WRESTLING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 705, 4 September 1885, Page 15

WRESTLING.

DINNIE V. MILLER. Five Styles, for £IOO. Dinnie Wins the Odd Fall. We extract the following account of the second wrestling match for £IOO, between Dinnie and Miller, from the Sportsman : The agreement was, that each man was to pick two styles, and that the fifth was to be tossed for, the condition being that it was to be different from either of the others. Dinnie, therefore, picked Scotch and Sidehold ; Miller Graeco-Roman and Catch-as-catch can, and, being lucky with the toss, took for the fifth bout the Cornish. The winner of three falls to take the money. Considerable interest was taken in this match, as, although it was known Miller knew very little about leg-wrestling, it was considered probable he would have a show in the Cornish bout, which is wrestled with canvas jackets. Dinnie, too, had got himself into good form, and had recovered from the hurt to his back, sustained while practising with Thomas just prior to the first (three-style) match. He had been careful of himself, as he was naturally anxious to maintain his unbeaten record as winner of mixed matches. Miller had put on flesh a bit, amd wrestled a few pounds heavier than before. An endeavour was made to obtain a large building in which to wrestle, and, failing this, the Victorian Hall was rented. As was expected, this proved much too small for the large crowd that assembled outside long before the doors were opened. At Nicholson’s music warehouse, too, the whole of the 103 reserved seats had been marked off the plan, and the management found it necessary to take in all the seats down to the barrier. •For the stage some 40 tickets at LI each had been sold. Directly the doors were opened the people poured in, and in a few minutes the galley, to which half-a-crown was charged, was densely packed. Had this part been as large again it could still have been crowded, as scores, unwilling to pay the higher rates, were unable to obtain admittance. All through the hall dissatisfaction was expressed at the “ narrow’’ action of two of the trustees in declining to let the Exhibition Building, the more particularly when no cavil is made at granting it for a masked ball, or some other undisguised parade of the “female form divine.” The trustees, it was generally remarked, strained at the wrestling “gnat,” while they swallowed the masked ball “ camel ” with an easy gulp. The time fixed for the wrestling to begin was 8 o’clock, and at that time the Hall was quite full. The stage had been prepared with the orthodox sawdust and covering, but the wrestling space was much too small for a vigorous contest, especially where the leg work played such a prominent part in four out of the five styles. The gentleman who acted on the previous occasion was again the referee, while Mr George Leopold once more made the an—-

nouncements. The first of these was that Dinnie had chosen to open the match with THE SIDE-HOLD. The principal points of this style are : 1. Each wrestler must wear a strong leather belt round his waist. 2. Each takes hold of his opponent’s belt on the back, and with the other hand grasps his opponent’s hand in front. 3. A fall is gained "when a man is thrown on to two shoulders and one hip, or two hips and one shoulder, or against a man who looses his hold on his adversary’s belt to save himself from falling. Tripping is also allowed. , . As the men came on the stage from "heir dressing-rooms they were loudly cheered. It was just ten minutes past eight when they had taken hold and commenced to wrestle. Almost immediately Dinnie stopped and mentioned that Miller’s belt was too loose ; in answer to which both were buckled m another hole. Directly they really got to work both began to tug and strain, Dinnie the while using his legs. With a smart attempt and a twist, answered by a stop from Miller, they both came down on the carpet. Directly they were on their feet again Dinnie recommenced the tripping. Miller, however, agilely jumped away, to the amusement of the onlookers, but in the struggle they came down again. Once or twice the strain on the belt was very great, causing the muscles to start out on the arms of both. Once Dinnie made a movement as if for a buttock, but Miller swung round, bringing Donald after him to the back of the stage. Again there was some quick leg work, causing Miller to hop about. He, in his turn, dashed in his feet, but the other was too wary. The latter was standing as far out as his hold on the belt would permit, and was working with his head well down. Dinnie tried a hank, with the result that they were both down on their sides at once, breaking hold. Then Dinnie gave a powerful tug, and, bringing Miller close up, cleverly back-heeled him, bringing him fairly on to the three points. First fall to Dinnie. Time, 7min 15sec. The Hank, or Back-heel, is accomplished by pulling your opponent towards you, and putting your left heel behind his right heel. You then throw your whole weight upon him, and at the same time force his foot up and you are then enabled to throw him backwards. GRAECO-ROMAN. Dinnie having won the choice of choosing the style in which to commence the match, it was now Miller s turn, and after the prescribed 15 minutes’ rest, the wrestlers appeared again for a Graeco-Roman bout. Here the rules are : 1. No hold allowed lower than the waist. 2. A fall is declared when a man has been placed fairly on two shoulders, and held their five seconds. 3. Wrestling on the floor till a fall is secured is quite fair. When “ Time ” was called by the referee they were not long getting together, both going for a neck-hold. Then, after some hand and arm work, Dinnie stepped round and passed his armed round Miller’s body.. He lifted Miller off his feet, hut the latter spread out his arms and legs in the funniest possible fashion, and when Dinnie threw him he landed on all fours, and was quickly up again. Then Dinnie grasped Miller’s left arm, and, drawing himself close, at once got a body-hold, Miller taking to the carpet on all fours. Then ensued a bit of work that made the spectators laugh and applaud. Dinnie was astride of Miller when the latter suddenly arched his back, literally bucking Dinnie off. Out of some arm work Miller tried for an under-hold, but Dinnie worked out of it, and grasping his opponent by the left arm made him dance round. Donald was doing a lot of work, and once or twice, to his own disadvantage, followed Miller on the floor. Again Miller was swung round, and Dinnie once more got a hold from the back, and lifted his bulky opponent clean off his feet, and threw him down on all fours. Dinnie placed his arm under the other’s chin, and at the same time seizing one of Miller’s hands that rested on the carpet, made a strong effort to turn him over, but without avail. Still he kept his underhold, but was unable to do anything with it, and with a comical shake of his head he resumed his feet. From an under-hold Miller got the French hug, and the spectators anticipated the finish ; but Dinnie worked away at the clutching fingers and thumbs, and broke the hold. Again Miller went for the hug, but the other was too wary. Once Dinnie tried the buttock, and brought himself and Miller down, but only for a moment or two. Some smart neck and arm work followed, at the end of which Dinnie had secured a hold from the back. Up went Miller again, and down he came on the floor in his funny spread-eagled fashion. Dinnie kept on top and made a powerful try by placing his hands and arms under the other’s armpits, but could do nothing. Miller secured his French hug, and turned Dinnie over, but the latter rolled cleverly out of danger, amid great cheering, and, despite Miller’s efforts, got up. In evading a buttock, Dinnie accidentally crossed Miller’s legs with his, but without doing any damage. Soon after this came the finish. Dinnie had incautiously gone on to the floor, when Miller quickly put on the French hug, and, putting forth all his strength, turned Dinnie on his shoulder, and, throwing all his weight on to Donald’s prostrate body, kept him there the five seconds. One fall to Miller. Time, 15min. 47sec. In putting on the French hug the arms are placed round the neck and crossed under your opponent’s chin, the elbow of each arm then, of course, resting in the palm of the opposite hand. If used while on the feet the wrestler who puts it on comes down slowly, bringing his adversary with him. THE CORNISH. Most of those present were under the impression that Dinnie would choose his favorite Scotch as the next style. It was somewhat of a surprise, therefore, when it was announced that the men were to wrestle a Cornish bout. A little reflection, however, proved the wisdom of the choice. The chooser evidently wished to so wrestle as to

have the roughing on while he was yet fresh—the more that it was considered that if Miller won the match it would be by the deciding fall in the Cornish, of which the points are 1. Strong canvas jackets must be worn. 2. Any hold allowed, so long as it is on the jacket, but neither wrestler must cross his hands on his opponent s throat. 3. To gain a fall a man must be thrown clean off his feet on to three points.

4. No wrestling on the floor allowed, but if any part of the body touch, the man may be thrown over, providing the effdrt is continuous—that is, the moment the wrestlers stop they must get on to their feet again. It was plain the moment the wrestlers appeared on the stage that the men had not been measured for their canvas jackets, and they presented a peculiar aspect, Miller’s evidently being too short for him. Dinnie right off clutched Miller by the back and shoulder, the latter gathering Dinnie’s jacket up in front and twisting it together for a hold. Then Dinnie commenced tripping, and in a few seconds had his opponent on the carpet. Resuming, Miller tried a little leg work, but was evidently out of his element, and only succeeded in landing himself on his side on the floor. Dinnie, on the other hand, was quite at home at this work, and alternately “carpeted” Miller, first on his hands, then on his knees, and again on his side. Miller, too, seemed bothered by his jacket, which had an unpleasant knack of working up round his neck. Dinnie got a strong hold, and tried a buttock. He kept on tripping, too, but without any other effect than to make Miller shake his ankle, as though the repeated visitations of his adversary’s nimble foot pained him each time. One smart trip, however, brought him on all fours. Each got a neck hold, and there was some vigorous wrestling all over the stage, Miller finding all he could do to ward off the leg attacks. Then the spectators were treated to a really good wrestling pose. Dinnie had clasped Miller tightly and made a strong effort to bring him over by locking his leg in the other. Miller, in return, got the inside lock, and, both making a desperate effort, they stood in the centre of the stage with legs and arms interlocked, Dinnie leaning to one side to bring his man over, and Miller tugging in the other direction. The result was that Miller was thrown flat on his face. Over and over again Miller was carpeted, but always escaped, amidst the greatest excitement among the spectators. Then Miller made the mistake that lost him the fall., He had obtained a strong hold, and apparently attempted to bring his opponent over with a species of buttock. But he came too far forward, and Dinnie, quick as thought, gave a backward pull, at the same time forcing Miller's legs from under him, and down the latter came “ as fiat as a flounder.” Two falls to Dinnie. Time, lfimin. 47sec. All through this bout Dinnie had worked like a Trojan, and his repeated powerful attacks on such a bulky opponent proved the excellence of his condition. Miller, on the other hand, on returning to his room, complained that his injured ankle pained him a good deal, and once or twice he was afraid of its giving way. In addition, his wrist was swollen up a good deal. CATCH-AS CATCH CAN. This time the Lancashire or Cateh-as-Catch-Can was wrestled under its proper rules. The points are : 1. Any hold allowed. 2. To gain a fall a man must be thrown on two shoulders, which must be pressed down. 3. Tripping is allowed, and wrestling on the ground may be continued till a fall is gained. When work was commenced Miller, after a little sparring, grabbed Dinnie by the left leg, and, in his effort to throw him over, made the Highlander hop on one leg across the stage. Getting away, the latter turned round quickly, and got hold of Miller by the back of the thigh. Escaping, Miller closed and got the "French hug on, but Dinnie fought out. Miller made another grab at Dinnie’s leg, but the latter stooping down suddenly turned the tables by bringing his opponent on his face. Then Dinnie seizedMiller by the ankle and tried to turn him over, but only with the result of pivoting him round on one hand after the style of the Girards, to the intense amusement and excitement of the spectators. Finding this of no avail, he seized both ankles and trundled Miller backwards and forwards on the stage just as the boys play at “ wheelbarrows’’ with each other. Then he took to the single ankle work again, but Miller, turning like an eel, got possession of Dinnie’s calf and stuck to it, and gradually workiog the other down got on the French hug. For a moment there was great excitement, but Dinnie broke away, amid loud cheering. Dinnie here, for the first time, tried the “ Flying mare,” but failed, and some quick arm work ensued, from which Dinnie again got Miller by the leg, bringing him down on all fours. Again Dinnie tried to turn the other over, but Miller knew too much about ground wrestling to be so easily disposed of. Turning like lightning he reversed positions, and, by a quick movement, grasped Dinnie by the knee and ankle. Then he caught the other ankle and rushed Dinnie on his hands to the back of the stage. The latter made a frantic effort to release himself, but had to come over on to his back. Two falls to Miller. Time, 12min. 17|secs. THE SCOTCH. Though the men had gained two falls it was generally considered that Dinnie must win the deciding bout in the Scotch style. The main points of this are : 1. A back-hold must be taken, thirty seconds for which are allowed. If no hold is then taken the men must wrestle without. 2. Once on the floor any hold may be taken. 3. To gain a fall a man must be kept under in any position for thirty seconds. Tripping allowed. Directly they took hold Miller was brought down, but he turned over and grasped Dinnie . by the shoulder, and for a moment it looked 1 as though he had caught Dimnie napping, and must win. Dinnie got to his feet again, and out of some smart wrestling that ensued he buttocked Miller on to the floor. He was, however, unable to keep him there longer

than ten or fifteen seconds. Up again, Dinnie commenced quick leg work, but Miller escaped. Then the former slipped round, and catching Miller from the back, lifted him clean up and threw him on the carpet, falling on him, but keeping him down for only three seconds. Miller was making a better show than ever before in the Scotch style, and was repeatedly cheered. Again a strong body-hold, ending with Miller on the floor and Dinnie over him. This time twenty seconds had expired before Miller was able to writhe himself out of his opponents strong grasp. This time Miller got a hold from behind, lifted Dinnie up, and endeavored to cast him down. But. the latter was too quick, and got away, Miller, by the strength of his own effort, falling prone on his face. Once more Miller was down, but he got his hands off the ground, and, placing them at the back of his thighs, made a strong buttress, which the other could not break. Miller once or twice while on the floor tried the French hug, but without avail. Once when Miller came down Dinnie hung on to him, but by a powerful effort the former struggled first to his knees, then supported himself on his hands, and then regained his feet, the spectators cheering wildly. After this the end soon came. Miller was lifted in the air, thrown on the carpet, and this time kept down the required 30 seconds. Dinnie thus won the third fall and the match. Time, 17min. 12sec. REMARKS. The two matches between Miller and Dinnie have, unfortunately, done nothing to settle their respective merits as wrestlers. All they have done is to prove that with a ground wrestler a leg wrestler has no show, and vice versa. The match afforded one surprise—not in the result, for it will be remembered that I wrote that Miller should win the Grseco-Roman and Catch-as-catch-can and Dinnie the Scotch and Side-hold, and that while the chief interest of the match would circle round the Cornish bout, Dinnie really had the best of the match. The surprise was that Miller should have had such little show in the Cornish and have made so much play in the Scotch. But this only adds more force to the assertion that into whatever style ground wrestling' enters the GrsecoRoman exponent has much the better chance. For the other styles an improvement might be made when the Side-hold is again wrestled. This might be effected by bringing the hold on the belt really round to the side, and, instead of clasping the other hands in front, let each wrestler take hold of a ring. By this latter means the referee eould very easily ascertain which man loses his hold.