BRIGHT WRESTLING

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1931, Page 6

BRIGHT WRESTLING

WIN BY ELLIOT. SLAM SETTLES HIGGINS AUCKLAND, August 17. It was only a very moderate attendance of the public that witnessed the professional wrestling match between the Australian, Jack Higgins (13.6), and the New Zealander, King Elliot (13.8) .at the Town Hall on Saturday night, last, but the spectators were fortunate enough, nevertheless to bchol a contest that ha s a right to be ranked as one of the cleverest bouts of the season. It was a contest that lef.t little to be desired, except that the end came/ all too soon,from the point of view of. the onlookers, and highly creditable to the two wrestlers who were responsible, for. an entertaining exhibition. As. wrestling, .it was satisfactory from practically all angles, being fast, strenuous, willing, clean, and scinetific, with the added earnest desire of each to pull off a win and establish himself in the eyes of the association and the public. It was a better bout than many contests that have drawn full houses. The end came in the fifth round. Elliot won with a body press not long after that term had been in progress. At is so often the case, the end followed suddenly upon a series of reverse headlocks by Higgins, .who appeared to have his man seriously groggy, but when the Australian made a final leap for hi s man to apply the grip, Elliot countered and -put the other at a disadvantage, to finally crash him to the mat to talf the fall and the match. Higgins was in a had way, and had to he assisted to his corner. Although his seconds worked frantically to revive him within . the two minutes allowed after “a fall, they were unsuccessful, and Elliot’s hand was raised by the referee, Mr Len Wilson, in token of'the winner. Four minutes later the Australian was able to leave his chair ioi the dressing room, and, while he was leaving the ring, the crowd showing its appreciation of his.art in a fine contest by cheering heartily.

There appeared to be very little between the abilities of the Australian and the New Zealander throughout the contest. Both demonstrated a wide knowledge of spectacular holds and tlr* necessary quickness in clapping them on. „ Had there been n falls, it probably would have been unfair to select the winner on points, and there is no doubt, that both earned the right to be considered for further matches with the overseas men at present wrestling throughout the Dominion.

THE ROUNDS. Elliot opened up with a double arm scissors, which HigginS broke, to fab into a short arm scissors, which he as ) broke to reply with a double barred toehold.' After a few minutes on the m>it, Elliot freed himself, and then rushed at his man for a flying ta kle which brought Higgins down on to the •lower ropes and they were ordered to ,the centre of the mat. Soon Higgins ibroke a short arm scissors to clap on ,a head and arm scissors almost immediately, which later became a leg scissors and a toehold. This Higgins scon canverted into a. lying split s that had the New Zealander pounding madly on the mat with pain, but he was unable to get free by rearing up onhis hands ami and jerking free a few.seconds before the.gong. This term was characterised by wrestling executed at a very fast bat.

•Higgins opened up the next round with °a short arm scissors, but-Elliot soon broke away, and then followed some fast tumbling which brought delight and appreciation from the audience. Elliot freed liimfcelf from another splits and then‘a figure four scissors on the head. He picked himself up and then executed a couple of flying tackles. Then, as the saying goes, skin and hair began to fly. Higgins went around the right to the high delight of the crowd, which cheered and encored, Jmt the gong stopped hostilities. Soon after the commencement of the third round Higgins was se<Jn .pushing home a toehold from which Elliot freed himself by rubbing he Australian’s spine to good effect. He.then clapped on a leg-barred toehold which had Higgins .grimacing. But he worked round, and, reaching -out for the New Zealander’s neck, wqs successful in getting a headlock. But Elliot in three or four jerks, freed himself, and stood over Higgins to apply an arm stretch which had Hig&ins struggling for some moments. • _ Higgins featured the fourth rou d with a flying scissors which speedly brought 'Elhot to the mat, where the latter soon clapped on a double arm scissors which had the Australian worried not a little. Higgins got to his feet twice with Elliot’s feet still scissored to his arms and neck but the New Zealander tumbled him to,the mat again. Higgins was successful in hi" third attempt to get free by falling out of the ring pulling Elliot with him. The fifth round incident has been described.