BRIGHT WRESTLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 193, 17 August 1931, Page 10

BRIGHT WRESTLING.

WIN BY ELLIOT.

SLAM SETTLES HIGGINS,

FIVE ROUNDS AT FAST PACi?

It was only a very moderate attendance of the public that witnessed the professional wrestling match between the Australian, Jack Higgins (13.6) and the New Zealander, King Elliot (13.8) at the Town Hall on Saturday night last' but the spectators were fortunate .enough, .nevertheless, to behold a contest that has a right to be ranked as one of the cleverest bouts of the season. It was a contest that lett little to be desired, except that the end came all too soon, from the point of view of the onlooker, and highly creditable to the two wrestlers, who were responsiole tor an entertaining exhibition/ As wrestling, it was satisfactory from practically all angles, being fast, strenuous, willing, clean, and scientific, with the added earnest desire of each to pull off a win and establish himself in the eyes of the association and-the public- It was a better bout than many contests that have drawn full houses. The end came in the fifth round. Elliot won with a body press not long after that term had been in progress. As is so often the case, the end followed suddenly upon a series of reverse headlocks by Higgins, who appeared to have his man seriously groggy, but when the Australian jnade a final leap for his man to apply the grip, Elliot countered and put the other at a disadvantage, to finally crash him x> the mat to take a fall and the match. Higgins was in a bad way, and had to be assisted to his- corner. Although his seconds worked frantically to revive him within the two minutes allowed after a fall, they were unsuccessful, and Elliot's hand was raised by the referee, Mr. Len. Wilson, in token of the winner. Four minutes later the Australian was able to leave his chair for the dressing room, and, while he was leaving the ring, the crowd showing its appreciation of his part in a fine contest by cheering heartily. There appeared to be very little between the abilities of the Australian and the New Zealander throughout the contest. Both demonstrated a wide knowledge of spectacular holds and the necessary quickness in clapping them on. Had there beep no falls, it probably would have been unfair to select the winner on points, and there is no doubt that both earned the right to be considered for further matches with the overseas men at present wrestling throughout the Dominion. The Rounds.

Elliot opened up with a double arm scissors, which Higgins broke, to fall into a short arm scissors, which he also broke to reply with a double barred toehold. After a few minutes on the mat, Elliot freed himself, and then rushed at his man for a flying tackle, which brought Higgins down on to the lower ropes, and they were ordered to the centre of the mat. Soon Higgins broke a short arm scissors to clap on a head and arm scissors almost immediately, which later became a leg scissors and a toehold. This Higgins soon converted into a lying splits that had the New Zealander pounding madly on the mat with pain, but he was able to get free by rearing up on to his hands and jerking free a few seconds before the gong. This term was characterised by wrestling executed at a very fast bat.

Higgins opened up the next round with a .short arm scissors, but Elliot soon broke away, and then followed some ~4at;t tumbling which brought delight and appreciation from the audience. Elliot freed himself from another splits and then a figure four scissors on the head. He picked himself up, and then executed a couple of flying tackles. Then, as the saying goes, skin and hair began to fly. Higgins went wild, and Elliot responded. They tumbled around the ring to the high delight of the crowd, which cheered and encored, but the gong stopped hostilities. Soon after the commencement of the third round Higgins was seen pushing home a toehold, from which Elliot free himself by rubbing the Australian's spine to good effect. He then clapped on a leg-barred toehold which had Higgins grimacing. But be worked round, and, reaching out for the New Zealander's neck, was successful in getting a headlock. But Elliot in three or four jerks freed himself, and stood over Higgins to apply an arm stretch which had Higgins struggling for some moments.

Higgins featured the fourth round with a flying scissors which speedily brought Elliot to the mat, where the latter soon clapped on a double arm scissors which had the Australian worrjed. not a iittle. Higgins got to his feet twice with Elliot's feet still scissored to his arms and neck, but the New Zealander tumbled him to the mat again. Higgins was successful in his third attempt to get free by falling out of the ring, pulling' Elliot with him. The fifth round incident has been described. The Amateurs. H. Brewer (9.0) defeated S. Hobbs (9.4) by one straight fall. F. Baker (10.7) defeated A. J. Newton (10.4) by a submission fall. J. Muir (11.4) defeated J. Beasley (11.0) by one straight fall. W. R. Shaddocks (12.7) defeated W. Gilmer , (12.10) by one fall, a standing head scissors. The pair, who came from Hamilton, provided the best of the amateur bouts.