Mexborough and Swinton Times June 24, 1927

Crossley’s Easy Victory
Sensational Three Rounds

The meeting of Harry Crossley, the Mexborough “hope,” and Harry Trinder of Portsmouth in the Plant hotels grounds, Mexborough on Saturday, provided excitement and sensation, but it did not last more than 10 minutes.

Both men entered the ring confidently and received an ovation from the crowd of well over 1000. They were in perfect trim,  Trinder having the advantage of height and reach. He opened the fight as though the end was to come quickly. It did! – But not as he anticipated.

His rush tactics brought his own downfall. Crossley kept cool and steadied Trinder with heavy blows to the body. Still Trinder went on to receive further punishment and he must have welcomed the bell.

Trinder commence the second sensational round in a hot attack. Crossley met him calmly and gradually forced him to the ropes, dealing out punishment the while. With a rapid left right he sent Trinder down for a count of seven, and immediately he rose, knocked him down again, for eight this time, with a powerful blow. Trinder struggled up only to be sent down 1/3 time. The bell saved him from a knockout.

His seconds worked furiously and revived him for the third round, yet he had not learnt his lesson. He dashed wildly at Crossley, received further punishment and was put down for five. He gamely tried to rise but could not, falling into the arms of referee Jennings, of Bradford. The seconds threw in the towel.

Tinder was a punchbag. His rush tactics pleased Crossley who throughout the three rounds used both hands cleverly and with tremendous power in each.

In a six round contest Cyril Birkett (Mexborough) and Harold Starkey (Stainforth) gave an excellent “wrestling” display. Birkett was much taller than his opponent, but could not use his height and reach to advantage. Indeed, it is doubtful whether either knew much about boxing. The decision was a draw.

An interesting though short contest was put in by Ted Jones of Wombwell and Bill Holloway of Doncaster. The Wombwell lad gave away a great deal in height and reach but made up in speed. His elusiveness, upon which he relied, was clever but brought about his defeat. He attacked his man rapidly and both exchanged blows with freedom, Holloway being the cooler. The latter also had a heavy punch which several times steadied Jones. Holloway met Jones in determined fashion in the third round, and it was noticeable that he held his right hand in check. Jones, fighting strongly was beaten back to the ropes, then Holloway brought up his right in a hefty hook and the fight was over.