SPLENDID WRESTLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 141, 17 June 1930, Page 13

SPLENDID WRESTLING.

WALKER WINS AGAIN.

TOUGH MATCH WITH LUNDYN

SPEEDY FINN'S GREAT EFFORT,

Although eventually slammed to defeat, Alex Lundyu, of Finland, gave one of .the finest exhibitions of wrestling seen this season, when he met George Walker (Canada) in.the Towa Hall last night. The match was a sterling contest from start to finish, and the big. crowd was well satisfied. It was noticeable that there was a large number of women in every part of the hall. JN"ever was there" a suggestion of showmanship or horseplay. It was hard, grim wrestling from start to finish, and only Walker's tremendous strength allowed him to come out a winner. Setting a great pace from the opening gong, Lundyn gave Walker the ha.rde.st first round he has had this year, and in the second round the Finn again showed the wider range of holds until Walker picked him up and dumped him hard to take the first fall. It was more even going in the third, and in the fourth Lundyn turned defence into attaek when held in a full nelson, and scored a surprise fall. There was again no fall in the fifth but in the sixth Walker dumped his man heavily to "register the deciding fall. It was a match in which the strength and ability to escape from all manner of holds" of one man beat the speed and greater versatility of'the other. Walker (13.4) was 41b heavier than his opponent, but both men were in perfect condition. Fine Opening Round. A lightning move by Lundyn gave him the advantage with an arm hold early in the opening round and he next applied a head lock, from which Walker escaped. Lundyn next scissored one of Walker's arms behind and pinioned the other, but had no chance of getting a fall with the hold as his own body prevented it. Walker heaved over and the Finn had to let go to escape being pinned himself. A reverse double wristlock put the Canadian down, but Walker soon took the aggressive to pick his man up with a. crotch hold and drop him none too gently on to the canvas. Lundyn, however," bounced up like an India, rubber ball and later put plenty of pressure into a body scissors. Near the end of the round Walker got a short arm scissors but could not hold it. It wa3 a great Tound. and the. crowd cheered mightily. Lundyn started the second round by trying "iot a hammerlock, but Walker blocked the move. A double wristlock put Walker down and he had to call upon his strength to free himself from a head scissors. Following a neat trip Lundyn again applied a head scissors but Walker again escaped and troubled the -Finn with a wristlock. A sitting splits caused Walker to wince with pain and the Canadian's supporters cheered when at last he heaved free. On his feet again Walker rushed in for his famous flying tackle, but Lundyn's flying feet whisked him out of danger. As Walker sprawled in the corner Lundyn dived on top of him but failed to secure a hold and-before he could pre-vent-dt the Finn was lifted by the cro&h and neck and dumped with a bang. The Finn's head made solid contact with the boards and Walker easily pressed Ms shoulders down for the first fall. One Fall Eacn. Lundyn was as sprightly as ever starting round three and he soon scissored one of Walker's arms behind and locked the other as in the opening round. Again Walker had to struggle hard to get free and when he did he was soon held in a body scissors applied from behind. Over the second half of the round it was even going. A reverse headlock upset Walker in the fourth but the Canadian replied with a flying mare. When Walker hugged Lundyn in a Cumberland hold the Finn broke free by placing one hand on Walkers face and bringing his other fist hard on to it. There were a few hoots from the crowd .but Lundyn indicated that he had not done anything that was illegal. Walker next dived at ! the Finn's legs and missed, but he soon clapped on a full nelson. It looked as if Lundyn wa3 in trouble, but after one attempt had failed he got to his feet, lifting Walker with him, "and threw himself backward on to the mat. Walker still held to his hold and when he wanted to let go he could not do so. Lundyn was then on top and he lay back to take a fall. Walker's shoulders appeared to be down for a couple, of seconds before the referee (Mr. L. Wilson) awarded a fall and a section of the crowd voiced its disapproval. Sixth Round Sensations. Lundyn, with a hold on one leg, had Walker" crawling round the ring in wheelbarrow fashion in the fifth and later got a toe hold. Free again, Walker applied a wrist lock and latemade points with scissor holds, "first on Ihe body and next on both arms behind the head. He also troubled Lundyn with what might be called a cradle hold applied with the legs. •STear the gong Lundyn attempted a hammerlock but had not the strength to apply it. The sixth round was brisk while it lasted. Walker was all out for business, although he had to take a bump from a flyingmare. A wristlock sent Lundyn flying through the ropes and as soon as he came ba-ck he was twice sent whirling over the Canadian's shoulder with flying mares. For a second it looked as if ■ Walker himself was hurt but he rushed in to lift Lundyn with a crotch hold *and dump him hard for the deciding fall; It was several niinute3 before Lundyn was able to leave the ring, but he was cheered as he departed. ;

THE AMATEURS.

W. Williamson, 9.2, drew with C. Anderson, 8.9. There was no score in the first round, but in the second Anderson got his man dizzy with a series of throws from reverse headlocks and took the first fall with the 'help of a body scissors. In the third Williamson won a submission fall with a stepover toe hold. D. Smith. 9.2, beat L. Pickering, 9.7. In the third round Smith dumped his man hard and soon after got a fall with the help of a body scissors. J. McComish, 10.5, beat B. Smith, 10.10. In the first round Smith got a reverse headlock, but he was underneath when they went to the mat and McComish lay across his opponent to get a fall. McComish got another fall with a body scissors in the second. F. Cliffe, 10.8, beat J. Beasley, 10.10. In the first round Cliffe was awarded a fall, although Beasley's left shoulder was three inches off the mat. A body scissors and arm bar gave Cliffe a "■enuine fall in term two. e C. Jones. S.O, beat D. Skelton, 8.0.