STRENUOUS BOUT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 190, 12 August 1931, Page 4

STRENUOUS BOUT.

What Happens When Turk Meets Greek. KARA’S DECISIVE WIN. When Greek meets Greek, it is said, they usually start a fish-shop, but when Greek meets Turk there is not a great deal they leave undone to each other—judging by the strenuous wrestling bout between Kara Pasha, “ The Terrible Turk,” and Harry Demetral, “ The Greek Grappler,” at the Civic Theatre last evening. After four fast rounds, the Turk gained the victory with a punishing Boston crab, after which Demetral was unable to continue. There was plenty of good, amusing pantomime and not a little fast and scientific wrestling. The weights were announced as Demetral 13.5 and Kara 12.12. The first round opened smartly, with each man dumping the other in turn. Demetral annoyed the Turk by pulling his long curly hair. He then made an almost successful attempt to secure a Boston crab, but shot backwards across the ring when Kara kicked him energetically on the chin. While Kara was still on the mat, Demetral attempted a willing step dance on his stomach, but the Turk was wary and rolled to one side. Kara had Demetral in trouble with an armbar, but he wriggled free and, after an exchange of willing* headlocks, the gong found both men on their feet. The Kara Pasha Grouch. The Turk capie out for the second round with the famous “ Kara Pasha crouch,” but Demetral, who did not seem greatly impressed, worried Kara with a toehold. He changed this for a body scissors and hugged his man lovingly. The Turk had to bridge, but finally flung himself free to throw Demetral with a succession of headlocks. In his joyous abandon at the new turn of events, Kara relaxed his caution and Demetral, who was playing “ Possum,” clapped on a hammerlock. He pushed Kara’s arm well up his back until the Turk called enough, giving a submission fall. He went back to his corner hugging, his arm and looking very sorry for himself. Kara started in with a toehold in the third and then changed his hold to a splits. This did not last long, and it was Demetral’s turn. He tried several holds in turn and finished up with an arm stretch, planting his foot firmly on the Turk’s face and heaving with gusto. Kara kicked free and had a short arm scissors. Demetral plucked hairs out of the Turk’s leg, but the referee objected strongly. The end of the round found the Greek very near to falling into a crucifix. Dazed Opponent. In the fourth round Kara threw Demetral repeatedly with reverse headlocks. The Greek was dazed, and, as he lay on the mat, Kara quickly stepped over him, to put on the dreaded Boston crab. He applied the pressure and the Greek signalled a quick submission. He crawled to his corner. Demetral made a game attempt to come out for the fifth round, but was forced to throw in the towel and Kara was declared the winner. Amateur Bouts. H. Mulloch (9st 31b) beat A. Jones (9st 71b) with two falls. Mulloch was on the aggressive from the start, and though Jones dumped him twice, he scored a good fall In the first round with a waist lock and body press. Jones showed no great inclination to wrestle, and the second round was slow. Mulloch secured a good hammerlock, but did not press his advantage. Jones woke up at the start of the third and applied a headlock, but Mulloch wriggled out and soon scored his second fall with another body press. V. Route (list lib) beat J. Devine (lOst 101 b), showing great form in scoring two falls to one. The bout was a good one from the start. Route, a strong boy and a most promising wrestler, applied two head scissors, which made Devine think hard, but he wriggled out of those and two headlocks which had him In danger. Devine tried to throw his man over the ropes, the referee intervening. The second opened in true professional style, with an enthusiastic but unsuccessful charge by Devine, who was again frustrated In an attempt to throw his man overboard. Then Route showed speed and cleverness, trapping one of Devine’s arms In a scissors and the other in an arm bar, and pinning hie shoulders beyond all doubt. Fall to Route. Early in the third he scored the decisive fall with a cleverly applied arm bar and body press.

J. Daily (lost 91b) drew with I. Cromb (list). These boys began fast, Dally going for headlocks from which the stocky Cromb tore himself loose. Both were inclined to unintentional showmanship, and as they were fast and eager grapplers, they put the crowd in an excellent humour. Cromb dumped his man hard at the start of the second, and bowled him round the ring like a hoop for some few seconds, without getting the opportunity to score. Daily tried a toe-hold and the splits without result, then Cromb scored the first fall with a figure four arm bar and body press. A solid dump did Daily no good at the opening of the third, but he retaliated with a toe hold, and then scored a good fall with a half-nelson and body press. The referee’s decision of a draw was popular. K. Asher (12st) beat S. Bennett (12st 41b). Bennett went across the ring to his man like a tiger, to be welcomed promptly by a headlock and then another. The professional rules suited these wrestlers, who set out to show what amateurs can do when they try. Asher threw his man with a reverse headlock and jumped high with the intention of landing on him; but to the crowd’s delight Bennett changed ground with some speed and Asher scored a clean miss. The second was no less heated. Bennett wriggled free from one hammerlock, only to have his shoulders pinned with the next, which was assisted by a headlock and body press. One to Asher. The hammerlock came into action again in the third, then Asher, when almost succeeding with a Boston crab, was “ pushed ” away by Bennett’s foot. However, he arose to throw Bennett and jump on him, and then win his second fall with a hammerlock, Bennett being forced to submit.