ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16904, 17 July 1918, Page 5

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL THE ASSOCIATION GAME. The Auckland Football Association met last evening, in the Sports Club, Mr. A. Harrison presiding. A Brotherhood player, W. Mortimer, was regraded, and W. Walbran was transferred from Wild Roao to Tabernacle It was resolved that all North Shore team* in the first and second grades play return matches on city grounds. The association decided to communicate with the Now Zealand Council regarding matches for the Brown Shield betoro any stop is taken in arranging matches. NOTES AND COMMENTS. Tho " off-sido" rule has of late been a troublesome problem for senior grade players in tho Auckland Football Association. In last Saturday's m&tchos a feature of one of tne senior games was tho persistent infringement of the ofl-side rule by the forward lino of one of tho teams, This hampered tho gamo and tho referee considerably. Tho offside rule in itself >> is simple. A player cannot be off-side when he is in his own halt of tho field at the time tho ball is last played. A player cannot bo off-side when a " corner kick" or a " goal kick" is takon. This protection, however, ceases the moment a second player of his own sido plays the ball, so that a player not off-side when a " corner kick" is taken, may, without bavins moved, bo off-side as soon as _ tho ball is played by another player of his own lido. The same applies to a " goal kick." An opponent touching the ball always puis a player on-side. A player to bo "on-s.de" must have at least three opponents betvecn himself and his opponents' goal-lino when tho ball is last played by one of his tide, or he must be behind, or in lino with, tho ball wh»n it is last played by one of his own side. Tho ball bitting the goal-post or crossbar and rebounding does not put a player "on-side" who was "off-sido" when the ball was last played. THE RUGBY GAME. WELLINGTON TEAM'S FIXTURES. [BY mKGIt.VNI.—I'RESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The Monnf.'ement Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union has approved the following representative matches:—Wellington v. Auckland, at Auckland: August 17, at Wellington September 7; • Wellington v. Canterbury, at Christchurch August 24, at Wellington August SI; Wellington l v. Wairarapa, at Wellington August 17, at Carterton August 24. _ V J. Nichoils. captain of the Petono juniors, has been suppendod until May 1, 1819, for haying struck an opponent and for not using his influence to induce his team to return to the field, 11 players having followed him when ho was ordered off by the referee. HOCKEY. NOTES" and comments. , Tho Auckland Hockey Referees' Association has received a supply of new Bcoks of Ruics of the game, which contain several variations of the former rules. At the last meeting of the association it was decided to adopt tho revised rules, mid 'players aro notified .hat in future referees will interpret the following rules in tho manner indicated:— Rule 12 is amplified, so that it will now be hold illegal for any players to hook an opponent's stick by placing his stick "over" tho other, as this constitutes "striking," no matter how lightly tho " strike " is made. The only legal method of " hocking " sticks will bo for a. playor to lift his opponent's stick from tho ground, from below it, to that the " hooker '* can then, in most cases, gain control of the ball. Rule 9 states that it is not now compulsory for the attacking team to take a " corner hit " from the corner nearest to where the hall crossed the goal line, after touching a defender. The attacking team can take their hit from within 3ydi of either corner flag. The same applies to " penalty corner," and tho hit can bo taken from any point on tho goal line provided it is not within 10yds of cither goal post Jn the event of a player being " off-side " it has been decided in rule 11 that the fact of the ball having touched an opponent without his having attempted to play it does not automatically put the player "on-side." A distinction is mado between the ball touching the " opponent"—possibly without his knowledge oiit being near him—and the opponent " touching " or " playing " tho ball. The same applies to the rule in " freo hit." If the ball, after being hit. by the etriker, touches an opponent without his having attempted to play it the striker docs not have the right to hit it again. Messrs. R. H. Melville, J. Steele, and.G. L. Jerrara recently sat for their ( theoretical examination, and were fill awarded passes. They aro now full members of the- association. SWIMMING. MOUNT EDEN CLUB. The annual prize night of theiMounl Edens, Amateur Swimming Club wa'iiheld in St. . Barnabas' Hall, Mount Eden, last evening. The Mayor of Mount Eden, Mr. C. Hudson, presented tho prizes. A trio-fflutei; violin and piano— given by'the'Misses Ramsay and Mr. Dimery, songs by Mrs. Perry and Mcßsrs. McNiven, Stone and Kodgers, novelties by Mr. Pearson, and selections by tho Clarion, Mandolin and Bell Banjo Orchestra. A feature of the entertainment was the production of a laughable play, " Box und Cox," the principal parts being taken by Miss . Mavis Cordes, Messrs. Arthur Martin and G. Hawkeswood. BILLIARDS. NOTES AND COMMENTS. ■; A remarkable exhibition of billiards was given recently by bcrgeant-Majpr Shaw, one of tho heroes ot Mons, who is now totally blind. His hearing has been . so wonderfully developed that from the dick of the balls he can follow the running round ths table. During tho course of tne. game, ho never touched a ball with his fingers, being able to sense their positions. -He actually made one break of 11. ,',<».,' t A game was arranged las. ■ week at Wanganui between E. W. Warren, the New Zealand amateur champion, and 0. Uiavannes, the noted local amateur. Ihoy reached the 400 mark together, alter which Chcvannes showed the better form the. scores on time being Chavanncs 829. Warren 639. Neither played up to reputation, Uhavannes' best break was 88, against WarFrank' Smith, sen., recently resigned the New South Wales championship in favour of Abotomey, who was at once challenged by Frank Smith, jun., to play for £100 a-side. Tho match is now being, ararigfld. The British Billiard Association has for the first time held a snooker championship. Owing tc the fictitious values placed on tho different coloured balls, the game, has not been tak-ra seriously by the authorities, who consider! d luck to bo a greater factor than skill. Tho game is playod so wtdoly now, however, that possibly the New Zealand ruling body may consider holding a cham- ■ P The AuckTand Amateur Sports Club, who, as agents for the British Billiard Association, control billiards in New Zealand, has recently had applications for reinstatement to the amateur ranks from ex-professionals. ■■