PRESTINA WINS TWO BOUTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 177, 13 August 1937, Page 8

PRESTINA WINS TWO BOUTS

Pioneer Wrestling Club Matches WELLS BEATS AUSTIN ■ Despite the fact ' that there were four professional bouts provided, tlie prograinme staged by the Pioneer Wrestling Club drew only a very podr house at the Hastings Municipal Theatre last night. . The principal bouts were eacli of four rounds. Prestina; of tho" United States, met Bauniann, of German y, and then Szabo, of. New Zealand. Neither of theso opponents,' both of whom had to concede a big margin of wedght, was any matck' for Prestina, who wrestledi in. bare "feet. Prestina won' both of these bouts- with ease in-- the third round, and at no time was, he ever troubled as-he effectively used his great strength to counter any of' the moves made by his opponents. Peter -Venterj of Soutb' Africa, and Snowy Bartlett, of Wellington, staged a live.y bout with hohours even, Wells, of Napier, gained a fall over Austin after a period' of hard wrestling. Mr G. Bennett, of Wellington, refereed the contests. WELLS Y. AUSTIN In a brisk encounter, Wells secured the ojily fall in the third round. Eacli scaled 11.7. They o^pened the bout briskly, putting in a good yariety of work on the mat. The second round began with Austin applying a painful splits, followmg which they both were well completely tied up with Japanese leg-loeks. Austin was obliged to release his hold first. In a moment he had Wells thrashmg the floor in a head-scissors. Spinning clear, the Napier man • slapped on a figure-four liead-scissors, but this troubled Austin only momentarily until he was able to take Wells- in a keadlock, during which he indulged in a vicious spihal massage. Coming out smartly for tlie final round, Austin tossed Wells around the ring in several headlocks. The latter, ■ who appeared somewhat , dazed, suddenly hois'ted- his opponent shonlderhigh, dumping him heavily to gain the only fall with a body-press. . VENTOR V. BARTLETT " i The bout between Peter Yenter,. of South Africaj and Snowy - Baftiett, of Wellington, was ftdl of action, developing into a very spirited Contest in which each man- had to. take a good deal of gruelling. Each secured a- -.fall, the decision being a draw. A cleyer flying hjead-scissors by Venter felled Bartlett to the m"at, but shortly after he was.caught in A painf ul liammerJoqk., Punishment was handed out liberally by Bartlett until he was tossed heavily over the South. African's head. For thie remainder of the round Bartlett had his opponent tied up in a series of leg-holds, -Venter being unableto apply an Indian deathlock through being off his balance. Following two head'throws, Bartlett troubled Venter with a painful chin-lock until lie .was manoeuvered into a crucifix. - When he . freed himself liair pulling and ' an exchange of elhow jolts followed. In a gruelling melee both men were bleedxng j freeiy. Further jolting of a wild na- I ture followed. Veiiter indulged in kick- i ing, being cautioned by the referee. Resenting the cautioning, Venter began gesticulating wilaly, compraining that he had two men against him. On thear coming together again he - tossed Bartlett over the ropes.

Missing badly with a crude attempt at a'drop-kick and then a flying tackle, Venter jolted Bartlett heavily against the ropes, following up ' with a body-. press to gain a fall in 90 seconds. Bartlett came out briskly for .the nest, dropping Venter.. to the mat to hold him in a standing splits, which he converted into a leg-lpck. After two minutes in this he rolled out. to apply a vigorous hammerlock, afterwards crawling oiit under the ropes . when Bartlett. got on top. The New Zealander, after handing out a couple of elbow jolts to Venter 's head, made play with a short arm-scissors, .which he followed "with a, leg-lock, Venter kieking him off. A flying tackle sent the South African bowling across the ring, Bartlett following up with further punishment till the gong. Bartlett went all out to gain the equaliser. Elbow jolts, and! -head throws, followed by a heavy dump, had Venter in trouble submitting to a bodypress in. 75 seconds. PRESTINA V. BATJMANN

Conceding over two stone, Baumann, of Germany, was no' match for Pres- . tina, of America. By sheer strength Prestina got out of holds without any difficulty, • and he won the bout early in.the tnird round with a body press following a dump. "Prestina quiekly took:' Baumann to the mat with a 'wristlock, converting it to ,a head-scissors. 'Baumann had ,the odds against hina 6ndihg- that his heavy opponent quickly.broke holds by sheer strength. The house, hoWever, was thoroughly amused -with the bout, in which Baumann was • unable to'do anyfching with his opponent. 'As the roimd ended Baumann held Prestina in a chimlock, who claimed that it was a strangle. •• In the second round Baumann set out to liven-up matters by rushlng Prestina to the corner. A tattoo down his ribs by Prestina' s tliumbs caused the German excitedly to express his resentment. Talring Prestina to the mat Baumann worked on a. sitting splits but was soon crying out when Prestina played on some of his nervc centres. A couple of elbow jolts had Baumann squirming. A retaliation b\ simijar means had no effect on Prestina, who followed this vollev by liaving the German again groaning. The end soon came. Baumann had difficulty in tossing Prestina with a series of head throws. Picking 'Baumann up in a crotch-hold, Prestina dumped him heavily to gain a fall with a • body press, in 60 seconds.

■ PRESTINA V: • SZABQ - «'• "Putting a great deal mor© spirit into his Work than Prestina, Szabo worried away at Prestina, mixing matters very freeiy. at times. The three stone he had' .to . concede "proved too great a handicap", and! eariy. in the third round. following his iaiiure with two dfop-kicks, he was pinned from a pile-driver. • • ;• Prestina showed a strong dislike of Szabo'g elbow- jolts, which- had much greater. stLig , than . Baumann's.- After planting his elbow -solidly into Szabo several times, Prestina treated him to a painful head-scissors. which he converted into an arm-hold. Throwing up his l'egs smartly * Szabo snapped on a head-scissors wiiich Prestina easily broke. Szabo' s next attack was with a flying body-scissors,- a dull tbud resounding through tlie theatre as Prestina was felled to the mat. Sheer strength enabled Prestina to work out of a crucifix. Steppin-g back, Pres- ■ tina avoided -the impact from a welldirected drop-kick as the round ended: Szabo rushed "Prestina straight into Li-s .corner at the -beginning of the next, and there he mi'xed it willingly with his elbows and knees.- Grabbing one of Szabo's feet, Prestina, working quietly, exerted considerable pressure into a forward toe-hold. Prestina was given a taste of his own medicine when Szabo pushed- his tkumbs. iiSto. Prestina's ribs to break a bear-hng. Twice Szabo was cautioned 'for using his fists. Prestina made amends by jerking his elbow right. and left across Szabo' s fact before taking hina in some nasty arm-holds • and- stretches. Szabofound himself in an agonising hold when Prestina held him in a full-nel- • son. stabbing his knee into liis back: by way of an extra. The gong. gave Szabo a welcome respite. Picking np Szabo following a second drop-kick which 'failed to oonnect, Prestina stood him on his head,-,pin-ning him with a pile-driver in a mat-- - ter of a few seconds.