BEST WRESTLING YET

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 148, 10 July 1937, Page 14

BEST WRESTLING YET

Kirilenko and McCready Draw at Hastings

F1RST-CLAS5 ENCOUNTER

"The best we?ve had for a long time ! ' ' "There was xnore in it than all the otber bouts this season put topether! " Herewith is just a few of the many expresslons heard as the erowd dispersed from the wrestling last night, and it was as pleased a crowd as has attended a contest under the aegis of the Hawke's Bay Wrestling Association for some time. Never before has a wrestler in Hastings received such an ovation at the conelusion pf a bout as did Matros Kirilenko, the llussian, qfter lie had managed to raake his struggle witk Earl McCready, of Canada, a draw on poihts. A good seotion of the crowd booed and hooted the decision, but at . the same time theirs, as well as practically everybody ©lses, hands were being clapped in appreciation of the sterling performanc'e that both men had givep, and in particular Ririlenko, who superseded the Canadian as favourite. who superseded the Canadian as ^favourite. Though MeCready had the advantage of a stone in weight, scaling just 17st., the pair presenled a fina sight, for both are splendidly built men, pnd they gave the, crowd it's money's wortli from the very first round. Bach and every round provided excitement, yet there was very little showmanship. The wrestling was of the "straight" variety, but it was exceptionally fast and afforded ample proof that provided the matmeii are classy men, straight Wrestling can be every bit as interesting and thrilling as the sorcalled "rough-house rasslin,.,, And what is more. it can be appreeiated and enjoyod by tbe now rather discriminating wrestlipg public. Both wrestlers proved tbemselves versatile workers in tbe ring, and it is very doubtful indeed wbether any bout has provjded such au array of holds as was djsplayed in tbis one bout, One authority bas laid it down tbat there are 48 established and recognised holds; practically all of them were at least tried. Despite this, bowever, not one gained a fall, though there were occasions when a fall was iipminent and three times the gong came to the reBCuo of the Russian, and once for the Canadian. Deatklock Counters Splits The big surprise for the crowd was tho fact that the Bussian suceeeded in lipding a release for McCready. 's rcnowned rocking-chair splits. Matros, in fact/ does more than find release from this hitherto great match-win-ner; -he actually converts it to his own advantage by using the scissors part of Ihe splits for an Indian Beathlock. The Russian made a spectacular entry into the ring attired in a leopard skin instead of the traditional dregping gowp, whila the piore staid McCready made a digniiied appearance to receive a good receptiop from the crowd. They were a long time to getting on the mat, tjiough each severely twisted the other'pi neck with face-bars. Kirilenko cpme out pn top when they did fall to the mat. He developed a iig-pre-four head scissors. McCready was a long time gettipg out and even whep he dfd escape he was liounded into it agam untjl eventually he rose to his feet aud dropped his opponent over the ropes. The Russian was about to heave McCready over the ropes in retaliation when the gong went. Glose OallB for Kirilenko Headlopks and face-bars were the order for somo time until Kirilenko gaiped supremacy with. a, hammerlock that had McCready in distressK Even when the hold was broken the Russian uupiercifully applied all mauner of grips aud holds upon the left arm that had been used for the hammerlock. McCready sought to keep his distance to rest ihe arm and the Russian plied elbow jolts, a nasty one rousing McCready ip retaliatipg with a stinging jolt to the jaw to lift Kirilepko off his feet and drop hini on his baek. McCready rushed in for a body press just as the gong went. The Russian attacked from the restart with headlocks, head scissors and short-arm scissors. He made great play on the one arm all the time and did not give his nran a moment 's re» spite, nntil McCready was roused in tossipg his man about the ring half-a-doj5en tiipes. He followed this pp with trying a bpdy press, but the Russian neatly rolled over. He feli intp a body scissors, however, and was givep a sample of McCready ;s well-known dnraps from thp scissors. Judipg i'roui the surprised and pained expression it was the Ru,s'aian 'a . firgt experience of his spiye-jarring dumps, and again he liad reasou to be thankful to tho timo keopers for souncling the gong, Rei'pree's Good Headpck ' The fli'th round waa notable ior the number of times that McCready dumped his man, but failed to be able to se-. cure a fall with a body press, the Russian proviog a respurceful and slippery customer. Early in the pext round McCready was on top wit ha headscigsore untii Kirilenko rolled to tbe ropes and as McCready broke the hold the Russian grabbed a Jeg and proeeeded to tie it up in the ropes until he vvtts subjocted to a headlock by the referee, wliose ability iu that respect rather surprised hina Kirilenko was eujoying a short-anu scissors when McCready broke the hold co clap on his rocking-chair splits. He fcossed his man hard on the mat, to the apparent surprise of Kirilenko, but tho resourceful Russian took one hasty look at McCready 's Igs wrapped round one of his own; brolce the arm hold and stood up for a deathlock. McCready re* fused to submit and eventually succeedgd in throwing his map oil his balance. The Russian tried to harass tho Canadian with jolts and was successful only in rousing his ire, for Mc« ( (roady rushed in and hoisted Kirilenko up in the air and dmped him, but again the gong intervened to save tho Russian. The iinal round was carried on at a grdat pacc, aurprisipgly m cCnaidcring

that for seven full rouuds neither party had wasted any time. McCready started ojf by tossing his man three times, then dnrnped him, but Kirilenko quickly countered with the deathlock. They hurled each other round the ring in thrilling style, settipg traps for back-loop slams, dumps and spins. but each bounded about like indiarubber balls, and the iinal gong went witliout either having gained a fall. They were rewarded with a draw and a great ovation. The Frelimlnary Contests The amateur bouts resulted as follow: — M, Eria (11,30) defeated R. Tutaki ((11:32) on^points after each had gained a fall. J, KeJt (10.4) (l/ji'cat-e'd W, Maroney 1 10.3) by one fall to nil. G. Ellingham (12.0) defeated h. Haftka (13.6), the latter reth'ing in the second liound, W. Whittalcer (9.1 3 ) defeated S. Duncan (.30,0) py oeo fuJl to nil. Mr Alex Andorson, of Palmerstoo North, rci'creed all eoatcste.