THE "CRUCIFIX."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 172, 23 July 1929, Page 9

THE "CRUCIFIX."

ALLEY'S DEADLY HOLD.

VICTORY OVER VANCE.

FARMER HELPLESS AFTER LOSIXG A FALL.

Helpless as the result of an unsuccessfull struggle in the toils of the crucifix in round six, Farmer Vance, light heavyweight wrestling champion of Canada, gave Mormon Tom Alley a submission fall and the match twenty seconds after the start of round seven in the Town Hall last evening. The contest was the first of a series to be staged by the New Zealand Wrestling Association. Scheduled to go eight ten minute rounds, the match contained plenty of action and a few thrills. The attendance was not up to expectations.

Vance took the ring at 12.7 and Alley at 13.4. Alley was the taller and looked a lot the more powerful. The Farmer was the aggressor at the start, but there was not a great deal doing for the first couple of minutes. When Alley tried a head lock Vance freed himself with a spin. On his feet in a flash, the Farmer circled round the ring with his arms stretched out in front of him and all .his fingers moving, for all the world like a Maori doing a haka. A wristlock let Vance throw his man and he soon clapped on a head scissors. Three mighty jerks freed Alley who immediately tried the splits, but Vance was not troubled. Alley leapt, into the air and brought his man to the mat. Here Vance got a scissors across the chest and later a crucifix, Alley's own pet hold, and the Mormon was in difficulties at the bell.

Light Comedy. There was a light comedy touch at the start of round two. Alley tried unsuccessfully to upset his man with a swing of a leg, but the Farmer replied with a light kTck which caught the Mormon in the seat of his tights. The crowd rocked. Breaking loose from a scissors on the arm Alley almost got a fall with a body sensors. When Vance got free he leapt to his feet and both men gave the impression that they were thoroughly roused. Vance was unable to lift Alley with a crutch hold and then each in turn tried a toe hold. When Vance troubled Alley with a headlock the Mormon merely tickled tne Farmer's ribs and got free. This apparently annoyed Vance and he gave Alley a torrid time with a series of headlocks. Dazed after he had been jerked about and thrice thrown to the mat, Alley was to all appearances in a bad way. Another headlock allowed Vance to score the first fall of the match and Alley was dragged to his corner where his seconds worked hard to revive him.

Vance unsuccessfully attempted to score another fall early in round three. Breaking a body scissors Alley first worried the Farmer with a scissors on the head and then tried the Boston crab. Vance saw the danger and by holding grimly to one of Alley's legs prevented the Mormon from stepping across him. Eventually Vance got hold of both of Alley's legs and brought him down. A scissors across the chest made Vance fight hard and there was excitement when the pair roughed it. Alley called the tune with a series of headlocks, switching from one arm to another and punctuating the movement with a few hefty jerks which lifted the Farmer off his feet. Just before the bell they tumbled through the ropes. The camp was peaceful at the start of the fourth. Alley was nearly successful in scoring a fall with a short arm scissors but Vance broke free, and on

bouncing to his feet went through the rope-climbing actions' of the bailor's Hornpipe. Vance then dived and brought Alley down but the Mormon got a scissors on the head. A playful nip by Vance (there were shouts of, ''He's biting!") made Alley let go his hold. Alley treated the spectators to something new when he leapfrogged over the kneeling Vance and landed on the Farmers back. Vance then put on a good body scissors and had the Mormon in difficulties at the bell. Warm Going. Vance again brought his man down early in the fifth. Alley tried a head lock, an arm scissors, and a scissors on the body in turn, but could not hold Vance, who retaliated with a hammer lock followed by the scissors on the head, and later the men went through the ropes. Alley got his fingers to the Farmer's nose, but Vance subjected his | man to a gruelling time with a string of headlocks near the end of the round.

Alley revived in the interval and came out to throw his man with a headlock. A short arm scissors nearly gave him a fall. Vance replied by essaying the crucifix, Alley getting out of trouble by wriggling to the ropes. Several headlocks weakened Vance who could do nothing with a toe hold. And then the Farmer found himself in Alley's favourite crucifix. Determinedly Vance fought to free himself but once his hands were grabbed behind him his position was hopeless and Alley scored the second fall amid great applause. Vance, who was very groggy as the result of his fight against the crucifix, was helped to his corner and was in no condition to continue at the bell for round seven. He <*ot to his feet, sat back on his chair again, and then stood up swaying. The Farmer's defence had vanished and Alley flashed in and secured a standing wristlock. Vance was done and he knew it, and he wisely gave his opponent a submission fall and the match. The decision was a popular one, but Vance was also cheered as he was assisted from the ring. Before the main contest Walter Johansson, Marraci Gardeni, and Naranjan Singh were introduced. Singh challenged the winner and Gardeni issued a special challenge to Singh. The Amateurs.

The amateur contests resulted: — L. Jelly (S. 10) beat L. Cocks (S. 10). Cocks held on to a full Nelson in the) first round without success and Jelly got a fall with a body press in the , second. Jelly pinned his man again within the first minute of the third i round. n W. Williamson (9.4) beat R. Pilking-' 1 ton (9.2). Both lads showed science in, the first round but the bout had an unfortunate ending in the second, Williamson lifting his man and dumping him. Pilkington landed on the side of his head and was carried from the ring. L. Naylor (list.) beat M. G. Vickerman (10.12). Naylor was too good for his opponent and won with two straight falls. C. Grimmer (C.2) beat N. Rice (6.1). These midgets made things lively and pleased the crowd, Grimmer winning in straight falls. E. Wills (11.7) beat C. Bacon (11.2). The first round was well contested but in the second Wills got a fall with a body scissors" and an arm lock. A body [press early in round"three gave him thebout. Mr. Val Dunne refereed all contests. !