WRESTLING OPENS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21794, 8 May 1934, Page 12

WRESTLING OPENS

SEASON IN AUCKLAND ■s{

SHIKINA DEFEATS SANTENI] ■ JAPANESE GAINS ONLY FALL 1= j The 1934 wrestling season opened in Auckland last evening when two of the> ! . recent overseas arrivals were matched at the Town Hall. They were Charlie'' Santen, lost. 121b., and Oki Shikina/ 15st. 21b. The last-named, a Japanese, secured the only fall in the seventh round by means of an armbar and press following a heavy buttock throw.. Neither man had been seen in New*: Zealand previously and this no doubt accounted for the large attendance. The consultation with the referee Mr. H. C. Sidford, before the bout opened, lasted some seconds, the Japanese asking questions regarding the permissibility of certain holds, hits with the hands, and leg-trippirig. Shikina's seconds were ordered to wipe some oily substance off his back. The Japaneso wrestled in bare feet and had the crowd amused very early with his loud grunting and panther-like antics. The first round proved Shikina to be very quick and agile, while he was exceedingly clever with his legs. Santen roused the spectators by throwing his opponent hard with forward chanceries at the commencement of tho second round. Tho Japanese replied with a series of buttock throws, accompanying each with a loud exclamation in his native language. Santen struck out heavily with his right forearm and the booing changed to cheering when his opponent retaliated xvitli interest.

• Crowd Impatient The fourth round was quieter, although a section of the crowd sshowed disapproval of Santen's hitting. Shikina troubled his opponent with a twisting of the wrist and then Sancen made the Japanese release a toehold by tickling the sole of his foot. After pulling Shikina toward him from arm's length and then butting the Japanese violently to the mat at the opening of the fifth round Santen was trapped with a clever leg manipulation. Shikina took the offensive in the sixth round with a series of forearm blows to the side of the head, followed by some kicking with his heel. The crowd became impatient when no fall had been registered as the gong sounded for the seventh round, and the action urged was forthcoming. Santen butted his opponent to the mat a few times but was suddenly trapped, the Japanese obtaining a headlock and leg trap, at the same time hurling his opponent violently to the mat with a buttock throw, then pinning his shoulders with a press and armbar. Santen resented a warning in the final round for kicking the Japanese in the abdomen. Na further falls were recorded. Amateur Preliminaries Catch-weight.—H. Franklin, Bst. 121b., and A. Hassan, Bst. 21b., drew, . neither securing a fall in the three rounds. Hassan was the aggressor throughoutj but he was at a- big disadvantage so far as weight was concerned.

Light-weight.—R. Hobbs, 9st. 61b., drew with H. Green, 9st. 71b., each securing a fall. Green gained a fall with a partial Nelson in the first round and his opponent evened in the final round with a press. The crowd appreciated the efforts of the pair to make the contest spectacular, and when each grasped one of the referee's legs after the last gong had sounded there was much laughter. 'Middle-weight.—H. McDonald, list. 21b., beat H. Flvnn, list. 41b., by one fall, secured in the second round," with an armbar and press. Catch-weight.—C. Wilson, Bst. 131b., beat B. Eeesing, 9st., 21b., by two falls. The first was gained with a head scissors and armbar in the opening round, and the deciding fall in the next round by means of a cradle. CONTEST IN" WELLINGTON MICHOT INCAPACITATED [BY TELEGRAPH—PHESS ASSOCIATION"] WEJUjINGTON, Monday The "wrestling season opened here somewhat dramatically to : iiiglit. when 'Doctor" Fred Meyer incapacitated liene Michot, the French champion, in the seventh round of a medium-paced rough contest. Michot was removed to hospital in an ambulance for an X-ray examination of a badly-strained neck, received when Meyer applied a sudden headlock. /■/ Michot sained a fall in the fourth round. Jolting and slapping, chiefly from Meyer, marred the contest.