WRESTLING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 156, 3 July 1936, Page 4

WRESTLING

LEATHERS BEATS LAHARIES TWO FALLS TO NONE There was a reasonably good attendance at the Town Hall, Taihape, on Wednesday night, when “Sad” Same Leathers met Chris. Zaharies in a professional wrestling match. The unhappy one was decidedly reminiscent of Ole Andresen with his leg movements, and the issue was not in doubt after the fourth round. The men looked rather incongruous as Leathers towered above the Grecian. However, Zaharies was very compactly built and- was a trier all the way. Had he been pitted against an opponent of his own size, a really good bout would have resulted. Samuel’s face did not relax any portion of the bout, living up to his non? de plume, which alleges that he is perpetually melancholy. The bout itself was a good exhibition, rounds six and seven being very lively while they lasted. Furthermore, it was not lacking in comedy as there were many humorous passages. The preliminary amateur bouts were a great improvement on the former ones. The bout between Powell and Thompson was good while it lasted, and the latter was unfortunate that he was incapacitated in the third round, as up till then the tussle had been very even. Jones was also unlucky in his match with Johansen, as he fell heavily on his shoulder and was unable to continue. The Main Event. “Sad” Sam Leathers, 16.0 (Washington) v. Chris. Zaharies, 15.2 (Colorado); eight 10-minute rounds. The Greek commenced operations by tossing “Samuel the Alournful” over the ropes. However, Leathers made Zaharies groan with a hammerlock. Zaharies upended Leathers with a flying tackle, then emulated a harrier cruising round the ring to evade Sam. He got Leathers down with a headlock, but the sad one got away and downed his opponent with a headlock, but the Greek clamped on a head seis sors. Leathers opened hostilities with a reverse headlock. Both men went to the mat with the man from Washington underneath looking about as happy as a professional pall-bearer. Leathers thought it rather a good idea to relieve his opponent of his listening apparatus, but the referee disagreed. Zahariex had Leathers in a splits, but a bit of chiropracty by the latter made the Greek relinquish his hold. Leathers had Zaharies in a Japanese loglock, which he held until the gong. Leathers had his opponent in a standing arm stretch, but Zaharies broke away and tossed his man with a couple of headlocks Sam crashed the Greek with a flying head scissors, but Zaharies got on a toehold of gieat severity Leathers wriggled free, but was trapped in a headlock. Leathers downed his opponent with a brace of rolling head scissors, then followed up with some elbow jabs. Zaharies downed leathers with a figure-four head scissors, but the latter jumped out of it, then had Zaharies in a short arm scissors and was still holding him at the end of the round. Leathers got to work on Zaharies with a succession of headlocks, then took him to the mate with a full Nelson, but the Greek got free and applied a short arm scissors. Leathers got away,

his countenance resembling that of a mortician’s assistant. He then downed the Greek wit-h a figure-four head scissors. Round 5. Leathers waded into his opponent with elbow JolUs and tossed him over the ropes, but was in turn pushed into the auditorium by ihe Greek. Both men went to the mat and Leathers had his opponent in a clam. The Greek got away and essayed a Boston crab, but was too short in the wheelbase for Lanky Leathers. Round 6.—Leathers dumped Zaharies, but the Greek retaliated with a flying tackle. He tried another, but missed badly, sailing through the ropes. The Greek was heavily dumped again and then tossed over the ropes. On returning he was dumped again and then again. He was tossed overboard again and on going back was dumped and Leathers secured a fall with a body press. Round seven terminated with astonishing suddenness. Leathers tore into Zaharies with some elbow jolts, which sickened the Greek. He then sent Zaharies over the ropes, but Zaharies crashed Samuel with a flying tackle, but he nf the tragic countenance clamped on a flying head scissors and gained the winning fall. The Amateur Bouts. L. Siddle, 9.5, v. G. Williams, 9.5. For their initial performance these two put on quite a good show, Williams winning by two falls. A catchweight contest between B. Brown and V. Poynter resulted in a draw, neither man securing a fall. R. Nicholls, 9.7, v. L. Farr, 9.10. Nicholls was making his debut and with more experience should shape well as he was certainly very willing. Farr, who has had quite a few bouts, won the match with a fall in round one and another in round three. N. Powell, 12.2, v. T. Thompson, 12.0.—This was a good bout. Powell winning in the third round when Thompson was unable to continue. D. Johansen, 11.7, v. S. Jones, 11.4. — Jones was going well until he injured his shoulder and had to retire. This was a pity as it promised to be a good struggle. N. Ross, 11.6, v. W. Ross, 11.6. This was a really good exhibition, both brothers tearing into one another with great gusto. They certainly made it very willing. The contest ended in a draw. W. Ross secured a fall in round two, and N. Ross equalised in the final round, gaining a submission fall.

Air. R. Whittaker referred all the bouts.