WRESTLING. LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19717, 17 August 1927, Page 16

WRESTLING.

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS.

SPIRITED BOUTS AT RAETIHI. NOTES ON THE COMPETITORS. The success of the first night's contests for tho amateur heavy-weight wrestling championship of Now Zealand at Raotihi on Friday night last should bo an incentive to tho New Zealand Wrestling Association to hold more of these tournaments. In any case, thore is no reason why a series of challenge matches should not take place. The number of challenges would have to be limited if tho one man held the title for the season, but if tho title changed hands and went to tho various districts tho sport would quickly find favour with the public. The sporting people of Melbourne at the moment are practically falling over themselves to gain admittance to the big professional wrestling bouts in that city, and with good, clean, amateur contests in New Zealand the public patronage should not be hard to obtain.

The outstanding performances in tho bouts at Raetiln were thoso givon by tho Scarrow brothers, Davo, Alec and Albert. Dave dofeated Albert in the second round and Alec in the final, borne of the competitors were middle-weights, and thoy found this too much of a handicap when meeting the bigger competitois. The Scarrow brothers are all big and heavy men. Alan Anderson runs the Scat-rows a good second for weight arid build, although he is somewhat younger. Webb scales about 13st., and is a formidable opponent. Among tho lighter men Alec Anderson, at about lOst., put up some exceptionally good work. Ho is a clever and finished wrestler, with several years' experience of ring work to back him up. Flyger is quite a new man in the wrestling world, and was only discovered about three weeks ago. In view of tins fact he put up a wonderful performance, and >f he keeps to the middle-weights he will soon gam honours in the ring. He is clean, quick, uses intelligence, and is a most promising wrestler Rangi Bishop also is a man to be watched in the middle-weights. He possesses strength above the average, "and with a little more experience in ring work should give quite a good account of himself. Alan Anderson will make a good heavy-weight wrestler as time goes on. Ho gave an exceedingly brilliant exhibition, and but for a certain amount of hard luck lie would have figured in the finals. The Semi-Final Rounds. In the semi-final between Dave Scarrow and Alec Anderson the men opened cautiously, Anderson being on attack most of the round, which ended in neither man scoring. A spirited opening of the second round took place, Scarrow trying a face hold. Eventually he got a good head and arm hold, but could not hold his opponent. Anderson lifted Scarrqw and they came to the mat, Scarrow, with a head and arm lock, secured a fall. Anderson wrestled in spectacular style for the remainder of tho bout, but no further falls were scored. J. Webb and Alec Scarrow contested three very hard-fought rounds in the second semi-final. The rounds were evenly contested. Webb missed some good chances. Scarrow put his man to task when ou attack, but no falls were recorded. An extra round was allotted, but this failed to produce a fall. Scarrow was declared the winner of the bout on points. Brothers Contest Final. The final was between Alec Scarrow and Dave Scarrow. In manouvring for position, Dave put up some good work and, with a waist hold, brought his opponent to the mat. A strong tyssle ensued and Alec, in a dangerous position, slid off the mat. Both men now worked for buttock holds for a fall. With a leg hold Dave got a good position, but Alec again went off the mat. Alec then brought Dave down with a body hold. Dave countered with an arm lock and half-Nelson, from which Alec freed himself bv again getting off the mat. Dave had the advantage in this round. Tn tho second round a good spring from Alec brought Dave down and fast work ensued on the mat. In a scramble Alec got a waist hold, but nothing eventuated. Alec then slipped through a face hold by Dave and fried a body hold for a fall. It was a good, evenly-contested round.

The third round consisted mostly of leg-work and body holds, Alec missing an opening for a head roll. The men were tiring at the close of the round. No falls were recorded. An extra round was allowed. At the opening, both men showed signs of fatigue, but after a few seconds a sharp encounter saw Dave with a good neck hold. Alec countered with a leer hold. With a splendid effort Dave forced his man and secured a half-Nelson and, with a good head and shoulder roll, secured a fall. -

THE PAYMENT OF PLAYERS. SUGGESTED MOVE IN SYDNEY. Following on the recent decision of the New South Wales League to grant a subsidy of £5 a game to its representative players in the recent games against Queensland, a movement is on foot to establish, within the next few weeks, a union among the first grade Rugby League clubs in Sydney, to protect tho players' interests, particularly on the score of finance.

A number of preliminary meetings, organised by ex-international players, has already been held. It is argued that as the players attract largo crowds they should receive greater emoluments than £5 out of the receipts which, in the two inter-State games, totalled £7OOO. Whether the union will instruct its present delegates to the New South Wales League to move in the direction stated, or whether it will seek a change of management, has not yet been disclosed. The present constitution allows 26 delenates. comprising the general body of the League. Eighteen of the delegates' votes represent Sydney clubs. As a simple majority will alter the constitution, the position is full of possibilities.

ATHLETIC MATTERS

DOMINION COUNCIL DECISION It was stated at a recent meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association that the Auckland Centre had not sent any direct answer to correspondence since May, in spite of frequent requests from the secretary of the New Zealand Council. It was agreed, in view of the revival of professional sport in the Auckland province, that something should be done by the New Zealand Council to put the Auckland Centre on a sound footing. It was decided to write to the Auckland Centre on the matter of correspondence and also that Messrs. McVilly and Gny should wait on the Wellington Centre to see if some arrangements could not be arrived at to send the strongest possible Wellington team to Auckland this season and to co-operate with Auckland in an endeavour to also place amateur athletics here on a sound footing.