NARROW VICTORY

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20910, 15 September 1939, Page 11

NARROW VICTORY

McCREADY NEARLY LOSES WREiTLINO IN HAMILTON PAUL JONES’ GOOD DISPLAY An unusual fall, the only one of the match, saved Earl MeCready, of Canada (17.0), from defeat in the Theatre Royal, last night, when he wrestled Paul Jones (16.8), the powerful American. Recognised as one of the world’s best wrestlers, and rated as the number one exponent at present in Mie country, MeCready has seldom been closer to ilel'eut in recent years. Throughout the bout he had been content to let Jones make the wrestling with the result that the American was ahead on points until tile fall came in the seventh round. Petrol restrictions had kept away the country patrons and the house wus a poor one. The standard of wrestling was disappointing, although Jones did all he could Lo make matters move. With a body scissors, and an arm stretch, Jones had the better of the first round, which he finished off with a figure-four head scissors, a crucifix and a protracted haminer-lock, the latter hold giving McCreadiy a lair amount of trouble. Thrown Over the Ropes With MeCready falling at the feet of the police contingent after being thrown over the ropes, the second round opened at a fast pace, and after a session of Jolting by both wrestlers, MeCready took the upper hand. It was only momentary, however, and the Canadian had no easy task in breaking free from a hammer-lock and a twisted arm stretch. Jones added gusto to the hold by kneeling on McCready's biceps. Just when Jones was taking another advantage with a rocking chair splits. MeCready whipped on an Indiau death lock, and only Hie gong saved the Texas American. MeCready was just starling to take a share in the points when the third round got under way, but Jones had still plenty in reserve. He escaped from a reverse wTist-lock and secured a head scissors. Ho had more trouble in breaking a double bar toe hold, however. He did it, though, and retaliated with a wrist-lock, but McCready was intent on making up leeway, and he gave Jones several anxious moments with a short-arm scissors, the referee several times counting up to two. Words to the Refaraa Working intently on the same arm from the outset, of the fourth period, MeCready whipped on a short-arm scissors and Ihen a hammer-lock, but tie soon found himself caught in a head-lock, and later a variation of the short-arm scissors. in u body scissors, Jones heard the count of tw », but wriggled his way free and soon had MeCready groaning i/. an Indian death-lock. But the Empire champion broke that before the round ended. " Go away from me," said Jones to the referee, who interfered in ttie rally of romping at the opening of the tiftli round. Elbow jolts were living freely when Jones threw MeCready around the ring a couple of times. .Settling down again. Jones llicked a figure-four body scissors on to his opponent. Except for troubling Jones with a bout of flying tackles, M:Cready was making little impression but when he did get a break he made the most of it. As the round end-.d he had regained the advantage with a reverse double wrist-lock, but he still needed points to square the honours. MeCready had many running lit He traps, Iml Jones’ counters were preventing the Canadian from completing Hie holds. However, in the sixth round MeCready retrieved a good «I<*hl of leeway with a powerfully applied step-over toe-hold, which would have been switched to an Indian death-lock had not Jones tripped the odd leg and clamped on a bod\ scissors in retaliation. Unfortunate Fall In the seventh round Jones had great misfortune. He bad thrown McrCready around the ring and then jumped into a fig-ure-four^ body scis-

sors, sitting behind his opponent. Aa Jones rolled MoCready from side lo side, the latter went into a high bride©, falling backwards and forcing Jones back. The referee counted three and awarded a fall, but a section of the ringside crowd cailed that it was Jones' back and not hi* shoulders on the mat. In the final round Jones did not appear so keen. McCready rushed in with a serieg of living tackles and was forcing the pace as the match ended. Mr W. Shattock was the rfi'eree. The preliminary contests resulted at follows: Lightweight.—il. Fitzpatrick (Hamilton., 10.5, drew with L. Itcese iliamUtOO . i.it. no fails. .Middleweight.—A. Lye (Tauwhare , 1 i.O, beat H. Shattock (Hamilton,, 11.5, by one fall; F. Lye (Tauwhare;, 11.0, beat C. Kelly Hamilton,, 10.10, on points, no fails; I*. Spice (Morilnsvllle), 11.8, and H. tie gbit, 11.10 (Huntly), drew, no falls.