WALKER BEATEN IN NINE MINUTES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 39, 9 November 1937, Page 9

WALKER BEATEN IN NINE MINUTES

-Press Association.)

Long-Awaited Bout with McCready A COMPLETE FIASCO

(By TelegraDh-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. 1 The long-awaited wrestling bout between George Walker and Earl McCready took place to-night at the Town Hall, 'Wellington, and was a completo fiasco. It lasted less than a round, to be exact, 9 minutes 50 seconds. At the end of that time Walker submitted to a hammerlock applied by McCready and retired incapacitated from the coutest. The large crowd took the result with apparent equanimity. For some two years wrestling supporters had discussed the possibilities of these two professional heavyweights meeting on the mat, but as they Were wrestling then under different controlling bodies, the match did not even.tuate. In the past both wrestlers had laid claim to the title of British Empire champion. The title is no longer disputable. The interest was, therefore, high" when the two men entered the ring tonight. The Town Hall was crowded, and both received loud ovations. McCready made hia appearance flrst and • stood grim and silent in his corner, ivhile Walker bowed to his supporters, who'cheered hiin with a' great roar' of applause. McCready weighed 16st. 71b. and Walker 15str« 21b. For a long time the two wrestlers exchanged tentativ© embraces. 'From the referee's hold McCready forced Walker to the ropes, wlien he promptly thrust his head and shoulders through, and the. referee separated them. Walker , gave way before McCready 's advance and again and again sought refuge in the ropes. McCready tripped' him, but before he could apply a toehold Walker, had wriggled under the ropes. For a full eiglit minutes this' unsuccessful chase continued, Walker obtaining & sanctuary every time before McCready could apply a single effective hold. Finalfy McCready trapped Walker in the middle of the ring and tripped him, and as he scuttled on all fours for safety, caught him and closed with him. There was a brief tussle on the mat and then McCready shaped a hammerlock, the sole effective wrestling hold seen in the whole bout. He bent Walk- , er's arm upward behind his back and pulled it outwards away from his body. Walker, lying face downwards, beat the mat with his hand. The referee hauled McCready off and Walker rollsd over groaning, his faco eontorted and his arm powerless. Walker Yattendants straightened his aim for him and massaged it, lifted him and sat him in his corner. When the beil went, however, and McCready advanced across the ring menacingly Walker xemained seated in his corner. The referee approached him and questioned him, turned to McCready and raised his hand. The spectators stood in a stunned silence while Walker climbed out o£ the ring and then quiet!y collected their bats and went home.