Wrestling by Roger Robson

Last updated 19:22, Thursday, 21 February 2008

THE usual suspects may have won the honours at the third senior points night at Carlisle Wrestling Club – but that was only half the story in a fascinating night of wrestling at Currock House.

Andrew Carlile was unbeaten in the lightweight round-robin, John Harrington did the same in the middleweights, and Richard Fox in the All Weights.

But each of them had to smile sportingly as they were dumped by up-and-coming wrestlers at some time in the night.

Matthew Fisher is steadily improving with his regular training at the club, and he showed some of his best form to date when he felled Joe Thompson with a buttock off a back-heel which flowed effortlessly because of its timing.

Then he went further to catch Andrew Carlile on the hop. Fisher’s usual left leg back-heel gave Carlile little cause for concern, but when it suddenly changed to a right leg back-heel, Carlile was caught too upright and was twisted under.

Fisher ended up in joint second place after the round-robin, but the wrestle-off saw Andrew Carlile fell both Fisher and Richard Fox to gain second place.

Gordon Nichol is a newcomer to wrestling, but his raw power and good instincts, gave him unexpected success against Andrew Carlile and Joe Harrington, two top class experienced wrestlers. The All Weights was enlivened by the presence of two unexpected wrestlers: Joe Harrington, home from Newcastle University for his mum’s birthday, and Robert Wharton who had a sudden urge to tek hod.

Harrington did particularly well to come second in the All Weights, losing only twice against eight opponents. Wharton, who has not wrestled recently, did well to reach the wrestle-off for the third pace. Above all, he is a stylish wrestler and he took some excellent falls with text-book chips.

In the end, of course, the regular winners won again in good style and provided some of the best falls of the evening. Andrew Carlile survived Richard Fox buttocking and then floored him with a salto, a chip from the freestyle code.

John Harrington took up the mantle of Peter Hunter to give two wrestlers the classic right leg outside-stroke, which left them suddenly without a leg to stand on; and Richard Fox at last perfected the swinging inside-click, twice.

Results: Carlisle Wrestling Club Senior Points Night: 11½st: 1 A Carlile, 2 M Fisher, 3 C Naylor, 4 J Brown. 13st: 1 John Harrington, 2 A Carlile, 3 Fox, 4 M Fisher.

All Weights: 1 R Fox, 2 Joe Harrington, 3 John Harrington, 4, R Wharton. Date: Saturday February 23, Brittany Backhold Championships, Carhaix.