WRESTLING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 100, 1 May 1935, Page 4

WRESTLING

(B»

"HEADLOCK")

A punch on the jaw started off the 1935 wrestling season in New Zealand. The incident occurred at Auckland on Monday night, when the. American Cy Williams landed Burmister a jolt instead of a handshake al the commencement of the bout. Those who have the interests of wrestling al heart will deplore Illis happening. It’s an old trick and it’s strange lo find Burmister failing for it. It is to be hoped that such conduct is not to be repealed in oilier early bouts. According to present indications, 1935 will be a memorable one in the history of the sport in New Zealand. Some of the foremost wrestlers in the United States are to be seen in action in the Dominion during the season, while it is quite probable that some of the mat men at present in Australia may visit the Dominion. The Estonian grappier. Sam Burmister. has been in training in Auckland for the past few months and should give a good account, of himself during the season. King Elliot will be in t he (Dominion within the next couple of weeks and will be a welcome addition. Jr. is also practically certain that Walter Browning (“Lofty” Bloomfield) will be seen here this year. Browning is at present in America, and. by all accounts, is having a successful run. It is indefinite at present whether George Walker, now of Napier, will be seen in the ring this year, but wrestling enthusiasts throughout the country hope to see George in action again. The first contingent of wrestlers arrived in Auckland from the United States last week. The newcomers are Hardy Kruskamp, Cy Williams, Al Pereira ami Leo Narberes. ‘ Pereira has been matched with Kruskamp at Wellington this evening and a first-class display of wrestling is promised. Wanganui wrestling enthusiasts have already “broken the ice” for the .1935 season. They have not waited for the imported professionals to stage a bout, but have encouraged the amateurs to get under way at an early stage of the season. • • • • A wrestling tournament at, Matson’s School of Wrestling attracted a large attendance which taxed seating and standing capacity to its limits. A team of Taranaki amateurs came down to try conclusions with the Wanganui rep resen tatives and suffered defeat by the narrow margin of one bout. Two flyweights in C. Roy (Wanganui) and 0. Mays (Taranaki) commenced proceedings. The first two rounds were very even but Rov gained a fall in the concluding round with a cross-buttock. Faster and more experienced than his opponent, C. Thompson (Taranaki) gained the decision over R. Benseman (Wanganui) with two falls to one. An even bout was that between Hunt, of Wanganui, and Reid, of Taranaki. In the final round Hunt gained a fall with a body press. Outstanding was the bout between M. Tonga (Waqganui) and C. Close (Taranaki). Th e local lad had the advantage in balance and managed to win on point--. The Taranaki representative, C. Pappa, had the satisfaction of reversing a previous decision when he accounted for A. Reeves, of Wanganui. When they had met before Reeves had secured a fall to win, but on this occasion Papps had the advantage throughout to win on points. Two falls to the credit of W. Russ*ill (Taranaki) enabled him to secure the verdict in his bout, with J. Tiwiki. who will do belter with experience. D. Anderson (Wanganui) and A. Blair (Taranaki) provided one of the best bouts of the evening, bringing the crowd to their feet. Though he was conceding his opponent an advantage in size Anderson secured a fall in the final round with a half-nelson and bodv press to win nicely. A duel of strength against science was staged when J. Davies (Wanganui) and J. Hehaka (Taranaki) faced each other on the mat. The Taranaki boy proved too strong for Davies who nevertheless put up a good fight’ until he was pinned in the last round. The first eight bouts of the evening had thus resulted in honours being evenly divided, Wanganui and Taranaki having won four each. The issue was decided on the ninth of the series, with R. Dawson (Wanganui) defeating C. Willis (Taranaki). Fast and cleve7 wrestling was provided in the bout in which the only fal] was secured by Willis with a further nelson and bodv press. I'he evening's display was rounded off with an exhibition bout by Gordon Matson and Ben Bullock. Naturally, this was the most scientific display aiid it was watched with keen and appreciative interest. Professional holds were permitted. Holds ami counterholds were displayed by these clever amateurs and won the plaudits of the crowd. Bullock is better than ever and with a little more training he would be a fitting opponent for mflnv of the professionals. Al Pereira, who will take on Kruskamp in Wellington this evening, will be welcomed by all followers. When he wrestled here two seasons ago he had a good deal of bad luck, and his record was nothing like what it should have been. I here was less bolonev and more wrestling about Pereira than the other visitors, and he never failed to give the public good value for their money. If ] ie follows that policy again, there will be no quibble. Pereira has put. on about, a stone in weight. 'l'he Portuguese was sorted out in his last season here as the one. likely to reach the highest pinnacle of the mat world ami his appearance, to night, therefore, will be followed with a good deal of interest l; ’ feet deep, and when first the ball ami then the players bobbed up, the latter gasping ami spluttering, they declared they had been into something apparently bottomless. Front that moment it became the object of every player to manoeuvre, an opponent into a position from which he could empty him into the pool. Sydney crowds have witnessed many amusing incidents in wet. weather football; have seen players smothered in mud from head to heel, and at the (dose of the day watched their successful efforts to ruin the comparatively immaculate uniform of the referee. It is all taken in good spirit.