WRESTLING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 142, 18 June 1931, Page 4

WRESTLING

PINTO’S QUICK WIN THREE ROUNDS AT AUCKLAND. PLENTY OF SENSATIONS. Just off the boat, Stanley Pinto, the Nebrasca heavy-weight wrestler, battled through to a quick win over Jack Higgins, of Australia, at the Town Hall on Monday. Although it lasted less than twenty minutes, the match provided plenty of sensations, say the Auckland Star. After a lively firs round, Pinto in the second used a foot too vigorously into his opponent’s face, and had a penalty fail given against him, but in term three he picked Higgins up and slammed him so hard that he was unable to continue. It was Pinto’s first New Zealand appearance, and the match lasted hardly long enough for one to get a true line on his worth. He is known as the “Tigerman” in his own country, and one would imagine that be could become really fierce if the referee wanted it that way. It was obvious that Pinto was a lot in the dark as to what was expected of him. Prior to the start of the match the Nebraskan was informed by the referee (Mr C. Pollard) that butting, punching and hitting on the back of the neck were barred, and when he had a penalty fall given against him in the second round he appeared genuinely mystified. In his dressing room after the match Pinto .said that he had never before losl a fall on a foul. He had not, he claimed, kicked Higgins in the face, but had merely pushed him off. In America kicking and punching were passed over; in fact, the fans demanded it. If the New Zealand people preferred “tea party wrestling,” he could give it to them. Ten Pounds Heavier. Despite the fact that he was 101 b. the heavier, Pinto (14.5) was every bit as quick on his feet as the Australian. The Nebraskan’s record makes him out as a first-class matman; future matches will prove if he is as good as he appeared last night. If last evening’s match did not bring the very best out of Pinto, it at least showed him as an entertaining showman; his grimaces when he was caught in a splits or toehold would not have disgraced the popular Farmer Vance. Higgins unwound the best that tic had, but it was not good enough. He wrestled vigorously and attractively, and for two rounds kept his heavier opponent on the move. In the third round the Australian left himself open for a minute, and in a flash Pinto had picked him up and slammed him to the boards to take a fall and the match. It was some minutes before Higgins could leave the ring. When he did, he was loudly cheered.

Bright First Round. The ill st round opened brightly, both men going straight to business. Each tugged at a headlock, and then Higgins dived at the newcomer, only to have has head caught in a figure four scissors. When the Australian pulled free, he made the American wince with a single arm hold, and later he countered a toe-hold with a spectacular splits. Pinto next displayed something new in the way of combination toeholds, but again Higgins saved himself by attacking his opponent’s feet. When Pinto used his hand to slap, smartly down on the back of his opponent’s head he was told that that was not wanted. As they sparred for an opening, Higgins let fly a light punch for the stomach on the blind side of the referee. He repeated the offence a few seconds later, and this time Sub-Inspector Gibson, of the Police Department, got up and had a word to say to the referee. When Higgins appeared to have been hit again on the back of the head, Mr Pollard called the men together and' cautioned them both. After escaping from a head scissors, Higgins threw his man smartly and he had a short arm scissors at the gong. During the interval the senior police officer again spoke to the referee, an act which earned him a storm of catcalls and a counting out. Pinto’s first hold was a figure four scissors on the shoulder, but when Higgins countered with a toehold the American quickly wriggled for the ropes. A front headlock annoyed Higgins, and he retaliated by getting a lock on his opponent’s head and him to the boards. A figure four scissors on the head gave Pinto the advantage for a spell, but Higgins then trapped one of his legs. To break free, Pinto forced his foot into his opponent’s face, and it was then that the American gave his opponent a penalty fall. Higgins opened the third round by Jiving at his man, but Pinto locked his arms round his opponent's head and roughed his face. When he got free, the Australian slapped the American smartly on the face, and the crowd were licking their lips in anticipation of some real fireworks when Pinto picked the Australian up by the neck and crotch and slammed him hard to the floor. Higgins hit the boards as flat as a pancake, and it was obvious that he would not wrestle any more I ha, night. When the gong went for the start of round four, the Australian could not rise off his chair, and Pinto was declared the winner.