FURIOUS WRESTLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 237, 7 October 1930, Page 13

FURIOUS WRESTLING.

WALKER WINS AGAIN

RETURN MATCH WITH LURICH RUSSIAN LAYS HIMSELF OUT. BAYXE-SIXGH BOUT A FIASCO. Twree lias George Walker (Canada) wrestled Tom Luricli (Russia) and twice lias Walker won, but on neither occasion has his margin of success being really decisive. At their second meeting in the Town Hall last night Walker was declared the winner after Luricli had stunned himself by falling from the staging on which the ring was erected to the main body of the hall. Each man scored a fall. Eight rounds of sterling wrestling, every one of them crammed full of incident made the match, which was promoted by the New Zealand Wrestling Association, about the best that has ever been seen in Auckland. It was a battle between two champions, ani no quarter was asked or given. The crowd which yelled itself hoarse as the match went its furious way was a record, and hundreds were refused admission. Every inch of seating accommodation was occupied, a number of the passages were packed, and people stood all round the galleries and at the back of the stage. It was just such a crowd as the 'match deserved. Frantic cheering supplied the music to which the contest was fought out, and when the end came in so sensational a fashion in the final term the din well nigh lifted the roof of the hall, the crowd surging forward in a huge wave to the ringside. Lurich Much the Heavier. At no stage of the match did either -man look like scoring an easy win. Every inch of ground that was gained had to be fought for and fought for desperately. W 7 alkcr came in at f0.3 and Lunch's weight was announced at 14.10, although he looked nearer lost. In build

the young Russian towered above his opponent, but in strength there, anus nothing between them. >- One tiling I know. Lurich has a terribly good pair of legs, and I will keep out oi' them just as loner as it is humanly possible," declared Walker before the .match, and from the opening gong he stuck to his promise, Whenever there was a- cliancp of Lurich securing a body scissors the Canadian fell into a defensive role, and it was not until the seventh round, when lie himself was a fall to j.he good, that Walker was trapped. The Russian's legs closed round him like a vice, crashing his ribs and causing his breath to come in gasps and splutters. I-j- was obvious that the Canadian could not escape, and he wisely capitulated before any serious harm was done. Sensational Ending.At the start of the final session Walker was still suffering from his terrible squeezing, and it looked as if the scales were swinging in the Russian's iavour. Lfirich did all he knew how to angle Walker into position for another body scissors, but the Canadian at first was not to be tricked. With the round three, minutes old Walker left himself open for a second, and Lurich secured a body scissors from behind. It was hardly the kind of scissors the Russian wanted, but it had distinct possibilities and he was satisfied for the moment. Walker realised the danger, and he summoned all his strength in a great effort which got him to his feet. The Canadian was in no position to dump his opponent, so he rushed blindly into the ropes in front of the Press bench. Lurich was shot forward, and his head hit the board outside the ring. Apparently the impact between the Russian s head and the lm'irrls was severe, for when he tiied to oct to his feet he staggered backwards and fell five feet to the Iloor of the hall. Several women near the scene of the accident screamed and the crowd surged forward until stopped by the police. Lurich lay motionless, and after a nod from the doctor the referee (Mr. Len Wilson) declared Walker the winner. Two minutes later Lurich came round, and he climbed drunkenly iback on to the stam'ng. When he saw Walker his old ferocity returned to him, and'if the secretary (Mr. C. B. McCarthy) had not taken a hand he would have made another start. It was a sensational ending to a memorable match. Action All the Way. To mention half the holds that were nnnlicd and broken during the match would occupy half a page and a brief account of the actual wrestling must •iflice. There was thunderous applause the moil took the ring and the; first J!o 0 t, came when the referee stopped the instructed Lurich to wipe the an from his bodv. The wrestling became vigorous ."oht away and the men "ere soon through the I'opeo. Lurich gof. ;.ito a , ? an d rested his arms along the L ropes in a convenient position to uppei P scissors when the S ap cimo in but the ruse did not Canadn < tlou ble arm scissors behind succeed. - rpall a fl| „ ~e ]so„ the head, wm l illloW( .d Walker Ji's opponent round the ring, to roll in- I I . e ]f f rC c and backed Lurich wrenche \y a ik c r came in he into a corner. vv<uk _ -

snapped his legs round him but before he could do any damage, Walker had seen to ifc that they were both'ever the ropes. Lurich. became heated near the bell and let fly a few open-handed slaps to his opponent's face. Sparks Fly. A variety of holds were eeen early in round two, first one and then the other holding the advantage. Luricli applied a good double wristlock but he had to let go as they were almost out of the ring. A single arm scissors and a wristlock let Walker take ehaxge. Beads of perspiration fell from the liussiah'is forehead as he struggled to get free. When he did escape Lurich secured a short arm scissors, but Walker's strength allowed him to get to his feet and he etood his man on his head with <:, crotch hold. Sparks flew merrily openiug round three, Lurich swinging his arms about threateningly. First a lying splits and than a double wristlock made the Russian points and he protested hotly when the refere instructed him to let go the latter hold and get into the centre of the ring. A barred toe hold had tho. Russian almost frantic and he wriggled through the ropes. Both men tried splits holds in turns and' Walker also worried his man with a toe hold and an arm strangle near the gong. Lurich Submits. The first fall came early in the four.th round. A wrist hold sent Walker flying into the ropes, but he came baek and soon had the Russian in agony with a sitback toe hold. Lurich fought the hold for a time, but the pain of it eventually forced him to concede the Canadian the first fall. Lurich was like an enraged bull i; , the fifth round and there was a st-jnn of hooting. A body press almost pinned Walker. All the time Lurich wax working for his body scissors, but Walker kept out of. danger. Lurich mingled a. few rough house pleaf-antries with his wrestling, but if he hoped to annoy Walker into becoming reckless he must have been disappointed. The sixth round was as good as anything ever seen on a mat iii the Town Hall. Action started from the moment Lurichcame out of his corner with his arms swinging wildly. Once Walker bundled the Russian outside the ring, but i-.a was soon held in a double arm scissors himself which rolled him round like =.? hoop. A short arm scksors allowed Walker to

rest, but lie got a surprise when Lurich gave him a playful rii]) with his teeth. In reply to elbow punching by Luricli Walker introduced some toe stamping and (hen the men got down .to serious, wrestling again. An aeroplane■ "ppi:i and throw had Lurich.dizzy, but Walker was also almost out and he rented in a head scissors. The crowd believed Unit Walker only had to roll the Ttusshu on his shoulders to win, and they yelled instructions, which the .Canadian neyci. heard. In the seventh round Walker \wid the. penalty of falling into a body scissors Hiid lie lost a fall,, and then' 111 tlia eighth round came the sensational ending wiiich has already been dcscrjbM." The Supports. The other professional match on -~ilie' programme, a four-round affair.between Dill JJayiic (Te Awaniutu) 12 0' and Hnrbans Singh (IndiaH'i.G, was a/farce,.' Hardly a hold was applied-in t\v.o wunds. and the match was then declared; "iu> contest."' The amateur bouts were e?.ccllcir,, especially' the bout between Williamson" and Packenhani. Results:—G. Parkeiihaui 10.0, bekt W. Williamson 0.10, .in straight falls; C. Anderson SM. , beat Potter 5.5, by one. fall; Skeltoirri.o, outpojnted Xaden 5.3. • ■ ." '••.•• THE AUCKLAND SITUATION. DOMINION PRESIDENT HOrEEpli . (By Telegraph.—Press. Association.) WI-UXINGTOX, this dtiy.The president of the New Zealand .Wrestliii" Union. Mr. H, I). Keniietr, returned - froiii Auckland: on Saturday, .\\;h<.mv by invitation, he had been conducting -what he termed peace negotiations between two .rival wrestling bodies in that city. In reply to Inquiries lie said to-day that, while a complete settlement had not been reached, the trouble had been reduced to tliu comparatively small matter' of the occupant: of the office "f secretary tor a new local controlling body. He found both parties most reasonable, and on all other points they were willing to place the wek fare of the game . ahead of personal ambition. Jill , . Bennett, did not desire to give publicity to the terms 0f ... settlement until the one remaining point was settled. He bad asked the two bodies to refer the jnattor for consideration by the union. If they failed to agree be thought, it possible that headquarters might have to. take a hand in the end. The union would hardly allow negotiations to break down altogether on a matter that now involved so little.