Wrestling SEASON OPENS WITH DREARY PERFORMANCE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28894, 14 May 1959, Page 16

Wrestling SEASON OPENS WITH DREARY PERFORMANCE

It could hardly be said that the wrestling season had an auspicious opening in the St. James’ Theatre last evening. Indeed, some among the audience who have been attending these rites for many years could not recall a less convincing or enjoyable performance. It went into the sixth round before Carlos Moreno was disqualified, but three of the rounds were mercifully brief. Moreno’s partner was Max Steyne, who has been billed as an Australian in the North Island, but who was introduced last evening as a Canadian. They were an ill-assorted team; perhaps their lack of timing and co-operation can be remedied with practice. Moreno, a Mexican, is said to make a habit of cracking coconuts with his legs to demonstrate his strength. His performance in the early rounds suggested he would have had difficulty in preparing the ingredients for an omelette. The first round was quite the worst; for sheer incompetence and mismanagement it stood almost alone. “Wrestle clean,” said a woman spectator. A man in the crowd said: “Wrestle, anyway,” and it was a cry from the heart. The second round consisted largely of Moreno making extremely terse requests for the audience to hold its peace. A brief burst of violence from Steyne suggested he had been given enchilada in his corner instead of the water bottle, but it was a dreary business, even when in the third round Steyne was tossed in the air and subjected,

after his descent, to some throat drops. Very reasonably, he conceded a fall.

Steyne essayed a few drop-kicks which pleased several spectators, and in the fifth round he took a spectacular fall. He was flung into the ropes, but on the rebound managed to catch Moreno with his feet, and somersault him on to his back for a fall with a Victory Roll. The capitals are essential. Only in the sixth round, however, was the tempo above that of a slow fox trot. Moreno suddenly became intent on making as comprehensive a job of his opponent as those responsible for the fate suffered by D. Crockett and others at the Alamo. To this end he kept ejecting Steyne from the ring and then flinging him by an arm into such unsympathetic obstructions as wooden posts and impassive spectators. After a while the referee became as tired of it all as everyone else. Steyne was not content with such a pyrrhic victory. He set out in pursuit of Moreno, who showed surprising speed in keeping his distance, and cunning in using the ropes, from the outside, in defence. That flurry was brief; the spectators trooped silently out into another wet night.