WRESTLING AND WRESTLERS

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1933, Page 10

WRESTLING AND WRESTLERS

INTEREST IN TARANAKI. PROMISE OF SEVERAL BOUTS. (By “Hammerlock.") Two good wrestling contests, one in New Plymouth and the other in Hawera, with the clever Blake as the star turn, have put wrestling back on the map again in Taranaki. Including next Saturday’s bout at New Plymouth there are indications of another half-dozen matches in the province. Blake should be a drawcard again in Taranaki, especially In New Plymouth, where he recorded his best New Zealand performance by beating that very fine wrestler Pereira, who has not had the best of luck in this country. Pereira, too, wrestles in the way Taranaki likes, and should be worth another match. The man that Taranaki does want, however, is George Walker, who would pack a house in any of the centres. A bout between him and Rumberg would ba a real attraction, and would be a good match for any of the associations, the wrestlers themselves and the New Zealand Union. One of the Association’s should get busy on this before Rumberg and. Walker have been matched too often in the city. Incidentally, Taranaki has not seen a great deal of Walker, who in five years has had nearly 100 bouts in New Zealand, and has lost only a handful. His one and only appearance in this province was three years ago, when he put Ebert out of action at New Plymouth. Since then the dump expert has gone oh to greater success, and has lately begun to emulate “Strangler” Lewis by having to travel by aeroplane to fulfill his engagements. Jack Patterson, who wrestles Varga at New Plymouth this week, is a solid and hard-working type. He will probably be quite popular if he refrains froni using his “thunderbolt” too much. This consists of jarring his opponent’s head back by a smart blow with his elbow or forearm under the chin, a blow that correctly timed and placed is more severe than a punch. Rumberg, who is one of the men being brought out to replace Hall and Beth, is a star man. He was recently chosen as a match for Gus Sonnenberg, the man who put the flying tackles into wrestling and recently one of the world's champions. The result of this encounter is not known, but that Rumberg was given the bout shows his ability. Varga is a real Count, coming of anci- , ent lineage in a central European coun- - try. One of the aristocracy until the ; war, he saw his fortune disappear as a result of that conflict, and also his mili- . tary career. Turning to wrestling for a_ living he soon established himself, and’ has wrestled with popularity and success in New Zealand this year. New , Zealand audiences consider him quite the gentleman, but he can get rough like all of them if he is angered. Not long before coming to this country be was suspended for 30 days in California for roughness. Patterson won’t need to an- . noy him. > The amateur branch is progressing very . satisfactorily in Taranaki. Instead of : just a handful of amateurs from whom ' to select preliminaries there are scores now. The time when provincial championships should be staged is not far off, and the contests should include several bright bouts. , The writer was recently asked of the : legitimacy of Walker’s claim to the Bri- ' tish Empire title. He seems justified in claiming it, having beaten Billy Meeske, : the former champion, and having wrestled successfully, in Canada. There is little modem wrestling in England apart from “stunt” performances.