WRESTLING AT STADIUM

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 127, 25 November 1935, Page 16

WRESTLING AT STADIUM

FAIRLY BRIGHT CONTEST

MEESKE INCAPACITATED

Two proven campaigners in Australasian wrestling met in the professional contest staged at the Wellington Show Stadium on Saturday night and provided a moderate attendance with a display which contained much that was lively, entertaining, and skilful. They wete George' Walker, 15st 51b, and Billy Meeske,, Isst, the former receiving the verdict, "in the seventh round when Meeske failed to" reappear after both had fallen- .out of the ring. At that stage.they had a fall each, Meeske having compelled Walker to submit to the Boston crab in the third round, and Walker equalising with a press two rounds later. After the warnings and disqualification which he had dealt out to him by the referee in his previous contest Meeske was more amenable to discipline though there were times when he failed to see eye to eye with the official, the latter being himself a professional wrestler. Walker, also departed * from the straight and narrow path occasionally, but for the most part the men confined themselves to straightforward .wrestling. Meeske, of course, would not have been Meeske if he had not remained a showman, and the crowd derived considerable amusement from his little gestures, while his penchant for finding tender spots 'On Walker's broad frame was another source of entertainment. WALKER IN GOOD FORM. As he had indicated in his recent match, with Wong Walker showed that he is now in good wrestling fettle, and if there were any periods when the pace slackened it was not because he was unable to keep going. He gave the impression of being the master all the way and never looked in danger of losing. A fleeting smile showed on Walker's broad face after he had sprung clear from a reverse wrist lock, and he proceeded to bustle Meeske during the first few minutes. Meeske's complaint against a one-finger hold was sustained and the referee pulled Walker off. Walker then tried to emulate Sonnenberg by coming back off the ropes with some flying tackles, but he could not connect with his opponent, who dropped to the mat. There was a loud laugh when Walker showed signs of distress after a, hit in the face, but Meeske refused to be drawn. The second . round' had scarcely started before Walker had Meeske tied in the form of a crucifix in the two top ropes. Meeske then caused Walker considerable trouble with a Japanese leg lock until a kick in the side of the face suddenly persuaded him to let go. After a brief interlude Meeske secured the hold again, a reverse toe hold breaking it* the second time. Walker came out looking for action in the third round, but he had not accomplished anything before he was caught in a Boston crab, to which he quickly submitted. Meeske was awarded a fall at lmin 15sec. Walker was manoeuvring for the same grip in the fourth round when Meeske managed to get his shoulders under the ropes. When Meeske tried it again Walker gave a heave and sent him flying through the ropes. The action slowed up with the wrestlers doing most of their work on the mat. Walker was making most of the advances and was freely encouraged by the crowd. Meeske had a little argument with the referee at the end of the round as the - outcome of being ordered to break a barred leg hold near the ropes. SURPRISE FOR MEESKE. Elbows and hands started to fly in , the fifth round, and the referee stopj ped the men to have a word with them, i telling them it was "not wrestling." At i the end of this little speech Meeske i made as though to shake hands, but j Walker ignored the gesture, rushing . in and felling him to the mat. Meeske 1 was well and truly flattened, and, to his great disgust, he had a fall awarded against him. at imin ssec. Meeske tramped on Walker's toes to show what he thought, of him, and then went over and said a few words to Walker while the latter sat in his corner. . When Meeske retired to his own corner he sat.with the sawdust bucket between his legs, and, when the bell rang again,,triied to carry it into action with him. His seconds and the re-' feree checkmated, this move, however, and he was comoelled to carry on withS out weapons.. They did quite a lot of ; hard work. and interspersed pieces of i by-play which kept the crowd amused, i In one instance Meeske made a move •to tie one of. Walker's feet in his ■ (Walker's) waistband. At the end of ; the round Meeske exchanged badinage : with the crowd, some of whom charged ; him with introducing "too much i, boloney." : The seventh round proved to be of i very brief duration. Walker made a : rush at Meeske and both men fell ■ through the ropes. Walker soon clam- ■ bered back into the ring, but Meeske i was the centre of attraction as he ref mained hors de combat for some time ■ after Walker's hr.nd had been raised. : Mr. Anton Koolman was the referee. \ AMATEUR PRELIMINARIES. Results of the amateur preliminary bouts, which produced some fast and ; skilful displays, were:— i S. Gerondis (Bst 91b) beat R. Gifford ■ (Bst 91b), by one fall. • J. McNeilly (list 61b) beat R. Ausi tin (list 41b) by one fall. S. Buckley (9st 31b) beat J. Nager (9st 71b) by two falls to one. S. Scott (list 21b) drew with T. j Wright (list 81b). They secured a fall t each.

Mr.. B. Bidder was the referee,