WALKER WINS AGAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20723, 17 November 1930, Page 12

WALKER WINS AGAIN.

DEFEAT OF KOTSONAROS. SENSATIONAL FALL GAINED. CANADIAN'S UNBEATEN RECORD. The return wrestling mulch between George Walker, of Canada, ami George Kotsonaros, of Greece, staged at the lown Hall nil Saturday evening by the New Zealand Wrestling Association, was woy by Walker on a single fall, scored sensationally within n few seconds of tho commencement of the first round. The spectators were dumbfounded at the suddenness with which the fall was secured, but a moment later the hall rang with cheers. Walker thus maintained his undefeated record for (he season.

Never in tho history of wrestling in New Zealand has a fall been scored more quickly and it appeared that tho spectators would receive littlo value for their money. However, Kotsonaros was very wary in the second round and from then onward did his utmost to even the. score. Walker had a very busy time keeping out of trouble and although it appeared on several occasions that ho would have to concede a fall ho escaped from danger. Over the last three rounds the Canadian was on the defensive practically all tho time, Kotsonaros forcing the pace and doing everything except equalising. The match was spectacular and the excitement was intense, especially when Kotsonaros secured his / famous keylock. However, ho did not have the pressure properly applied and Walker escaped. Five more times did the Greek apply the hold, but ho could not forco his opponent to submit. Walker appeared to be in much better condition than for the previous match, which ended in a draw, while Kotsonaros was in good form, although he had been hampered in training by a head injury. Walker's Early Fall. Walker weighed in at 13st. 51b. and Kotsonaros at J3st. 81b. 'Die crowd settled down to enjoy the match as the pieliminary proceedings finished, but with the clang of the first gong they were brought to their feet. Kotsonaros advanced from his corner with hand outstretched to go into the.usual referee hold, but Walker brought him down with a flying tackle and, lying across him, scored the first fall within 20s of the start. The hall buzzed with excitement and comment throughout tho interval. Walker went in again to repeat the manoeuvre in the second round, but Kotsonaros was evidently expecting something of the sort and evaded him with ease. A double wrisllock gave the Canadian a momentary advantage, but Kotsonaros escaped, evaded another tackle and brought Walker down with a double wristlock. Walker countered with a similar hold and sent the Greek to the mat. Walker tried to leap on his opponent, but a double-footed kick sent him flying backwards and Kotsonaros applied a head scissors and double wristlock before converting to a short-arm scissors, which he maintained for two minutes. Walker scored with a reverse wristlock, followed bv a full nelson .with the legs just before the round ended.

Opening the third round Walker spun out of an armlock and then out of a head scissors and, when the Greek essayed a lift, brought him to the mat with a double wristlock, which Kotsonaros countered with a sitting splits. The Canadian escaped after a struggle and, lifting the Greek, crashed him to the mat. As Walker tiied to jump on top of his opponent Kotsonaros kicked him backwards. Walker again escaped from a splits and missed with a tackle, but secured a reverse wristlock, combined with a body scissors, the Greek escaping just before the gong. Winner Shaken, Kotsonaros exploited a bucksaw headlock at the start of round four and safely eluded the tackle which Walker tried in retaliation. Further bucksaw headlocks and throws from reverse headlocks shook Walker and he was caught in a short-arm scissors. He escaped, again niissed with his tackle, and was trapped in a full nelson with the legs. He escaped, only to fall into a series of headlocks at the close of the round.

After sparring in the referee hold at the start of the fifth session Walker went to the mat and secured a splits, Kotsonaros winning free by knuckling on the spine. Walker plunged in aggressively and the pair indulged in some lively moments on the mat. A figure-four scissors on tho head and an arm-stretch gave the Canadian a few anxious moments, but a toehold brought hirn freedom and he tried a partial Boston crab, Kotsonaros kicking free. The Greek somersaulted out of a headlock just before the gong. As tho sixth round opened Walker wildly endeavoured to secure headlocks hut Kotsonaros sent him spinning through the ropes and then shook him with bucksaw headlocks. The Greek followed up his advantage arid the ropes saved Walker from a dangerous position. The last-named broke a short-arm scissors and, in trying for a similar hold, fell into a splits, but gained release by knuckling the spine. Series of Keylocks.

Hound seven saw Kotsonaros toss Walker with bucksaw headlocks and, as the. crowd cheered enthusiastically, ho secured the keylock, but he did not appear to have tlie pressure properly applied and Walker jumped free. The fJreek continued to force the pace in an endeavour to equalise and again he secured his keylock, the pair rolling through tho ropes as the round ended.

The ball seethed with excitement as the final round opened. Both men went to work with a will, but it, was only a moment before Kotsonaros again secured the keylock, Walker rolling him through the ropes to escape. When they came back to mid-ring Hie Greek again secured the hold and once more they went through (lie ropes. A body scissors and armlock gave Walker some trouble, but lie escaped, onlv to fall into another keylock. Bv working into position on his knees he, broke with ;i lorhold, but fell into il again with a minute, left. Ife was still locked in the bold when the gong ended the content. Amateur Preliminaries. If. Brewer, Bst 51b. beat N. Potter. Bst 51b. by two falls, both scored with body scissors and nrrnl>ar. ( Anderson, B.st, 101b, 1 iont W. Dawson, Ost 51b, by two falls gained with head locks. Dawson gave a good display against, an experienced opponent. Babu, 9st 41h, beat, W. Keenan, Ost 51b, by two falls, scored with body presses.

11. Jones, 10st 8!b. beat B. Smith, 10st, 101b, by two falls, both scored with body presses.

J. Bpasley, 11-t lib, and F. f'liffe, list 111b, drew in a keenly contested threeround bou 1.