CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING MATCH.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XVII, Issue 1307, 25 January 1889, Page 2

CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING MATCH.

George Robertson, of Little River, has won the wrestling championship of the colonies, as will be seen by the following :—

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

Wanganui, January 21.

A wrestling: match between Harry Dunn and George Robertson for the championship of New Zealand and a stake of £50 a side took place to-night. The styles contested were Cumberland collar and elbow, Grseco-Roman, catch-as-catch can, Lancashire style, and Amerioan side-hold. There was a g;ood attendance. Mr J. R. Stewart, of Manaia, was referee, Mr Cbas. Chevannes stakeholder, and Mr Wilkinson timekeeper.

Cumberland Style—After catching hold, about three rounds ensued, both men doing all they knew, neither getting any advantage till they slipped their hold and went to the chairs. On taking hold again, Dunn dashed in and had Robertson on his hands and knees in a twinkling, giving first fall, time, 4min. Collar and elbow style—both men quicfely took hold, and after three minutes' continuous sparring they clutched, and Robertson got Dunn down, but not so as to constitute a fall. After aspell they had another bout, and Dunn again fell, but no fall was scored. On taking hold next bout Robertson quickly got the crook on Dunn, and otter a short struggle got him to an undeniable fall. Each had now won a fall.

The next style chosen was that of American side hold. Robertson won the toss for first hold. After a minute and a half's fencing the men closed, and a sharp struggle took place, ending in no fall. Four other undecided bouts were wrestled. In the sixth bout Robertson closed quickly, and, getting a crook on Dunn, forced him back and gained the fall.

G-rseco-Romao Style—A long bout of ground wrestling ended in an undecided fall, both men showing skill and endurance. In the second bout Dunn got Robertson over and scored a fall. Bath men having won two falls each, the deciding fall was wrestled in catch-as-catch-can style, in whioh a long bout of ground wrestling took place, Robertson acting on the aggressive, Dunn escaping several times by sheer agility, amid applause. In the second bout Robertson went quickly to work and forced the pace, putting Dunn over and pressing his shoulders to the. ground by sheer strength and weight, amidst lound applause. i

On the referee giving the fall in favor ot Robertson, Dunn dissented, from the decision, declaring that both his shoulders had not been on the ground at one lime. The referee's decision was without doubt the correct one, and met with general approval. Dunn threw but a challenge for another match, as he and Robertson had both won one, and this was immediately accepted by Robertson.