WRESTLING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 795, 19 April 1910, Page 6

WRESTLING.

BAIN DEFEATS SCOTT. WITH THE AID OF "SCISSOBS HOLD." FAST EXCITING STRUGGLE. The attendance at the Opera House last night when A. Bain, of Scotland, met R. J. Scott, of New Zealand, for £50 aside and the wrestling championship of the Dominion, was rather disappointing. If the charges for admission had not been so high there would undoubtedly have been a much larger gathering as considerable interest was taken in the contest. '■ Throughout the bout, which served to demonstrate that the pair were a particularly good match, Scott was for the most part on the aggressive, and although he ultimately lost he acquitted himself creditably. It had been arranged that a test of skill should also take placn between Gardiner, of the West Coast, and Sara, of Auckland, but this did not eventuate owing to the absence of the latter, which was stated- to be due to a motor accident Gardiner, however, gave an exhibition of his undoubted ability in bouts with two local wrestlers—Akers and Golightly Brilliant foot-work was a feature of his display. Afterwards, Gardiner exhibited a number of scissors holds and jiu-jitsu tricks which were'followed -with interest. Ono or two of, the competitors in the contest for amateurs showed a ■ fanamount of talent. Special mention should be made of the capable manner in which Gardiner refereed the principal event. In fact, his equal in that capacity has never previously. been seen here. Not content with merely seeing that the rules were not transgressed, Gardiner actively assisted to that end. . I: ■ . ■ ■ Talk of Another Match. It will be remembered that Scott and Bain had met before—on the previous occasion at Stratford—when Scott was given 1' 1 "} 1 . lo3t the latest as ho failed o-fulfil his undertaking, viz., to throw 3am three times within one hour s. actual' wrestling. In connection 1 with the contest' last night, it was that victory should rest with the winner of two out of three alls; or in'tho event of only one fall being obtained within the hour, the one who had gained it was to be adjudged the champion. Bain's weight was given at 10 stone, but he looked-much heavier 7j llsI Is L Scott '? weight ,was stated to be rffi ' 1b ,7,, an " both appeared to be in fine iettle. The matclr resulted in a win for Main, who was. awarded a fall after 53 minutes wrestling through Scott .giving in to a.body scissors hold, although he was not on his shoulders. It mil be recallcd_ that it was a hold of a similar Kind that occasioned so much discussion at Home recently, and according to some experts it should be barred. Scott claimed that the hold was illegal, but the referee (Mr. Gardiner) held that it was a fair hold. In the remaining seven minutes Scott did his level best to get on terms with Bain. Once or twice it appeared that ho might succeed,, but Bain's tremendous strength, combined with his extensive knowledge of counters, held him- in good stead. After the 'star match there was some talk of another match betwei.-n Bain and Scott. In reply to Scott's 'request for another match, Bain said ho did not think it would bo of any use. Ho would, however, agree to forfeit a substantial sum if he tailed to throw Scott in 15 minute or boat him in three styles. Scott stated that he was willing to accept the challenge.

Competitions for Amateurs. The first contest was between Stewart and Gilchrist. Within a quarter of a. minute Stewart registered a fall with a counter rather' easily During the next bout Gilchrist gave him a little, more trouble, but went down within a. minute, otewart was declared tho winner. A splendid battle took place when Woolf and Ritchie met. For most of the time Ritchie' was on the attack. After some minutes had elapsed, Ei'tohie complained that Woolf's arms. were greased, but the referee 'found that eucalyptus only had been used. The-referee was un'able to decide at the end of ten.minutes, and it was agreed that the bout should continue for another five minutes. Before that period had; elapsed, Bitchie, who had been on the attack most of the time, put on a body hold, but slipped, and Woolf took advantage of : his ■ mistake, and put him on > his back. Woolf was awarded the verdict.

Callerjr was then opposed to Stewart, who again shaped Terr gamely. The s first bout lasted only a minute, Callery, with the aid of an arm and a waist hold, levered Stewart over, and then effected a fall by applying.his weight across the upper part of his body. In the next bout there was a much more strenuous tussle, but Callery, who had an advantage in weight,, ultimately gained another fall within 'three minutes. Callery was declared the winner.

Woolf and Callery contested the final bout. Woolf for the most part remained on the defensive, and it was a treat to see how he escaped from difficult positions. After several minutes.had elapsed Callery put Wolff down by pulling him over from the back with a head hold. How Bain Beat Scott. ' It was just on 9 p.m. when Bain and Scott stepped on to the mat, which was made up of canvass stretched over a layer of 6awdust. Scott immediately went on the "attack, and it was evident from the way in which he brought Bain down that it might' have gone hard with the latter had the-stylo been Cumberland ot; collar and elbow. Whed three minutes had elapsed Scott got. Bain in an awkward position by. grasping trim round the thighs and attempting to turn him over with a leg hold round the neck, but Bain escaped amid applause. Still retaining, his hold of Bain's legs, Scott secured, a leg hali-neleon, but was unable to keep it. With five minutes gone Bain took a brief turn at attacking, but the pair were soon on their feet again. Dpon Scott making unother attempt to throw him, Bain dropped on his knees. Eight minutes after the start Scott was busier than ever. After several futile efforts, he succeeded in getting a full leg nelsoit on Bain, and tiibd his level best to turn him with the aid of, hie arms, whioh Tjero encircling his lege. Bain, however, very cleverly trapped' Scott , * head -with his feet, aid in the resultant truggle got free. At the end of 15 minutes Bain once again assumed the aggressive, but only for a minute or two, for Scott got Bail's head between his feet— a move which was stopped by the visitor. With half an hour gone, Scott, who had been trying a variety of holds in rapid succession, whilst Bain continued to remain chiefly on the defence,: applied a 6cis9ore' hold round Bain's body, but his object—to turn Bain by levering him over by the arms—was thwarted. In the course of the next few minutes' work Bain

stopped several desperate attempts which Scott made to throw him. Bain then straddled Scott, and tried to lever him over- by the arms and exerting his strength tin one side, but Scott .was too clever. Scott next attempted a further shoulder hold, but he could do nothing with it. Bain is Cautioned. Up till this stage Bain had been cautioned once or twice for placing his arm across Scotfe throat in the course of the struggle, but he had stoutly disclaimed any intention to attempt anything in the nature of a strangle hold. He had now to be cautioned for bringing his forearm down heavily on the back of Scotfs neck. "Ife quite fair," he said, when his attention was directed to the matter, bat many others in addition to the referee were of an opposite opinion. At this stage (53min.) Bain attacked more strenuously than he had done on any previous occasion. He applied aecissors hold round Scotfa body .with force in the region of the short ribs and Scott indicated that he was in considerable pain. Exactly what he said to the referee could not be heard at the ring-side. Tho referee tipped tho men to. get up, but in the excitement Scott went on, and a few seconds, elapsed before the contestants were separated.. '. Was It a Fair Hold? The referee intimated that Bain had scored a fall. Scott: But the hold was a foul. The refosew I esy, not 70a gave ta.

Addressing the spectators Scott said that if he could not throw a man without punishing him he would not wrestle him at all. He had, he added, had scores of chances of punishing Bain, but had not takon advantage of them. He would wrestle Bain at any time provided that unfair holds were barred. Bain, who had a mixed reception, said he bore no ill-will to those who had hooted him, for Scott was a local man and he was a stranger. "1 simply laid in wait for Scott," he added, "and at last 1 got tho hold I wanted. Once before I had the hold, but Scott got free. I admit it took me 53 minutes to do it. 1 got a hold over the short ribs and if any of you like I will let yon try, it (Laughter.) Scott could never have got out of the hold." At this juncture Scott said fiat there were seven minutes yet to go and he would do his best in that time to turn the tables on Bain. An Exciting Finale. There was a scene of much excitement when Bain and Scott again faced one another. Working from the left, Scott tried to turn Bain, but he did not succeed. Subsequently, after further efforts of a similar nature, Scott straddled Bain. "That is the hold yon complained about," remarked Bain. "I know that," replied Scott, "and I think-what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander." The move was countered by Bain who got round on to his side and then on his hands and knees. Scott next essayed the leg-nelson hold with arms round the thighs, but he could not lever Bain sufficiently over. Next Scott paid attention to 'Bain's head with his arms, but Bain got free. Just prior to the close of time Scott had Bain's head between his legs, but was again unable to exert adequate strength to turn Bain over. Bain was then adjudged winner.