WRESTLING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 369, 21 April 1910, Page 3

WRESTLING.

BAIN BEATS SCOTT. FAST EXCITING STRUGGLE. At the Wellington Opera House on Monday night A. Bain, of Scotland, met R. J. Scott, of Stratford, for £SO a-side and the wrestling championship of the Dominion.

Scott immediately went 011 the attack. and it was evident from the way in which he brought Bain down that it might have gone hard with the hmer had the style been Cumberland or collar and elbow. When three minutes had elapsed Scott got Bain in an awkward position by grasping him round the. thighs and attempting to turn him over with a leg hold round the neck, but Bain escaped amid applause. Still retaining his hold of Bain's legs, Scott secured a leg half-nelson, but was unable to keep it. With five minutes gone Bain took a brief turn at attacking, but the pair were soon on their feet again. Upon Scott making another attempt to throw him, Bain dropped on his knees. Eight minutes after the start Scott was busier than ever. After several futile efforts, he succeeded in getting a lull leg. nelson 011 Bain, and tried his level best to turn him with the aid of his arms, which were encircling his legs. Bain, however, very cleverly trapped Scott's .head with his feet, and in the resultant struggle got free. At the end of 15 minutes Bain once again assumed the aggressive, but only for a minute or two, for Scott got Bain's head between 1 his feet—a move which was stopped by the visitor. With half an hour gone, Scott, who had 'been trying a variety of holds in rapid succession, whilst Bain continued to remain chiefly on the defence, applied scissors' hold round Bain's body, but his object—to turn Bain by levering him over by the arms—was thwarted. In the course of the next few minutes' work Bain stopped several desperate attempts which Scott made to throw him. Bain then straddled Scott, and tried to lever him over by the arms and exerting his strength on one side, but Scott was too clever. Scott next attempted a further shoulder hold, but he could do nothing with it. Up till this stage Bain had been cautioned once or twice for placing his arm across Scott's throat in the course of the struggle, but he had stoutly disclaimed any intention to attempt anything in the nature of a strangle hold. He had now to he cautioned for bringing his forearm down heavily on the back of Scott's neck. "It's quite fair," he said, when his attention was directed to the matter, but many others in addition to the referee were of an opposite opinion. At this stage (53min.) Bain attacked more strenuously than he had done on any previous occasion. He applied scissors' hold round Scott's body with force in the region of the short ribs and Scott •indicated that he was in considerable pain. Exactly what he said to the referee could not be heard at the ringside. The referee stopped the men to get up, but in the excitement Scott went on, and a fewi second elapsed before the contestants were separated. The referee intimated that Bain had scored a fall. Scott: But the hold was a foul.

The referee: I say no; you gave in. Addressing the spectators, Scott said that if he could not throw a man without punishing him he would not wrestle at all. He had, he added, had scores of chances of punishing. Bain, tut had not taken advantage of thtem. Hei would wrestle Bain at any time provided unfair holds were barred.

Bain, who had a mixed reception, said lie bore no ill-will to those who had hooted him, for Scott was a local man and he was a stranger. "I simply laid in wait for Scott," he added, "and at .last I got the hold I wanted. Once before I had the hold, but Scott got free. I admit it took me 53 minutes to do it. I got a hold over the short ribs and if any of you like I will let you try it. (Laughter). Scott could never have got out of the hold."

At this juncture Scott said that there were seven minutes yet to go and he would do his best to turn the tables on Bain.

There was a scene of much excitement when Bain and Scott again faced one another. Working from the left, Scott tried to turn Bain, but lie did not succeed. Subsequently, after further efforts of a similar .nature, Scott straddled Bain. "That is the hold you complained about," remarked Bain.' "I know that," replied Scott, "and I think what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander." The move was countered by Bain, wlio got round on his side and then on his hands and kn'ces. Seott next essayed the leg-nelson hold witli arms round the thighs, but he could. not lever Bain sufficiently over. 'Next Scott paid attention to Bain's ■head iwith ihis arms, ibut Bain got free. Just prior to the close of time Scott had Bain's head between his legs, but was again unable to exert sufficient strength to turn Bain over. Bain was then adjudged winner.—Dominion.