WRESTLING SENSATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 172, 22 July 1910, Page 5

WRESTLING SENSATION.

MATCH STOPPED BY REFEREE. BOTH MEN DISQUALIFIED. fßy Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WAIHI, this day. A wrestling match between Riardon (of the South) and Noakes (Waihi), for the welter-weight championship of the Dominion, which took place at the Miners' Union Ha.a last evening, came to a sensational abrupt ending. After only 30 minutes' strenuous wrestling, Noakes secured a fall by a quarter-lSelson. The men then retired for a spell, shortly after which Dr. Pearee was called up to examine Riordan in the dressing-room. While the doctor was so engaged Mr. E. Almond, the referee, who is a local heavy-weight champion and had trained Noakes, came to the footlights and said that in his opinion the match was a "crook" one, and that he would disqualify both and declare no winner. He ordered that the stake money be returned. The announcement caused a sensation. The stage was soon swarming with' men, but the crowd made no rowdy demonstration.

Noakes came forward, and indignantly denied the allegations made by the referee, and offered to wrestle any man in New Zealand welter-weight.

The referee expressed his opinion that Riordan could have broken the hold which threw him, and that Noakes let holds go on two occasions. Mr. D. R. Pearce informed the Press representatives that Riordan had strained his heart. The crowd seemed well satisfied with the showing of both men, and made no demand for the return of their money.