the bout the public was adwised that it would be useless to attempt to gain admission unless tickets were held, but in spite of this thousands tried in vain to gain admission. The match proved to be easily the most thrilling ever seen in the northern centre, which lias been a wrestling stronghold ever since the sport was placed on an organised footing in the Dominion. Both men, who naturally display aggressive tendencies bordering upon unruliness, threw everything they had into their performances, and the crowd was kept in a ferment of excitement Irony gong to gong. Both , Blomfiekl and Cox are powerful men, in the prime of athletic manhood, and their stamina seems to bo inexhaustible, so that it is impossible for one to wear down the other. 'The issue between them is even at the moment, and it remains foi their local contest to decide the rubber. The box plans opened thin morning at Collinson and Cunninghamo’s and there was a brisk demand for favoured scats right throughout tho forenoon. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS. To encourage interest in this sport, the executive of tho Palmerston North Wrestling Association is charging, only one 'shilling for admission to ringside. scats, with ladies free, and boys only sixpence, on Wednesday night, when tho district amateur championships will be staged down to tho semi-finals and some of the finals. There is always good competition in these events, with the boys all out for inclusion in tho New Zealand championships. In addition, the competitors go hard for tho honour of having their names on the Police Shield, which was presented by the Police Force for the most improved amateur during the season. Another special guinea prize will bo awarded to the most aggressive wrestler during this tourney. The rules must be strictly adhered to in order to gain this prize, which, like tho Police Shield, is more likely to go to a loser than a finalist.

LEWIS DISQUALIFIED. MATCH WITH McCREADY. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 15. Five times world champion and perhaps the mo6t formidable wrestler ever seen on a Wellington mat, the veteran “Strangler” Lewis met Earl McCready on Saturday night. Lewis lost by disqualification. He took the first fall with a series of heavy headlocks and a body press in the third round. In the fifth. McCready lifted Lewis and dumped him mightily, tho impact of his 18-odd stone shaking the 6tage. He then nounced on him and pinned him. In the sixth and last round McCready hunted. Lewis round the ring, punishing him' with stinging elbow jolts until at last the big man turned at bay and knocked McCready to the mat with a single smashing blow of his clenched fist. The referee (Mr Alf. Jenkins) raised McCready’s limp arm in token of victory. The excited crowd hooted Lewis and showered peanuts, pennies, crumpled programme and cigarette tins into the ring. A pressman suffered an ugly gash from a flying coin, but Lewis watched the demonstration with apparent unconcern.

KIRILINKO AND WOODS. Per Press Association. TAUMARUNUI, Aug. 15. Good, solid wrestling was witnessed last night when Kirilinko and Woods wrestled at Taumarunui. Each secured a fall and the referee’s decision was a draw. BLOMFIELD AND WADE. ONE FALL TO EACH. Per Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, Aug. 15. “Lofty” Blomfield and Glen Wade wrestled a drawn bout on Saturday night. Wade secured a fall with a jackknife following a flying headlock. In the seventh round Blomfield cleverly gained a fall w'ith an octopus clamp.

MEN COUNTED OUT. FARCICAL END TO BOUT. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN. Aug. 15. With a fall each, Floyd Marshall and Norman Wescoatt wrestled to a draw last evening in a bout characterised by a good deal of showmanship and little good wrestling. i The last round developed into a farce, when neither man seemed to care whether he wrestled or not, and the crowd counted both out.