WRESTLING MATCHES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 429, 10 May 1937, Page 6

WRESTLING MATCHES

Mclntyre and mead draw Sensational Finish Dying injured on the mat in the ring at the Town Hall on Saturday night, the two professional wrestlers, Don Mclntyre, of Glasgow, and Tom Meted, of California, were counted out by the referee, Mr W. Toomey, of New Plymouth. Still they did not make any move to get on their feet, and as the crowd in the hall stood expectant and somewhat awed at the strange Epectacle, ithe atmposphere became tent.e Soon the rumblings of the crowd grew louder, and as the referee bent down and lifted an arm of each of the still helpless contestants, to denote a draw as bis decision, there were notes of surprise and groans of disapproval from the spectators at the result of the closing stages of the bout.

The seventh round was in progress, when a series of flying tackles developed, in the course of which the referee wte® nearly involved. The usual metihod of rushing from the ropes and knocking down the opponent was adopted in turn by Mclntyre and Mead, and just as it seeijn-ed that the referee would be the buffer Tor their mad gestures, he stepped aside, and a collision occurred between the two men, their heads meeting with a crack tes they rolled on the mat. Scene in the Ring. The seconds quickly lent assistance, and with first-aid’ methods, the wrestlers gradually recoveredi, but from appearances as t,hey gingerly moved from the ring with their dressing wrappers over their heads and nursing the sore parts of their craniums, they were sick tend sorry for themselves under the public gaze. But they quickly recovered on reaching the dressing-room. The bout itself was not remarkable for anything ..particular as a wrestling match, although many of the orthodox holds were in evidence. The wrestlers delighted to tie themselves into knots, it seemed, as the referee was called upon to disenbangle their limbs to allow ‘hem to continue activities. What is known as .showmanship in wrestling circles, which is a feature of these bouts nowadays? that the contestants introduce as light entertainment and amuse, ment for the public, occupied the greater part of th e rounds, and it was duly appreciated. There were fewer rough tactics such as tossing one ’another over the ropes and punching and kicking as was the case in seme previous bouts. The Officials. The announcer was Mr A. 11. Nelson, who carried out the duties of the office in his usual capably style. Mr J. Petrie was timekeeper, ana the official seconds were Messrs D. H. Fazackerley and F. Reader. The association’s new mat, which was usqd for the first time, very much improved the appearance of the ring’. The weights of the professionals were given as 15.12 (Mclntyre) and 15.5 (Mead). Both men were in tile pink of condition. “Mac” is taller and biggpr bodied than “Tom,” and as they were often addressed by m^unbers of the crowd in the course of friendly comment or perhaps wellintentioned criticism.

The bout was achQdiuled to .go eight l,o_minute rounds. No falls were reglttered in the first 'three, but the fourth ha,d been jn operation for a few Wnutes whon Mead secured a fall itfte.r getting in some flying tackles, ending in a body press in his favour. The wrestlers in tee 'first round en gaged in short-arm scossir holds, hammerlocks, and much head' work. Aeroplane scissors appeared in the second round, and they got so mixed UP in a .Japanese leg-bar hold that the referee helped them out. Leg. splits and forward toeholds were followed by flying tackles!, and one of Mac’s rolling toeholds. The gong sounded wth some legs to be disentangled by the referee. Savage jolts and strangleholds signalled the' opening of the third round, and when they settled down they were seen in rocking-chair splits, followed by legsplits, Indian death..’ lock, and barred toeholds, with bam. merlocks in evidence at the gong. Resuming after Mead’s fall, the fifth round wae not exciting, hcud a.n<i short-arm scissors, figure-four body scissors, standing splits and leg work constituting the work. One Fall Each. Meads was the aggressor in the sixth round, but it was not long be,fore he had to go under to Mclntyre’s flying tackles. The wrestlers were not inclined to get down to solid work in the seventh round, and had to be remin'de I by the referee. Then they mixed it with a vengeance, rand soon there was no safe place for Mr Toomey. The! matched ended as described above.

with Itlhe men both "out" on the mat. The Amateurs. The display of th» amateurs was not as good as usual, two bouts at least bejng spiritless. T, McCallum (Tarikb 9.5, drew with Pellum (New Plymouth) 9.5, no fall being registered. W. Baker (New Plymouth) 10.1, defeated W. Prcairn ((Cardiff) 9.J2, winning the only fall secured with a body press in the last round, though up to that stage 'the l Cardiff .man was leading weij on points. G. Lee (Waipuku) 10.10, defeated A. Tiddis (New Plymouth) 10.5, securing the first fall in the firfl round with a reverse cradle hold and the second ifadl in the third round with a short-head scissors and body press F. Harris (Toko) 12. Q and J. Beasley (New Plymouth) 11.5, wres' led oi draw, .there being no fall. The crowd showed disappointment at the display, which was devoid of sound wrestling.