GOOD WRESTLING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 204, 12 August 1932, Page 2

GOOD WRESTLING

WILSON DEFEATS MUIR THIRD FALL IN SIXTH ROUND. ENTERTAINING AND SCIENTIFIC DISPLAY. Ey two falls to one, George Wilson, of America, beat Bonnie Muir, of Australia at the Hastings Municipal Theatre last evening. A very fair “house” was given a good exhibition of scientific wrestling with sufficient “highlights” to make it entertaining. The crowd went away from the theatre well satisfied with itself and with the verdict.

The American was the more versatile wrestler and showed cleverness m developing his holds, working quickly from one to another, and he had a greater variety of holds than the Australian. However, he was not as good as Muir on defence and early in the bout earned the displeasure of the crowd by dragging himself through the ropes for saiety. Once outside the ropes, he took long rests before climbing back again. On one occasion he was so slow about getting back that the referee commenced to count. The American then showed a surprising anxiety to come to close quarters with Muir, and did not repeat his excursions out of bounds.

The opening rounds were fast and lively, and in the third session Muir commenced throwing tne American with a series of flying mares. Wilson lived up to his name “Wildcat” by feigning, and he caught the Australian napping, following up a flying mare to pin Muir with a body press and arm stretch.

After a bright fourth round Wilson moved into action with the American buzzsaw and added flying mares. He threw the Australian half a dozen times and was about to continue the punishment when Muir suddenly stooped low and picked up the American for a lightning-like backward slam. The crowd were delighted with this thrill. The end came in the next round when Muir got busy with bunts and flying mares. Again the wily American feigned grogginess, and when Muir was about to lift him for another back slam Wilson rose to the occasion and caused Muir to get off his balance. Like a wild cat, the American wound his arms round the Australian and dumped him head downwards on the mat. The Australian obviously distressed by this unexpected fall. He was examined by a doctor, who pronounced no bones broken, though the Australian obviously was badly shaken. There is no doubt that the Hawke’s Bay Wrestling Association’s effort was a good one and furnished the crowd with an excellent night’s entertainment. The big bout was fully enjoyed as were the four amateur bouts, which were of high standard. Mr P. Annand, of Napier, was referee for all the contests. BOUND BY BOUND

Wilson opened the proceedings with a headlock that did not come to anything, but on the second attempt threw his man and pinned him with an arm scissors and an arm bar, from which Muir managed to wriggle free. The Australian endeavoured to pick his opponent up and slam him, but he gave up the attempt. Wilson then had a short arm scissors Which made Muir squirm, but he got free. A head scissors and an arm bar kept Muir quiet for a time, but he suddenly turned the tables and clapped on a head scissors himself, the American jerking himself free. A slight display of feeling resulted when Wilson commenced to bump Muir about the ring, but they quieted down when Muir came in with a wrist lock. There was some wild cat-like slapping at one another, when Muir was evidently complaining that he had been kicked in the face. They went at each other with butts, buzz-saws and antagonistic expressions. This had an end when Muir secured a wristlock and from this they went to the canvas where Muir was caught in an armlock and a solid headscissors. Muir pulled his head out with difficulty and replied with a short armbar. The American broke the hold and was not long in obtaining a short armbar. The Australian was struggling hard without success to free himself at the gong. BUTTING BY WILSON. With a headlock Muir brought Wilson down at the opening of the second and on the latter breaking away, he went in with a head-in-chancery, which was again fread. Muir was doing all the attacking mamly with head hoMs. A flying mare sent Wilson across the ring and on rising he butted the Australian twice with savage rushes. On coming to grips again a buzz-saw appeared to anger Muir, but he soon got over it and had Wilson on the defence with a body scissors and an arm-bar. Muir tried for a crucifix, but had to be content with an arm-bar, the American, on getting free, working into a cradle hold. Amidst a great deal of grunting Wilson managed to get free and raised the ire of the crowd by deliberately crawling out through the ropes to gam a respite. On coming slowly back Muir bounced in for a wrist-lock, but was caught in another cradle hold. The American endeavoured to get his weight over to put Muir on his back, but the latter freed himself and secured a splits which made the American squirm, but he got clear. A short arm scissors took Muir some time to get out of, and they were still in it when they were broken by the referee for wriggling through the ropes. Muir was in a head scissors at the bell THE THIRD ROUND. Three flying marcs by Muir in rapid succession opened the third round, which was destined to be but a short one. As Muir was rushing in for another fljhng mare the American made a flying tackle in which Muir’s head hit the canvas heavily They rose and it was Wilson’s turn to put on a flying maro from which he secured an upward arm stretch and body press which gave him the first fall of the match. On resuming again the two grimaced in the centre of the ring when M»>r secured a double toe hold. Wilson again becoming unpopular with the crowd by crawling out of the ring. He took his time in returning, combining his leisure with a display of exhaustion. Muir was then aggres-

sive, but Wilson was not long in replying with u head scissors. An arm scissors again had the Australian in difficulties but he freed bimself. Some more scratching at each other’s faces while they glowered, brightened the proceedings at this stage, but they came to grips soon and fell to the middle of the ring where each had a headlock. There was some vigorous hutting by both men, Wilson after two or three exchanges of this nature, thinking that discretion was the better part of valour, remained on the floor outside the ropes. WILSON NOT ANTAGONISTIC. The referee commenced to count, but as Wilson returned and Muir advanced to him he retreated and it was not until the count of nine that he returned and then reluctantly. This was the signal for some more slapping and punching, Muir connecting with a rabbit punch and a light tap on the solar plexus. The round ended with more of the same tactics being indulged in Wilson charged hi* man repeatedij at the commencement of the fifth round, throwing him with buzz-saws, flying mares and bunting. There must have been about ten or a dozen of these which thrilled the crowd. Muir was appearing groggy at this stage and Wilson rushed in for another buzz-saw when Muir suddenly picked him up and turned him over with a back-slam and secured a fall from which Wilson made a slow recovery, lying on the canvas in his corner for some time after the goug had gone. They both came up fresh for the sixth and Wilson opened proceedings with a head-scissors and a wrist-lock. The Australian kicked in an endeavour to get free, but the only result was to receive a slap on his torso. Mujr (inally got clear, and after having a short arm-bar in his favour, he was caught in a reverse toe hold where he had the occasional discomfort of a slap in the face from the American. Muri relieved himself and after securing a short arm-bar he was out-trapped in a head-lock from which ho kicked free. More slapping of the face was a preliminary to Wilson giving Muir three hard falls in which he struck the canvas heavily, but the latter to pick his man up and respond with a back-slam. Wilson, however, retaliated by picking the Australian up bodily, with his Tegs in the air and dropped his head heavily on the canvas with his shoulders on the floor. Wilson thus secured his second fall to win the bout. THE PRELIMINARIES AMATEURS’ GOOD DISPLAYS Ladbrook (9st. 81bs.) Hastings, drew with Buocher (9st. 91bs), Taradale. Ladbrook was the more finished wrestler and his aggressiveness from the commencement was not long in having its reward in a fall by means of a leg' scissors and a body press.Boucher, however, suddenly reversed the tables in the second session with a body press, the third round ending without a fall although Ladbrook was continually on the attack.

Mace (lOst 21bs) Napier, drew with Wilson (lOst 71b) Napier.

Wilson made the pace in the first round in which both wrestlers gave a fast and open display using all manner of holds to give an excellent exhibition There was no fall in the first round and in the second Mace began to wear down his opponent, but the pace slackened little. Mace was definitely the superior in the concluding tussle, but again no fall was secured, and an excellent bout therefore ended in a draw. Walker (lOst) Hastings, beat McCall (9st 71bs) Napier. A fairly fast bout ensued between Walker and McCaM, but it was not of very long duration. Walker secured two falls with body presses early in the proceedings. Kent (list 131 b), Napier, beat Erikson (12st 71bs), Hastings. It was more a display of brute strength that was provided by Erikson and Kent. The former commenced well, but when warmed up his smaller opponent showed more ability and won two falls with body presses, securing the verdict.