AN EXCITING WRESTLING MATCH.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 22 September 1910, Page 12

AN EXCITING WRESTLING MATCH.

DEFEAT OF MUNRO AT GLASGOW. “The pitcher hag gone once too often to the well” is an adage that may be appropriately quoted in regard to Alick Munro and his defeat by Pat Connolly in the Palace Theatre, Glasgow, Scotland. Fot some time —in fact ever since Connolly returned from his tour in America —a match has been imminent. Connolly hag long nursed the opinion that he could defeat Munro, and the performance in question proved it. Munro was obviously in poor form. At Falkirk, he could only win third place in the caber tossing competition, an event in which formerly he held premier position. For some time he has been complaining of a sprained shoulder, and just how far this contributed to his defeat must remain in conjecture. Connolly wag much improved- In weight MUNRO HAD A GREAT ADVANTAGE. being over 301 b. heavier than Connolly. The latter, however, carried no superfluous flesh, but seemed hard as nails, agile, and full of vim. The theatre was packed from floor to ceiling, standing room being fully taken up. The nightly programme was completed and the match came last. Both men were well received. The conditions were best of three falls, catch-as-catch-can style, all holds allowed except full nelson and strangle. Mr. Charles Donaldson refereed.

A hush fell upon the vast crowd as the men, after undergoing the usual preliminaries, circled round to the attack. For almost four minutes the men manoeuvred at the upright position, Connolly being the most DETERMINED IN ATTACK

and finally succeeding in getting behind. The greatest excitement prevailed as it became manifest that the match was really a genuine affair and that Connolly was at least holding his own. Connolly got behind first. Nothing came of the temporary advantage, and, amidst ringing cheers, Munro broke clear and reversed the position. When behind, Munro seemed quite unable to apply any of his old-time holds, and Connolly nimbly sprang clear and before Munro could get up flung himself on top position. Whipping on a half-nelson, Connolly tried to lever Munro over on one shoulder, but at this point Munro aroused hope among his supporters by a flash of his wonted form. This he brought about by quickly applying THE ROLLING-ARM LOCK and spinning Connolly over his shoulder on to the carpet in front. The latter righted himself immediately, and, coming back to the attack again, succeeded in getting behind. Here he gave Munro a taste of his old tactics by grabbing the foot and levering by the toes, until, in extreme pain, .Munro had to give way. Just as seven minutes were ticked off the champion was in some danger of being thrown. The toe hold was allowed, and Connolly was quite within his rights in applying it. After a desperate struggle Munro succeeded in getting free, but Connolly maintained top position until, again applying the roll, Munro forced CONNOLLY ON A BRIDGE.

Pat was too strong, however, and. spinning round out of danger, jumped back, and despite all Munro’s defence, got behind, and, applying the scissors hold, squeezed Munro’s ribs severely. .Munro got clear somehow, and, going afteb Connolly with more determination than he had yet displayed, forced his man on the defensive. Connolly was strong here as in attack, and, to the accompaniment of cheers from all parts of the “house,” he broke clear and swung behind in masterly style. Connolly quickly applied the TOE HOLD AGAIN,

and when Munro squirmed on one side Connolly let go, and, getting Munro’s legs wheelbarrow fashion, forced the champion on one shoulder. An exciting struggle ensued, Munro keeping himself from being put flat by his elbows, and when Connolly suddenly , pulled him to one side or the other so as to trip up these supports he had perforce to bridge from one shoulder to the other. The excitement among the crowd at this point was intense. The men were both perspiring freely,

and grips were difficult to maintain. To a chorus of hand-clapping Munro slipped from Connolly’s clutches, and the bout was continued at the perpendicular. Twelve minutes had now gone of what, it is safe to say, was the most serious of any bout ever before seen on this stage. Connolly, though dripping with sweat and' breathing heavily, was yet strong and

FULL OF FIGHT. Munro was perceptibly slower in movement and obviously lacking in the most essential point necessary in such an arduous contest—stamina. He was assuredly being beaten, and as yet he himself had not begun to realise it. Connolly, however, showed by his confident look and methodical attack that he knew his hour of victory had come. And it came sooner than even he expected. A few more toe holds, a few more half-nelsons—-all applied with a strong hand, and after an equally strong defence, relinquished and begun over again—and then the end came. They had been almost through the painted scene at the back of the stage, and had been piloted from the side wings by the referee more than once. Many holds had been applied, and many had been resisted, but now the time came when Munro could resist no more. After a fierce struggle, in which holds were mixed in confusion, Connolly forced Munro on a bridge, and getting his full weight on his man, pinning him by the arms so that escape was impossible, Connolly held on for a fall. Munro WAS HOPELESSLY BEATEN, yet he managed to keep one shoulder a couple of inches clear of the carpet for perhaps a minute after Connolly had him full length. When 16 min. 30sec. had gone Munro was completely down in a pin fall according to the conditions, and the fall was given against him. A scene of the wildest enthusiasm prevailed, which reached fever heat wnen “time” for the next bout was called, and Munro, refusing to continue, left CONNOLLY THE WINNER of the match. So great was the din of everybody talking that the announcement that Connolly was duly declared the winner of the match was completely drowned in the uproar. When this official declaration became known cheers succeeded cheers, which were taken up by a crowd outside larger than in the building, and the whole Gorbals rang with excitement. “Munro has been defeated.” was shouted from mouth to mouth. Connolly’s victory puts him at the top of the tree in Britain. The result will be far-reach-ing in its effect, and may help to revive the sport.

It is stated that the injury to Tommy Burns’ knee, caused whilst playing lacrosse, will prevent the ex-cham-pion from fulfilling his contract with Sam Langford; in fact, it is quite likely that he will be compelled to i etire permanently from the game.

In response to a question as to the condition of Jeffries on the day of his battle with Johnson, Bill Papke, former champion of the middleweights,, who tyas a member of the boilermaker’s training staff, gave it out that Jeffries was a beaten man two days before he entered the ring. “Jeff worried about that fight," said Papke, “worried so mu.h that at oeil time he was nearer a physical w”eck than a man fit to fight a battle for the heavyweight championship of the world. That, more than his lack of ability to come back and the punishment meted out by the negro, was the cause of the white man’s defeat.

Bill Papke, the Illinois thunderbolt, who has had about as many hard fights as any pugilist, is in good shape and takes care of himself and in a short time he expects to battle again for the middleweight championship. Aside from the thickness of the upper part of Papke’s nose as a result > f stopping some hard wallops, he would not give his calling away, lor he is : a pleasant-faced young man and agreeable in conversation.

The story of Jeffries wanting a return match with Johnson grew out of a remark made by Jeffries to friends that with the nervous strain of the previous battle eliminated he could make a much better showing against the negro. Out of that some of Jeffries friends have been sending out yarns from Los Angeles that he wanted another fight. The real truth is that Jeffries knows that he is all in and that no promoter would give him any purse lor another fight. None ' of the thousands who saw his wretched showing at Reno would cross the street to see him fight again. Berger,

(Thursday), and judging by the excelnrogramme to be submitted there iXuld be a crowded attendance. Trnnntrst the artists assisting are such Kurites as Miss Mary Cooper, Miss Eche Garland, Miss Beryl Yeoland, &pqsrs. Wilfred Manning, Frank forking, Robert Bell, O. E. Farrow, L jj Woolley, A- J. Black and Cyril Towsey the Lyric quartette and the Auckland Liedertafel, so gems are aspired At 2s and Is the prices bring o real musical treat within the reach f all The concert is under the able direction of Mr. Scott Colville.