WRESTLING SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20882, 26 May 1931, Page 12

WRESTLING SEASON.

OPENING LAST EVENING. WALKER DEFEATS TOM LURICH. SINGLE FALL IN FIFTH ROUND. The newly-formed Auckland Wrestling .Association opened its season last evening, when George Walker defeated Tom Lunch by orio full, secured in the fifth of eight rounds. The fall was obtained by a crutch hold and bodV-press after Walker had twice hurled his opponent heavily to tho mat. Apart from this fall (lie Contest was fairly even and strenuous, although the big feature about it was the number of times Walker broke away from tlie Russian's favourite hold, scissors on the body There were few vacant seats in the.Town Hall, the large crowd including a big representation of the fair sex. Walker substituted at the eleventh hour for Jack Iliggins, the Australian heavy-weight, who injured his hand in training and was unable to take Ihe ring. Walker's weight was announced at 13st. 121b., which is a little nl>ove thai at which ho strips when in his host condition. Lunch was announced at 14st. 'lib., although there looked to bo more than 61b. between the

pair t Lurich was dazed after he was pinned in the fifth round and when ho rushed at and struck Walker the inspector of police had a word with the referee, who cautioned the offender prior to the commencement of the following round. The referee warned Lurich on other occasions for breaches of (lie rules. Profiting by Tuition. The preliminary bouts wore all of a high standard and it is evident tho amateurs are profiling by tho tuition they are. receiving from the overseas professionals. Prior to the commencement of the main bout Scolty McDougall entered (ho ring to issue a general challenge to both the contestants and to any other wrestlers in Auckland.

After some manoeuvring for holds on the mat in the opening round Walker got to his feet and essayed a Japanese abdomen throw. Lurich countered by applying a wrist lock and scissors to tho head, but Walker escaped neatly and narrowly failed in an attempt to apply a Boston crab hold. The second round moved at a smart pace, a feature being Walker's application of the Japanese throw and the ease with which he countered Lunch's attempts to catch him in his deadly body scissors. Walker infuriated his opponent with a series of throws from reverse headlocks. Lurich was warned for trying to savage Walker from outside the ropes. '

Fall to Walker. The next two rounds were very simi lar, Lurich failing in his efforts to secure a fall from his famous body scissors, or alternatively, a short-arm scissors. Walker was always able to escape by securing a toehold and on one occasion turned the scales in his favour by throwing Lurich into the air with a spectacular lift.

The fifth round opened at a fast rate. After applying a short-arm scissors on his opponent Walker was thrown out of tho ring with a reverse headlock, but on returning' ho sent Lurich to tho mat with a flying mare. Lurich applied a body scissors, but Walker succeeded in getting a toe-hold after 40 seconds. Replying with a face bar, Walker sent his, man to the mat and dashing in quickly, again grounded him with a flying mare and then dumped him on the mat. After a short struggle Walker secured a crutch-hold and obtained a fall from a body-press.

In the next round Walker forced the pare in an endeavour to consolidate his advantage, but his bustling tactics irritated Lurich, who retaliated strongly. Lurich attempted to tear his opponent's hair until warned by the referee. The last two rounds were keenly contested, but were very even. Lunch applied his body scissors several times, but Walker was always able to free himself. Amateur Preliminaries. Light Heavy-weight.—F. Baker, list. 61b., drew with F. Munco in n strenuous bout without falls. Middle-weight.—J. Beasley, list., beat A. Blair, list. 51b., by one fall, secured for a combined scissors 011 the head and an arm-stretch, gained in the final lound. W. Paget, list. 71b., drew with D. Pearee, lOst. 91b. A combined head scis sors and hanimerlock secured a submission fall for I'earce, Paget equalising in the third round wilh a combined full Nelson with the legs and a- wrist-lock. Light-weight.—W. Williamson, 9st. 411)., drew with C. Anderson, 9st. 41b. Anderson gained a submission fall with a hanimerlock and Williamson equalised with a semi-Boston crab.