LIVELY WRESTLING

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20503, 20 May 1938, Page 2

LIVELY WRESTLING

DECISION TO MEEHAN ONE FALL AQAINBT BAFFERT BRIGHT BOUT IN HAMILTON The best exhibition of professional wrestling witnessed in Hamilton for some time was provided in the Theatre Royal last evenimr when Pat Meehan, of Canada. 16st 31b. gained a decision by one fall over A 1 Haffert, of America, 15st. The bout went the full distance and. giving the crowd a particularly varied exhibition of holds, the wrestlers maintained a lively pace throughout. Although Meehan gained the only fall of the bout, by a body press in the fifth round, he did not have matters all his own way, and was fully extended from start to finish. The first round opened briskly and Baffert had the early advantage, holding his opponent to the mat with a headlock and arm scissors. Meehan was not long in retaliating, however, and soon had the American in trouble with a rocking-chair splits. Not to be outdone. Baffert reversed the order, and in less than no time the Canadian was in the grip of an Indian deathlr»ck. Although he managed to throw Bafieri to the mat his efforts to free himself were in vain for a long time. On finally wriggling loose he amused himself by bouncing heavily on Baffprt's biceps, but the American was cool and soon had the Canadian pinned with a short-arm scissors. The hold was firmly applied and Meehan was saved by the bell.

The pace did not slacken in the second session, both men trying hard for the opening points. Meehan's efforts to apply a standing splits were nullified when the American grabbed a handful of hair, and tlie next few’ minutes saw Meehan In trouble with a severe splits, well applied. On breaking loose tiie Canadian took his opponent unawares with a strong figurefour body scissors and resisted ill efforts to break the hold. Meehan held hard and Baffert found relief in the bell. Bafiert’s Short-arm Scissors A fair amount of showmanship opened the third spell and Baffert soon took the upper* hand with a short-arm scissors. Meehan struggled hard, but despite his lack in weight the American threw him round the ring time «nd again, still retaining the hold. A splits was Meehan’s form of retaliation when lie broke free, and then for a time both wrestlers had a lively time in file centre of flte ring. Following a session in the yrip of ,i bead scissors. Meeham excited the crowd when lie felled Ins opponent with a flying tackle. Shortly after he followed with another body scissors, which had an obvious effect on Baffert, who once again was saved by the end of the round. A series of headlocks saw Meehan in trouble early in the next round, and although he replied with a flying tackle he was soon firmly in the grip of a strong bar toehold. Lour grunts from the Canadian accompanied Baffert’s leverages, but on breaking free Meehan give his opponent a rough time with a headlock which he swung quickly from side to side. Although Baffert broke one reverse wristlock with a rabbit punch. Meehan came again and repeated the hold. This time, however, Baffert broke away with a head scissors and the end of the round saw both men working in a referee’s hold.

A quick exchange of holds characterised the opening of the fifth round, and within a few* minutes Meehan brought BnfTert to the mat with a flying body scissors. He drew first points within the next few minutes when he pinned the American with a body press. F.agtier to equalise. Baffert took the offensive in the sixth spell and soon had Meehan stretched out in an arm scissors combined with an arm bar. He held this advantage for some time, but Meehan’s struggles were successful. and he retaliated with a semirradlehold. Meehan amused the crowd and surprised Baffert when he reached up and patted the American in : the manner of a referee awarding a fall, and, unaware of the ruse, Baffert let him free. The American's efforts for a body press in the next few* minutes were unavailing and Meehan soon converted a toehold into an Indian j death-lock. Once again Baffert was rescued by the bell. Referee Takes a Hand j A h : gh pitch of excitement was ’ reached in the seventh round when, ion Baffert refusing to obev the 1 referee’s order to break, the official j l> a <l to take a hand and break the men |by force. A sally of elbow jolts and i punches followed and with remarkable speed Meehan applied still another death-lock. A short-arm scissors kept Meehan in trouble and gave Baftert a ehance of recovery in the next few minutes, and indication of the pressure applied rould be gained by flie growing whiteness of Meehan’s hand. Fheer strength dragged the Canadian free, and the end of the round saw Baffert in the grip of a severe head scissors. Baffert gained considerable amusement by pulling both of Meehan’s ears at the start of the final round, but Hie referee stopped this by applying the same remedy to the American. Baffert was soon in difficulties again with a bar toehold and the Canadian resisted all efforts to break it, the American seeking relief in the ropes. Baffert could not hold the head scissors which followed, but shortly after i he brought the crowd to its feet when |he applied a Boston crab. The Canadian succeeded in kicking free, but at the call of time Meehan was once j again in the grip of a toehold. ! A series of bright amateur bouts preceded the main fixture and provided interesting fare for the spectators. The results of the matches were as follows: Light-weight. C. Lee (HamilI ton. 9st 81b. drew with 11. Owen 1 Pirongia . 9st filb; no falls. CatchI weight: O. Shannon Hamilton), lost 71b. beat A. \V. James Cambridge >, , list, by two falls. Middle-weight: D. Willets Morrinsvllle . i Ist 4lb, beat D. Owen Pirongia), list, on points. Light heavy-weight: p. Hill ! Whatawhata . 13st, beat O. Barr , (Hamilton'. «m points. Mr W. Shattock was the referee for all the bouts.