Wrestling Match.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 243, 16 April 1895, Page 2

Wrestling Match.

The wrestling match between 3. Sutherland, champion middle-weight of New Zealand, and J. W. F. Ilalcorabe, of Feilding, took place in the Feilding Assembly llooms on Saturday evening last, being witnessed by a good audience. The match was to decide the middle-weight championship ot New Zealand, and the styles were tjatch-fis-catch can and Gnroo Roman but, however, it ended unexpectedly at a few minutes to 11 o'clock by Halcombe refusing to continue as he said the arrangement was that if not completed by that time it was to be declared a draw, while Sutherland held that there was no time limit and wished to continue Halcombe then offered to wrestle Sutherland in Napier or anywhere else, but positively declined to go on chat evening. When the men first appeared on the stage they both wrestled very cautiously, the first bout being Catch«as catch-can style, and after nine minutes careful wrestling Sutherland threw Halcomba off his feet on to his back, thus securing first fall The second bout, Gr;eco-Ro:nan style being commenced both men went to work carefully, and after wrestling for ten minutes time was culled. Two more spells of ten minutes each, and the fourth spell of the Gncso Roman style was com mened, Sutherland gaining more confidence as time went on. The fourth spell only lasted two minutes, Halcombe getting his opponent back downwards and gradually forced his shoulders down. The third bout, Catch- as-catch-can style, lasted two spells of ten minutes each, when Halcombe, as above stated refused to go on, claiming a draw. For some minutes the audience were in suspense as to the decision of the dispute, each contestant being determined. Sutherland wishing to go on, while Halcombe offered to forfeit the right of championship to Sutherland and commence a fresh match at a date to be arranged, the takings at the door to be divided on this occasion. The referee, Mr Burton, on being finally appealed to, gave it a draw, which settled the dispute. Mesrss A Carlson (Pahiatua) and E. Mills (Feilding) acted as umpires. Although there was a njisumlersfcaiicling at the time between the contestants Sutherland has expressed his willingness to accept Halcorube's offer to wrestle, and another match may be arranged.