"HE MAN" BATTLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 35, 11 February 1930, Page 16

"HE MAN" BATTLE.

SENSATIONAL WRESTLING MATCH. WALKER OUTSLAMS EBERT. THRILLS AND HARD KNOCKS.

Sensation followed sensation at the Town Hall last evening, when George Walker (Canada) met Fred Ehert (Austria) in the first match of the New Zealand Wrestling Association's 1930 programme. It was a "he man" battle from start to finish, with Walker slamming his opponent into submission in the sixth round after each had gained a fall. The number of heavy crashes taken by each man. was a fea- , .u'ir the match, which was as exciting as any yet seen in Auckland. The attendance was a modest one.

Walker, wearing a healthy tan, came in at 13.3, his opponent being ten pounds heavier. Action commenced from the gong, Ebert upsetting his man, but missing with a dive. The first' real hold of the match was a headlock by Ebert, and later the Austrian tried to trap his man into a position whence he would have been able to execute his shattering back loop slam. Ebert next threw his man's head back sharply with a reverse headlock, but Walker soon held the advantage with a head scissors, afterwards changed to a short arm scissors. Only Walker's own foot prevented him from gaining a.fall and eventually! Ebert heaved free.

Second Round Surprise. The first fall was gained the sccond round almost before t' . public realised that the session had .started Walker divcri »t his man ar.i apparently knocked much of the wind oul of him, for vh. n Kwrt was bowled ovei lie - had lii.Uu resist;; nee left and Walker at once got astride him and easily took a fall with a press. Ebert rubbed his solar- plexus during . the interval, but if he was in any real trouble he made a fine recovery, for at the start of round three he seriously bothered the Canadian with a reverse hpadlock. A strong toe hold further troubled Walker, but eventually he tiger'ed his wry free. Ebcrt was exploiting all li;s guile in an effort to trap his man into the slam position, but the Canadian was too wary. Throwing hisi man with a wristlock, Walker tool control with the aid of a head tcissors. Thero was a. yell from the crowd when the pair toppled through the ropes, Walker threatening to land in the orchestra. A hefty throw by Walker and a savage charge by Ebert provided more thrills before the end of the round. All Out. It was in the fourth round that the fun started in earnest. Walker set his man blinking with a couple of reverse headlocks and then clamped on a hammerlock, which he was unable to hold. A headlock dumped Ebert to the mat, but all the time the Austrian M'as thinking hard and just when lie looked to be in trouble himself he got the chance that he had been awaiting. Walker put his arms round him from behind and in a flash the Austrian had them as if in a vice. Ebei't heaved back and there was a crash as Walker hit the boards, with the Austrian's added weight on top of lim. Ebert held on grimly, and leant back to force his man's shoulders down for a fall. Walker's head was swimming and instead of going to his corner, ho grabbed desperately at the legs of the referee (Mr. Val Dunne), being under the impression that the war was. still on. ' s .. I Walker's Broadside.

Walker had all liis guns loaded in the fifth, and the Austrian suffered accordingly. jSTo sooner had Ebert got back into the ring "after being put over the ropes, than, he was grabbed by one leg and swung round a couple of times as a preliminary to being dumped. Tlioronghly roused, the Canadian - dived at the sprawling Austrian, but missed and Ebert again tried for his slam. Midway through the round, Ebert cleverly rolled out of a hammerlock and dazed his man with a severe headlock and jolt. Walker floundered about drunkenly, but he delighted his supporters by lifting his man with a crutch hold and dropping him hard. Ebert was. unable to hurt his man with a slam and just before the bell, Walker again hoisted him shoulder high. The Austrian threw out a hand and grabbed the ropes. It was a last hope and it came off, for Walker was unable to slam him, the Austrian falling over the ropes.

The Finish. At the start of the sixth session the orowd were shouting excitedly, and the best thrills of the evening were to follow. Still seeking the slam, Ebert was i caught napping and Walker threw him *'op es with a dose of' his own medicine. The Austrian added to the excitement- by toppling clean off the staging on to the floor of the main hall and he was groggy when he staggered back again. There were cheer?- as Ebert took Walker's outstretched hand and then the battle was on again. Almost r immediately Walker got a hold on his man and lifted him chest high before crashing him to the floor. This time it was the end, for Walker had no troublo in taking the deciding fall.'; It had been a highly-exciting match and the crowd showed their appreciation by storming the ring and heartily cheering both men.

The Amateurs. D. Smith (10.1) beat E. Pankhurst (10,8). It was fifty-fifty' in the first round, but Smith held the advantage for the greater part of the second, with a head-scissors and hammerlock, although unable to secure a fall. A bodypress in the third gave Smith the win. W. Williamson (9.7) drew with A. Webb (8.12 i). The first round was wrestled at a fast clip and the pair provided • plenty of entertainment in the second. Both showed an excellent knowledge of the sport, but neither could score a fall. H. Brewer (9.4) beat A. Jones (10.8). A headlock helped Brewer to take a fall within a minute of the start of the first round, Jones showed his true form in the second and equalled the score with a bodypress. It looked as if Jones' extra weight and strength would win him the bout in. the third, but Brewer surprised with a bodypress. j J, Simpson (11.4) drew with E. Allen (11.4). Even wrestling marked the first and second rounds. An even third round ended a quiet contest.