WALKER TWO UP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 238, 9 October 1933, Page 13

WALKER TWO UP.

RUMBERG DEFEATED.

EIGHTH ROUND SENSATION.

AMERICAN'S GREAT EFFORT,

An hour's sterling wrestling came to a sensational finish at the Town Hall on Saturday night when George Walker snatched an eighth-round victory from Hal Kumberg. A packed house saw the British Empire champion defeat his splendidlybuilt American opponent by two tails to one.

The match had been eagerly awaited. Up till his first meeting with Walker at Wellington six days previous the American had gone through the season without a single defeat. At Wellington Walker had snatched a first-minute fall and had emerged the victor after one of the finest matches seen in the capital city, and Humberg had promised himself revenge. In anticipation of a second fine contest Auckland followers of the sport rolJed up on Saturday night to till every corner of the hall, and they did not go home disappointed. It was a great match, with a sensational ending, Walker's cunning allowed him to win at a time when it seemed as if he was about to be dumped to defeat. Rumberg the Favourite. If the crowd had had their way Rumberg would have won handsomely, for undoubtedly he was the- favourite. His entry into the ring was the signal for a thunder of cheers. Walker was also cheered, but he was loudly hooted too. There was more hooting when Humbert's weight was announced as 10.3, while Walker's was not given. The Canadian was thus made second favourite before the contest began, and during the match he did many things that had the crowd hooting. In the first round he annoyed a section of the house by stamping on Rumbcrg's toes and at various times further on in the struggle lie tugged the American's hair, pulled on forbidden single finger holds, used his forefingers to screw into his opponent's cars, tweaked Rumberg's nose and generally resorted to all the tricks first played by that peerless Greek showman, John Ivilonis. when he introduced the modern style of wrestling to the Auckland public five years ago. Walker's friends saw all this and smiled. To them it was showmanship pure and simple. At times Kumberg shook the ring in his attempts to stamp on the Canadian's toes, and when his aim proved tine his supporters yelled their approval. The action started early in the first round and stopped only on those occasions when one or other of the contestants was held in a secure hold. Use of the strangle early earned Walker a warning from the referee (Mr. H. Sidford), and Rumberg took the points for the round by holding to a short arm scissors for the last three minutes of the session. Although humberg again secured the same hold at the start of the second round Walker soon had his opponent writhing from the effects ot a toe hold. In the third round Walker recovered from a series of hoadlock throws to hurl Rumberg against tho ropes, but his action cost him the first fall, the American rebounding to secure a spectacular flying body scissors which took tne Canadian to the mat and allowed Rumberg to register a fall. Rumberg Submits. During the fourth round a merry mix-up ended with the pair toppling through the ropes to struggle at the feet of the occupants of the front row stage seats. In round five Walker lowered his head in an effort to trap his opponent into a position for a back-loop slam, but Rumberg refused to be caught so easily. From the start of the contest it had been obvious that the American was determined not to be tricked into a slam. The sixth round eaw the score evened, Walker following up a headlock throw to secure his opponent by the legs and turn him over for a Boston crab, to which the American quickly submitted. Rumberg limped out of his corner at the start of round seven. He appeared to be in pain, and when Walker throw him out of the ring he rested until the referee had almost completed his count. Later the American recovered and finished the round strongly. After some exciting wrestling i.n the final round Rumberg picked his opponent up and dumped him hard, but Walker managed to fight his way free before he could be pinned. The American immediately picked the Canadian up for another dump but Walker grabbed the ropes. Rumberg pulled mightily to get his opponent to the centre of the ring, and when Walker suddenly let go the American lost his balance and crashed to the floor with the full weight of his opponent on top of him. It was then child's play for Walker to sprawl on top of his man to take the winning fall. Good Amateur Bouts. The amateur part of the programme consisted of four bouts between Auckland and Whangarei representatives, with Mr. J. Woods, of Whangarei, as referee. The tourney ended in a win for Whangarei by two matches to one, but the general opinion was that it should have been a draw. Results:— E. Pinches (8.11) beat S. Mcßeth (9.2), Whangarei, by falls gained with a body scissors and a body press in a fast and entertaining bout. G. Mischewski (10.7) Whnngarei, beat C. Passmore (10.10). The visitor, who was inclined to rough his opponent, was much the stronger, and after winning a fall with a dump and press in the second round was awarded the bout, the Aucklander retiring with a knee injury. A. Waugh (9.10) drew with ¥. Hollows (9.10) Whangarei. Neither could score a fall in a bout in which Waugh did the, cleaner and more _ scientific work, and deserved the decision. B. Hollows (11.2) Whangarei, beat E. Paget (11.4) by a fall, gained with a press, following a cradle, in the first round. The visitor, who has an unbeaten record, showed excellent form. At the conclusion of the contest, Mr. G. Henning, president of the Auckland Wrestling Association, presented the Rose Cup to Mr. G. Reid, president of the Whangarei Amateur Wrestling Association.