AMATEUR WRESTLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21347, 23 November 1932, Page 9

AMATEUR WRESTLING

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS

DECISION OF FINAL BOUTS

AUCKLANDERS' THREE TITLES

The annual Dominion amateur wrestling championships, held under the control of the Auckland Wrestling Association, were finalised at Scot 3 Hall last evening before a fairly large crowd of spectators. The general standard of wrestling was not high, the bouts lacking speed and action, clue, it would seem, to the contestants refusing to take risks. This lack of initiative produced bouts, with a few exceptions, in which unattractive straining and pulling in the referee's' hold predominated, the spectators rarely having cause for enthusiasm. The barring of the various holds used by professionals also contributed largely to tho weak displays. A special challenge bantam-weight match between Kisha Bnna (Auckland), 7st. and L. Nolan (Wellington), Bst. l£lb., was won by the first-named by two straight falls. This contest, conducted under tho professional rules, threw into sharp relief the mediocre displays engendered by the amateur rules. Both contestants gave a scientific exhibition, in which various and attractive holds were exploited. The title-holders for 1932 are as follows :

Bantam-weight.—C. Jones (Auckland). Feather-weight.—B. W. Hutclieson (Wellington). Light-weight.—R. Boe (Wellington). Welter-weight—A. J. Newton (Auck-

land). Middle-we^ht. —W. Nicholls ston North). Light-heavy-weight.—R. Douglas (Auckland).

Heavy-weight.—E. A. Browne (Wellington).

Following were the results:—

BANTAM-WEIGHT

Final.—C. Jones (Aucklard), Bst. lib., beat L. Nolan (Wellington), Bst. by two straight falls, secured in the first and second rounds respectively. Jones went into his opponent right from the start and greater strength, combined with a better knowledge, gave him an advantage which the loser tried vainly to combat.

FEATHER-WEIGHT :r - Final.—R. W! Hutcheson (Wellington), Bst. beat W. Williamson (Auckland) by one fall, gained in the first 'Sffround. Williamson was caught napping ■ ' by his opponent's quickness and had b . fall registered against him before he recovered himself. Over the remaining . rounds the winner rested on his lead.

LIGHT-WEIGHT

Semi-final. —H. Benton (Palmerston North), 9st. 13i1b., beat B. Bullock (Wanganui), 9st 13£1b., on points. The contestants gave an effortless display, very seldom going to the mat. The winner had the shade the better of an uninteresting bout. .

Final.—R. Boe (Wellington), 9st. 71b., beat H. Benton (Palmerston North), 9st. the last-named being disqualified in the third round for persistent use of the strangle-hold. There was little between the j pair up to the time of the disqualification, i

WELTER-WEIGHT

Final.—A. J. Newton (Auckland), lOst. lib., beat F. Wilson (Hawke's Bay), lOst. 41b., on points, the winner being almost the entire aggressor. It was not Newton's fault that the pair seldom touched the mat, the loser being apparently content to" strain in the referee's hold and counter any attempt on Newton's part to make the match interesting.

MIDDLE-WEIGHT

Semi-final. —W. Nicholls (Palmerston North), lOst. 121b., beat B. Allen (Wellington), list, lib., on points. Both contestants moved very fast over the first round, in -which there was little between them. As the contest progressed, however. Allen patently tired and Nicholls wrestled on strongly to take the decision by a good margin. Final. —W. Nicholls (Palmerston North), lOst. 121b., beat J. Simpson (Auckland), list. 21b., on points. Nicholls kept on top of his man, punishing him with a series of headlocks.

LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT

Final.—lt. Douglas (Auckland), 12st. Sjlb., beat C. Lowe (Wellington), list. 101b., on points in a lively bout. Both contestants worked hard throughout, Douglas coming back strongly over the last two rounds to wipe off a small deficit of points. There was very little between the two men and they received an ovation for their fast and exhibition.

HEAVY-WEIGHT

Final.—E. A. Browne (Wellington), 14st. 21b., beat D. Scarrow (Wanganui), 13st. 91b., on points after a torrid bout. The winner probably received the verdict for his initiative, while his strength also gave him a slight advantage.