BOXING & WRESTLING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 October 1939, Page 9

BOXING & WRESTLING

CONTESTS AT MASTERTON IN AID OF MAYOR’S FUND. x EXCELLENT FORM "DISPLAYED. 'Amateur wrestling and. boxing of a high '.standard was witnessed by a poor house, at the Opera House, Masterton, last night. Gymnastics, which were also of a high standard, were presented by Alf Jenkins’ team from Wellington. Bert Cook, lightheavyweight wrestler and heavyweight-lifting champion of New Zealand, went through his paces both in the ring and at lifting weights. The proceeds are to be donated to the Mayor’s Emergency Fund. Details are as follow: —

BOXING

Walsh, Masterton, 9.6, drew with Kennedy, Carterton, 9.6. Punching cleaner. Walsh was slightly ahead on points in the first and second rounds. Kennedy attacked in the last round and (made up much of the lost ground to share the decision. Rutherford, Masterton., 10.2, defeated Clements, Featherston, 10.0, by a knock-out in the third round. Hard hitting marked the opening • round which ended with honours even. Round two saw Rutherford using his left xcj advantage. A hard swing by Clements dropped Rutherford, but not long enough for the count. The bell sounded with both fighters mixing matters in the centre of the ring. Ten seconds after the start of the last round, Rutherford stopped Clements with a right cross, which necessitated the latter’s removal from the ring. Sturdee, Featherston, 6.9, drew with Thorn, Featherston, 6.9. Both fighters punched fast and clean. Theii* footwork was good, the decision being a popular one. Thom, Featherston, 4.7, defeated Edwards. Masterton, 4.12, on points. Thom was the aggressor from the word “go,” raining punches all over his opponent, whose defence was outstanding. v Thorn, Featherston, 4.7, drew with Corlett, Masterton, \.T. This bout proved one of the most’ interesting of the evening.

WRESTLING

Cook. New Zealand lightweight champion, drew with T. Reid, Wairarapa lightweight champion. Cook, who immediately impressed with his speed had the best of the opening exchanges, but towards the end of the round Reid was coming into his own. A beautifully timed leg trip by Cook opened the second round, to which Reid replied with a barred toe-hold and then a short-arm scissors. Dropping the shortarm scissors, Reid held Cook in a painful body scissors which the latter broke as the gong went. Round three saw the Wairarapa champion tossed through the ropes and on entering the arena again he was brought heavily to the mat with a leg trip. Solid wrestling continued until the end ot the round, when Mr Jim Dryden, the Dominion heavyweight champion and Empire Games representative, awarded a draw.

Metthews, Featherston, 9.0, defeated Hockard, Featherston, 9.0, by one fall in the third round. Matthews did all the work in the first round and when the bell sounded was well ahead on points. Round two saw Hockard the aggressor, but Matthews countered well. Bringing Hockard to the mat with a body throw Matthews secured the winning fall in the third round. McLeod, Featherston, 9.0, defeated Leighton, Featherston, 9.0. on points. The opening round was very even. Both boys applied a wide selection of holds, to which the other countered. Round two was fast and even, the public being again treated to a variety of holds. Round three saw the fireworks commence, with McLeod having slightly the better of the exchanges. Working hard he almost secured a fall as the gong went for time. He was awarded the contest on points.

Chapel, Masterton, 10.9, drew with Hancox, Wellington, 10.7. Chapel forced the pace from the gong and Hancox was kept busy breaking a wide selection of holds, which he did admirably. Round two saw Hancox on the attack.

but Chapel appeared to bo too strong, breaking the holds with comparative ease. The final round produced wrestling of a high standard, the referee declaring the match a draw. Wilton, Featherston, beat Leighton. Masterton, on points. Wilton, although much lighter, attacked and had the better of the opening round. He was unfortunate in not gaining a fall, the bell saving Leighton. Round two found Wilton still the aggressor, but Leighton was proving too strong. Near the end of the round, however, Wilton narrowly missed a fall with a body press. In the third round Wilton continued to attack and took the decision on points. The referee was Mr Dick Edwards. ASHAMED OF PUBLIC. COMMENT ON SMALL PATRONAGE “I am ashamed of the public,” said

the Mayor. Mr T. Jordan, this morning, referring to the small attendance of the public at last night's display of gymnastics and wrestling in the Opera House, and also at Tuesday night's orchestral concert, both of which en • terlainments were held as Recreation Week attractions, i'l think we owe an apology." said the Mayor, “to those who came all the way from Wellington last night to put on a first-class entertainment and also to the number of men who came from Featherston to stage boxing and wrestling bouts. It is very disheartening to the men and to the Physical Welfare Committee."