WRESTLING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20880, 9 November 1937, Page 10

WRESTLING

A COMPLETE FIASCO McCREADY-WALKER BOUT By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON. November 8 The long awaited wrestling bout between Qeorge Walker and Earl McCready took place to-night at the Town Hall, Wellington, and was a complete fiasco. It lasted less than a round, to be exact 9 minutes 50 seconds. At the end of that time Walker submitted to a hammerlock applied by McCready and retired incapacitated from the contest. A large crowd took the result with apparent equanimity. For about two years wrestling supporters had discussed the possibilities of these two professional heavy-weights meeting on the mat, but as they were wrestling then under different controlling bodies the match did not take place. In the past both wrestlers laid claim to the title of British Empire champion. The title now is no longer disputable. Interest was high when the two men entered the ring to-night. The Town Hall was crowded and both received ovations.

McCready made his appearance first. He stood grim and silent in his corner while Walker bowed to his supporters,. who greeted him with a great roar of applause. McCready weighed 16st. 71b. and Walker 15st. 21b. For a long time the two wrestlers exchanged tentative embraces from the referee’s hold. McCready forced Walker to the ropes and he promptly thrust his head and shoulders through. The referee separated them. Walker gave way before McCready’s advance and again and again sought refuge in the ropes. McCready tripped him but before he could apply a toehold Walker had wriggled under the ropes. For fully eight minutes this unsuccessful chase continued. Walker obtaining sanctuary every time before McCready could apply a single effective hold. Finally McCready trapped Walker in the middle of the ring, tripped him, and as he scuttled on all fours for safety caught him and closed with him. There was a brief tussle on the mat. Then McCready applied a hammerlock, the sole effective wrestling hold seen in the whole bout. He bent Walker’s arm upward behind his back and pulled it outwards away from his body. Walker, lying face downwards, beat the mat with his hand and the referee hauled McCready off. Walker rolled over groaning, his face contorted and his arm powerless. Walker’s attendants straightened his arm for him, massaged it, lifted him and sat him in his corner. When the bell went, however, and McCready advanced across the ring menacingly, Walker remained seated in his comer. The referee approached him and questioned him, turned to McCready and raised his hand. The spectators stood in stunned silence while Walker climbed out of the ring, then quietly collected their hats and went home.