WRESTLING

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21243, 15 August 1934, Page 7

WRESTLING

♦ WALKER AND FELICE j AN UNEXCITING BOUT Tonv Felice, of Italy, who made his first appearance in Now Zealand at the St. James' Thoa'tre last evening, drew in his bout with George Walker. Each man had one fall. Followers of wrestling had looked forward to something bettor than (hey were given, for the wrestling was never spectacular, and was often dull. Felieo vent into the ring at an announced weight of lust Sib, and Walker at 14st 101b. Felice scored his fall in the fourth round with a body press after a number of forward head throws, and Walker evened in the sixth when a body press after some head throws found the Italian weak. Thu first round opened with both sparring ; for an opening till Walker put on a reverse wristlock which Felieo broke. Felice ; developed a wristlock that (tad Walker ; looking uncomfortable, but Walker came out : of it. Ho put in quite a promising head Bciß- , sora, but Felice countered by working on a (similar hold. Walker appeared to bo in ' difficulties for u time, but somersaulted out. A too hold and scissors had Felice most j uncomfortable, but ne used bis great strength ' to break out. Walker secured another re- > verso wristlock that forced Felice to the floor, and lor a time there was little aci tivity. Walker kept the hold till the bell rang. The second round opened with some fast sparring which ended when Felice put on a headlock, eventually throwing Walker through the ropes. Walker attacked and worked on a similar hold, throwing Felice out a few secom's later. A double toe-hold from Walker moved the Italian to groans of pain. He broke the hold apparently with ease, but a moment later a thunderbolt laid lu'm flat on bis back. Felieo come to the attack with every appearance of ferocity. and soon had Walker in a head scissors ■, which was apparently more deadly than it looked, because the referee several times - began his count. Walker broke, but found J himself in a short-arm scissors that kept the reforec on the qui vive with his count. " Felieo still had the hold when the gong ° sounded. Felice opened the third round with his favourite short-arm scissors, and had Walker puzzled. Walker writhed on the mat, but the Italian hold it and Walker appeared to be deep in difficulty. The hold was broken sonsa- ' tionally when Walker clapped on a reverse J body scissors and a splits which had the . Italian in trouble till lie managed to secure a toe hold which stirred Walker to action. There followed frve seconds of fireworks in & which both men turned rather spectacular } somersaults without, however, much «ffeet.

Felice used the ropes for a catapult to help him in a series of spectacular dives. Felice Leads Felice just missed a leg trip at the opening of tho fourth round, and Walker put on a headlock in which Felice looked unexpectedly comfortable till ha broke it eventually with a head scissors. There was some spectacular sparring which ended when Walker, dazed by a series of thunderbolts, succumbed to a body press trom e \Vith Felice one ft:ll in the lead, tho spectators watched for something spectacular from Walker, but round five had only gone two seconds when Felice worked 011 an arm bar. Walker broke out, but found himself very soon in a leg bar which developed into a too hold. Walker broke by kicking Felice in the back of the neck. After some cautious sparring_ Walker succeeded in throwing the Italian over tue ropes. Felice wont in determinedly, but Walker worked on a reverse wristlock wlnca was broken when Folice threw him heavily twico with halch throws. T olico was working for a third when \\ nlker go on a full uelson. Felice jerked himself out 01 the nelson, but a forward head throwflattened liim on the mat and Walker got on a standing splits. The hold looked good, but the pong rang and saved J^clicc. Round six saw a very determined \\ alfcei go in and soon get on a double arm scissors. Felice broke it, but Walker still attacked with thunderbolts and head throas, and eventually dazing Feliftc with a forward head (brow, ho put 011 a body pre.s

to Ret a fall. Round seven opened quietly, but VVaiKtr j was soon in a headlook whio.li he broke ( to develop a toe hold that had Felice well held. Felico countered with a too hold ot , his own. but Walker's was too strong. Walker worked 011 a promising splits, but • Felice secured n too hold that induced ■ Walker to let it pro. Walker was now definitely on the attack, and secured a species of leg lock that caused Felice to gioan. A toe hold by Felice trot him out of the difficulty, but he appreared to bo tiring and was soon in H barred toe hold which Walker retained till the gong rang. The eighth round opened with Walker all out to win. A few vigorous seconds were followed by a dull patch during which Walker appeared to be master of tlio situti' tion. Walker was having if nil bis m% ' n way, but Felico w.i? obvious]}' tired. Jndeca, tlij crowd roared to Felice to start wrestling. Tho round continued in this fashion till tlio gong. Mr J. S. Shaw was the referee. Tlie Proli.mtna.rie9 In the preliminaries, B Borton lOst 111b a»d R. V Genet (9st 121b) drew after s dull bout. The pace was slow and neither was a good wrestler. R. Mundy (Bst) beat &'. llauger (Sst .lib). The bout was hard, but not spectacular. The wrestling was of good standard. , T. Berland (9st 91b) was very much too good for M. Barnes (9st 41b), and won comfortably with two falls. An interesting display was given by G. , F. Mouat (list 611>), a former New Zea- . land champion, in his bout against F. 15. Pope (list 101b). Mouat was very much , the cleverer wrestler, and won by two lalls ■ to none. . , Mr A. f. Craig referred the bouts. '