Zorro Disqualified In Bout With Alo Leilani

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28050, 18 August 1956, Page 2

Zorro Disqualified In Bout With Alo Leilani

WRESTLING

It is to be hoped that spectators at Lancaster Park today do not show so violently a partisan outlook as the one in the Civic Theatre last evening who smashed a crutch in an abortive attempt to help Alo Leilani bring the Great Zorro down in ruins. Leilani won, but he had Zorro to thank more than his aide in the front row, for Zorro, not for the first time in his busv career, was disqualified. The bout did not begin until almost 9.45 p.m., and if it finished at the usual time, it was no reflection on the wrestling productivity of the principals, who gave a full house plenty of action. Zorro made an entrance of such dignity that his usual reception seemed unkind, and it was not long before he was further humiliated. He “applied a crucifix hold, which not many years ago would have brought a fall almost instantly, but Leilani stood up and, walking across the ring, deposited Zorro carefully on a corner post. Zorro was put further out of countenance when some floundering attempts to catch Leilani failed ludicrously. Zorro is particularly sensitive about such things, and made no real attempt to hide his annoyance. It was in the second round that the gentleman in' the front row who had one foot heavily encased in plaster, showed a strange anxiety to get to grips with Zorro, but he was limited to advice of a quality which brought a censorious police sergeant to his side. But before the round ended the enthusiast was waving a crutch angrily. . . There was a great deal of activity, with judo cuts from Leilani and jolts from Zorro, but when Zorro was temporarily on top, the situation was too much for Leilani’s admirer. Taking a full overhead swing, he brought his crutch crashing to the floor a foot or so from Zorro. It was eloquent testimony to the manufacturers that the crutch did not disintengrate, but it was split at the end. A piece of binder twine, salvaged from a pocket, made it serviceable again. He might have been tempted to use it again in the fourth round, when Zorro won a fall, but his nearest neighbour had it carefully pinned beneath his feet. Zorro’s fall came from a barred forward toehold, to which Leilani ultimately submitted after suffering the usual softening-up processes.

In the fifth round it was all Leilani, with a succession of judo chops which had Zorro in a deep depression. Then Leilani flung Zorro heavily into the ropes and as he rebounded, he dropped him with another chop, a magnificent affair as effective as a machete, and delivered with the timing and strength of a Smithfield butcher. Leilani took a fall, and »his aide-de-camp stood up.

plaster and all. to wave a silk scarf vigorously, as hysteria seized the entire audience. Zorro was a very reluctant dragon when the bell sounded for the sixth, for he put one foot outside the ropes and waved Leilani back imperiously. But everything ended on a high note— Leilani in trouble, Zorro heedless of the referee’s injunctions. Zorro disqualified, Zorro administering further punishment, the police intervening, a little more fighting, then Zorro departing disgustedly, while Leilani limped about gathering in the applause in armfuls. AMATEUR BOUTS Amateur wrestling bouts at the Civic Theatre last evening resulted:— vV. Campbell (Crichton Cobbers), 6st 21b, beat C. Everest (Crichton Cobbers), 6«t 21lj. by one fall to nil; R. Tubman (Crichton Cobbers). Bst 21b, beat F. Pavtel] (Toe H, Linwooa), Bst 21b, on points, no falls; B. Grieve (Crichton Coboers), 9st 101 b, beat R. Blyth (Burnham), 9st Wb. on points, no falls; R. Harris (Burnham), list 41b, beat B. Roberts (Toe H, Linwood), list 121 b, on points, no falls; g, Taylor (Toe H, Linwood), list 101 b, beat J. Fisher (Burnham), 12st, on points, no falls.