STILL UNCONQUERED

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1931, Page 2

STILL UNCONQUERED

WALKER DEFEATS HIGGINS. HEAVY-WEIGHT OF GOOD STANDARD. AUCKLAND, February 3. Our wrestling visitor from across the Tasman, Cornstalk Jack Jliggins (13.1(1), came to these shores with the reputation of having an equal claim with Lilly Meeske to the heavy-weight championship of Australia. In last night’s wrestling contest at the Town Hall against the British Empire champion. George Walker (13.5), he fuliy justified his claim, exhibiting physique, stamina and a scientific knowledge of the holds. The crowd was entirely satisfied with his excellent exhibition, this never being so clearly illustrated as wlimi lie scored four scissors and a toe-hold to which Walker luid to submit.

The bout lasted for three more rounds but in tbe last Higgins met his Watterloo. He was thrown heavily by Walker and, unfortunately for him, twisted himself when lie landed. The local man immediately followed up his advantage with wlmt promised to he a very dangerous iind well applied Bos-Loil-cnlß SUtil, however, Was unnecessary, for Higgins had been unable to continue after lie Ijnd landed so awkwardly, noil the referee, Mr Leu Wilson, signalled to Walker to cease tho pressure. For the first four rounds Higgins was leading by a considerable margin on points, but in term live Walker who had not been wrestling nearly so well as lie lias performed at his best, suddenly recovered himself to take the round by a small margin. In the next, the last, and sixth round, lie was the British Empire champion mice aga’ii, and wrestled with the confidence that lie did not ’display at the beginning.

Higgins opened up hostilities witTi a figure four scissors on Walker’s head, plus an arm bar. Later he was able to convert it to an arm strangle, W alker escaping only to fall into a short-nrm scissors which had him grimacing like the proverbial Cheshire cat. Walker replied with a toe-hold. Higgins very soon applied a standing splits, which he almost immediately converted to a lying splits, from which Walker escaped to reply with a painful double-barred toe-hold. In term two Walker was troubled with a head scissors, plus an arm-bar, hut he turned the tables with a hammer-lock which greatly troubled the Cornstalk. Walker then swapped over to a short-arm scissors, but Higgins escaped after which a little rough stuff followed delighting the crowd that bellowed appreciation. Shortly after the commencement of round three Higgins secured a figure foiir roilitd the body and a toehold which Walker was Unable to break. The Cornstalk getting the first fall, was cheered uproariously, and, right from the time he had entered tho ring, he lmtl favour, ably impressed by his quiet workmanlike style. In term four Walker put Higgins to the mat with an arm-bar in which there was also embodied a wrist twist, and be tumbled him around the mat like a cat with a mouse as prey. Later Higgins retaliated with a toehold, but Walker escaping, he followed up with n flying tackle that unsettled his oponent. Then Walker tumbled his man over his back, but at the gong Walker was in a painful headlock.. Round five opened sensationally when, after a little horse-play, the local man picked up the visitor and spun him around wit hhim in the centre of the ring. Here a little delay was caused through Walker’s tights being torn. Some more firework added sparks to the performance, after which Higgins secured his man’s knee in a key-lock, but Walker eluded in his old way of rearing up over his tormentor and kicking himself free. Then Walker applied the crucifix, but Higgins eventually freed himself. This was the most entertaining round of the night. Term six ended in Higgin’s defeat as already stated, and the Australian was given an ovation as he left the ring.