Walker Wins Again

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 812, 5 November 1929, Page 13

Walker Wins Again

ALLEY LOSES TWO FALLS TO ONE Gruelling Wrestling Match IN a gruelling contest, George Walker, heavy-weight-cham-pion of Canada, defeated Tom Alley at the Town Hall last evening by two falls to one. Walker submitted a fall in the third round, but in the fifth evened the score by getting a fall with a hammerlock. Many thought that Alley had a broken arm or that a shoulder was dislocated, hut he only had cramp which, however, made his arm powerless, and another liammerloek gave Walker the deciding fall in the next round.

Bedlam reigned in the hall in the fourth round, Alley being roundly hooted when he “threw fists” at Walker in the way they have in Australia. Walker took it calmly and tackled the enraged Mormon, sending him heavily through the ropes. Throughout the interval the crowd hooted and booed. Jn the sixth round, when Alley came out with one arm useless and Walker wasted no time in going for the helpless limb, the hoots were for Walker, so as far as public feeling was concerned honours were even. It was a good match. There were no beg-pardons asked or given, and the men worked with a will —perhaps too much will—all the time. The contest; was not as good as that between the pair last week, when Walker Ay on by two falls, but any who begrudged the admission money must have been hard to please. A much bigger crowd than last week turned out to see the match, proving conclusively that the interest in wrestling in Auckland has not faded, despite the long season. Mr. Val Dunne was the referee for botli the professional and amateur bouts. ALLEY BRIDGES TO SAVE FALL Walker was the first to step between the ropes, and Alley followed immediately. Both were given a good reception. The weights were announced as Alley 13st 31b, and Walker lib heavier. Both men looked in the pink of condition as they went to centre. Both were wary, and some time was spent in sparring in the referee hold. Walker tried to throw Alley over his head with an armlock, but the hold slipped and the Canadian fell flat on his back. Alley took Walker to the mat with a reverse headlbck, and the Canadian had to bridge, but dropped to his shoulders and with tremendous strength threw Alley clear. Walker picked Alley up, slammed him down again, and endeavoured to finish off by jumping on him, but the Mormon kept him off with his feet. After a bright spell on the mat Alley threw his opponent with a headlock and cross-buttock, releasing suddenly to get a reverse lieadlock. and then, when Walker broke, getting another headlock. "Walker had to bridge for a head scissors, but he escaped, and after another bright spell secured a short arm scissors. Alley tried to break by pushing Walker in th© face with his feet, but* he failed and was bridging at the gong. The men were at grips immediately iri the second session, Walker throwing Alley through the ropes with a reverse lieadlock. Alley sent Walker down with a wristlock, and with a body scissors and headlock had the Canadian fighting hard before he gained release. "Walker secured a reverse double wristlock, but lost it in trving to convert into a short arm scissors. A hectic spell of standing followed, until they crashed to the canvas again. Alley sat on "Walker’s head while he worked away with a double wristlock, which he converted into a short arm scissors. Walker twisted suddenly and stood Alley on one shoulder, but the Mormon wriggled free. They were mixed up in a tangle on the mat at the gong. WALKER SUBMITS "Walker forced Alley down with a reverse headlock in the third round, and then changed to a double wristlock as a stepping stone to a hammerlock, Alley twisting completely round to break. Walker’s next effort was a leg strangle, which Alley slipped for a splits on the mat. Walker turned and secured a toehold which he converted into another leg strangle. Alley escaped and, by placing his feet against Walker’s jaw while he barred the Canadian’s arm over his leg, secured a submission fall half-way through the round. arm at the beginning of round four, but he was unsuccessful and they went to the mat, where the Mormon applied a head scissors. Walker escaped and secured a cradle hold, from which Alley somersaulted free. Alley threw Walker with a headlock, but the latter got a body scissors and arm bar, Alley having to fight through a variety of holds before he gained release. There were wild doings in the ring for a few seconds, the men whirling round the ring. El olds and counter holds on the mat followed.

Walker threw Alley with a reverse wristlock. On gaining his feet again Alley threw his fists at the Canadian’s head, only to be tackled and butted through tlie ropes. Going to the mat, Alley appeared to have the crucifix, but it was not properly applied, as the wristlock, which is part of the hold, was not there. Walker was struggling to free himself when the gong ended a promising struggle. HAMMERLOCKS WIN At the opening of the fifth session Walker tried for the Boston crab, but Alley was too quick and pulled the Canadian down. The pair sat facing each other with legs intermingled, while they pushed and shoved at each other for an advantage. Walker secured a step-over toehold, but Alley worked round and secured a similar hold, Walker having difficulty in escaping. Walker picked Alley up bodily and, dumping him to the canvas, followed him to get a double wristlock on the Mormon’s'lcft arm. Alley stood up with Walker on his back and by falling down tried to break the hold. Walker held on through the • struggle and kept up the pressure for a hammerlock. lie got the hold set and forced Alley over to get his shoulders to the mat to take tlie equalising fall. Alley had made a gallant struggle, but failed. He lay on the canvas and was carried to his corner by officials and St. John Ambulance men. Some difficulty was experienced in getting his arm to the front of his body, for it was locked hard with cramp. The gong clanged for the sixth round. Alley came out with his left arm locked in front of him. Walker did not rush in at once, but Alley did, using his head in lieu of his helpless arm. Walker then wasted no time in getting down to business and, forcing Alley’s left arm into another hammerlock, secured another fall, and the decision. AMATEUR PRELIMINARIES F. Clark, lOst 41b, beat J. McComish, lOst lib, by two falls, the first with a body press and the second with a body scissors and arm bar. H. Brewer, 9st 111 b, beat W. Paget by one fall, secured in the third round. J. Simpson, list 51b, beat H. Johnson, list 61b, by two falls. This was a good contest, Simpson securing the first fall with a body press. No fall was scored in the second round, btu in the third Simpson scored again with a reverse headlock. L. Jellie. Bst 121 b, beat C. Anderson, Sst 7ilb. There was no fall in the first round nor in the second, in which Anderson made a great fight to berak a headlock. A reverse headlock in the final round gave Jellie a fall and the decision. P. Lewis, sst 2 Mb, drew with B Brown., 4st 81b, each securing a fall.

KEEN TENNIS

OUTER SUBURBAN GAMES Keen interest was taken in the first round of the Outer Suburban tennis inter-club games played on Saturday. A couple of the matches were undecided till the close of the last rally. Papakura, last year’s champion, had no difficulty in disposing of its closest neighbour, Manurewa. The final scoro was 9 games to 3. The winning club is in the unique position of having an abundance of match players available. Gleeson, who played second last season, has severed his connection with the club. His place has been filled by McDonald, last year’s first man. A new arrival in Smith has taken the top position. Manurewa’s success was in the women’s singles, where both Miss Lupton and Miss Ferguson were successful. The surprise of the first round was the close finish between the Mangere East .and East Tamaki Clubs. Tlie former won by the odd game in thirteen. Several of East Tamaki’s last year’s B grade players have been promoted to fill vacancies in the first team, and on their exhibition on Saturday, they qualified. The East Tamaki women players accounted for all of their games, and were successful in one of the combined doubles. Mangere East owes its success to the superior play of the men in the team. Papatoetoe easily accounted for the Vallely representatives by 9 games to 4. As usual, tlie women members of the team more than held tlieir own, and won all of their matches. The men gave an improved account of themselves by winning the majority of their contests. A number of players who figured in the B grade last season are now among the A players. WON ON AGGREGATE The closest match in the B grade was between Valley and Papatoetoe, played at Valley. At the end of the match, the scores read 7 all, but the home team proved the winners on the aggregate games played. The Papatoetoe women won all of their games in both the singles and doubles, while the men only won one game in the same divisions. Playing at East Tamaki, Mangere East won by 9to 5. The visitors held the upper hand in the men’s division, while the women just held their own. Papakura had a runaway victory over the home team at Manurewa. The final scores were 11 games to 3. This team has had an unbeaten record for the past two years, since the inception of the Outer Suburban competitions, and from the trend of play displayed in the various matches on Saturday, it looks as if this record will not be broken this season. The only serious opposition in view will be either Valley or Papatoetoe.' AUCKLAND CLUB OPENS The official opening of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Club was held on Saturday afternoon, in the presence of a large number of members and visitors. The club’s six courts were in excellent early season condition, and the large number of new members enrolled promised well for the coming season. Mr. R. S. Burt, the president, in a brief speech declared the club’s courts open, and his wife, Mrs. Burt, served the first ball. The Auckland Lawn Tennis Association was represented at the opening by Mr. L. W. Swan, its secretary.