WRESTLING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21386, 14 July 1931, Page 8

WRESTLING

M'DOUGALL v. DEMETRAL CANADIAN CRASHES TO FLOOR With the Canadian one fall in the lead, the wrestling bout between Scotty M'Dougall (14st) and Harry Demetral (13st Bib) in the Town Hall last night came to a sensational ending. M'Dougall had pinned the Greek early in the fifth round following two flying tackles which took Demetral completely by surprise, and tithe opening of the sixth round he attempted to repeat the performance. Twice he hurled himself at the Greek’s legs, but on each occasion Demetral managed partially to ward him off. With increased impetus, M'Dougall launched himself through the air a third time, arms out to catch Demetral’s legs. Demetral, however, was ready, and, leaping nimbly aside, he warded off the attack, M'Dougall diving clean through the ropes to far heavily on the floor outside. Demetral retired to his corner to await M'DougalTs return to the ring, but the latter was lying in a semi-conscious state on the flood, and all hope of the contest beii-g continued was out of the question. soon as he realised the real state of affairs, the Grehk climbed through the ropes, and hoisting M'Dougall on to bis shoulders carried him from the hall. M'Dougall, who was much taller than the powerfully built Demetral, opened the first round with two attempts to bring the Greek to the mat by means of arm bars, but on each occasion Demetral turned defence into attack and threw M'Dougall to the mat. The Canadian clamped on a punishing toe-hold, which Demetral broke with a face bar. The pair came to their feet, but Demetral sent M'Dougall to the mat again with an arm bar, which he .speedily forsook in favour of a head hold M'Dougall broke dear, and retaliated with a double wrist-lock, which Demetral broke The Greek assumed the attack, and, pinning M'Dougall’s arm beneath him, locked it in a bar, the Canadian’s hand slowly going white with the pressure. M'Dougall made frantic efforts to throw himsqlf dear, and at last, after threshing round the ring for some time, he succeeded in pushing Demetral off. Apparently none the worse for his gruelling experience, M'Dougall sprang in and four times Demetral crashed to the mat, the victim of deadly head holds, but he saved himself when groggy by crawling through the ropes, the crowd booing loudly. The gong went with the pair back wrestling in the centre of the ring. Demetral brought M'Dougall to the mat with a Cumbrian wrestling hold as the second round opened, and, still on top, locked M'Dougall’s head between his legs, but the Canadian planted his heel beneath the Greek's chin and forced him off M'Dougall sent a blow which would have done credit to a boxer rattling against Demetral’s ribs, the latter promptly getting behind the referee for protection. M'Dougall’s next move was to attempt to .butt Demetral through the ropes, but the referee again came between them, and dragged them back to the centre of the ring. The Canadian secured a beautiful toe-hold, which he turned into a key lock, Demetral standing on his head and rolling over to clamp on a counter toe-hold. Some desperate wrestling on the mat followed, M'Dougall eventually breaking clear, and stepping in to hurl his opponent to the floor with a series of head-locks The round ended with Demetral held fast in a body scissors and arm bar. At the opening of> the third round Demetral brought M'Dougall down with a reverse head hold., but quick as a flash the latter applied the splits. With his legs being gradually forced apart, Demetral made desperate attempts to crawl through the ropes, but M'Dougall kept dragging him back to the centre of the ring. Frantically Demetral plucked at M'DougalTs hair, but the referee tore his hands away, and still M'Dougall clung to his hold. At last Demetral managed to crawl out of the ring, only to be caught in the same hold as he came back, and once more be obtained relief by dragging himself through the ropes. Locking his arms round his stocky opponent, M'Dougall bore him to the mat, where he failed in an attempt to pin the Greek with the well-known crucifix, changing - the hold to a short arm scissors. Grunting and hissing, Demetral broke free, and the gong went with M'Dougall caught in a crutch hold.

“ Fireworks ” characterised the opening of the fourth round/ M'Dougall landing an occasional blow to Demetral’s ribs, while the latter butted M'Dougall with his shoulder. Demetral hurled M'Dougall to the mat with a head hold, the latter once more securing a punishing splits, from which Demetral eventually rolled clear. Making ferocious faces at each other, the pair pranced* round the ring, while the crowd roared with laughter. At length they came to the mat where, locking M'Dougall’s head - between his legs and twisting Ms arm beneath him, Demetral had the Canadian in trouble, but M'Dougall broke free, the round ending as Demetral went flying to the mat from a head hold.

Coming to the centre of the ring for the fifth round, M'Dougall hurled himself at the Greek, sending him crashing to the mat. Again M'Dougall dived at his opponent, and again Demetral went down, M'Dougall, working on top amidst tremendous applause,- and forcing Demetral’s shoulders to the mat for a fall.

The end came in the sixth round as described, M'Dougall being unable to rise after the referee had counted 20, and Demetral was declared the winner. PRELIMINARY BOUTS.

G. H. Irwin. (8.11) and Keitch (8.8) drew, each man gaining a fall. Irwin pinned Keitch with a headlock and body press in the first round, while at the opening of the third round Keitch equalised by throwing his opponent with a headlock and gradually forcing his shoulders to theTnat. R. Strang (9.7) beat G. Edwards (9.2) on points. Neither was able to secure a fall, and after a very tame exhibition, which went the full three rounds, the refeYee awarded the contest to Strang. • After a* very willing contest, characterised by more “ showmanship ” than is usually associated with amateurs, L Goughian (10.11) and E. Anderson (9.13) wrestled three rounds for a draw. Congolan, in particular, was something of a miniature “Farmer ” Vance, and the bout proved a very popular one with the crowd.

C. Turner (11.2) beat M. M'Crae (10. i i by two straight falls, gaining the first by moans of a headlock shortly after the opening of the first round and the second by a reverse body hold halfway through the final round. ■ The bout was a particu larly good one, but Turner was too strong for M'Crae and was never really in trouble. Mr W. Goughian was in, charge of the main bout, while the preliminaries were controlled by Mr M. Coughlan. KARA PASHA DEFEATS PINTO. (Per United Press Association.! CHRISTCHURCH, July 13. In a fast and exciting professional wrestling contest to-night Kara Pasha secured a points’ decision over Stanley Pinto, after the contest had gone the full distance and each man had secured a fall. There was a crowded house. Pinto secured a fall in the fifth round with a series of headlocks and cross-buttocks,' finally jpinning Kara Pasha with a body press. Kara Pasha, who had made most of the pace, completed his effort to secure a Boston crab in the final round and Pinto had to submit. The referee gave the decision to Kara Pasha. ALLEY DEFEATS LUKICH. (Per United - Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July 13. A professional wrestling match to-night between Tom Alley and Tom Lurich was won by Alley in the seventh round. Lurich obtained a submission fall in the fourth round with, a body scissors. In the seventh be secured p figure four body scissors, but Alley rose to his feet, and, hurling himself backwards, slammed his opponent hard to the mat. Alievs full weight fell on Lurich, who was unable to continue in the eighth round. The Town Hall was packed, and the crowd saw one of the most strenuous contests ever staged in Auckland. Elbows and fists were used occasional), causing the referee to issue warnings.