WRESTLING MATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 18, 22 January 1889, Page 5

WRESTLING MATCH.

(by telegraph.— press association.)

Wanganui, Monday. A wrestling match between Harry Dunn and G. Robertson, for the championship of New Zealand, and a stake of £50 a-side, took place to-night. The styles contended were Cumberland, collar and elbow, Gr.-co-P.oman, catch-as-can, Lancashire style, and American side-hold. Mr J. R. Stewart, of Manaia, was referee ; Charlie Chavannes, stakeholder ; and Wilkinson, timekeeper. Cumberland style : After catching hold, both men did all they ' knew, neither getting any advantage, till they slipped ' their hold and went to their chairs. On .taking hold again, Dunn dashed in and had Robertson on his hands and knees in a twinkling, giving the first fall. Time, smin. Collar and elbow style : Both men quickly took hold, and after three mir.utes' continuous sparring they clutched, and Robertson got Dunn down, but not so as to constitute a fall. After a spell, they had another bout, and Dunn again fell, but no fall was scored. On taking hold for the next bout Robertson quickly gob bhe crook, and Dunn, after a short struggle, gob him down to an undeniable fail. Each had now a fall. The next style chosen was that of the American side hold. Robertson won the toss for first hold, and after a minute and a-half of feinting, the men closed, and a sharp struggle took place, ending in no fall. Four other undecided bouts were wrestled, and in bhe sixbh boub Robertson moved quickly, and putbing a crook on Dunn, forced him down, and gained the fall. Gra_co-Roman style : A long bout ended in an undecided fall, the men showing skill and endurance. In the second bout Dunn got Robertson over, and scored a fall, both men having thus won two falls each. The deciding fall was wrestled in catch • as • catch. can style, in which

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 Vent quickly to work and forced the wrestling, putting Dunn over and pressing his shoulders to the ground by sheer strength aud weight, amidst loud applause.

On the referee giving the fall in favour of Robertson, Dunn dissented from the decision, declaring that bobh his shoulders had nob been on"the ground at one time. The referee's decision was without doubt a correct one, and met with general approval. Dunn threw oub a challenge for another match, and this was immediately accepted by Robertson.