SPORTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12425, 7 August 1902, Page 6

SPORTING.

PING-PONG TOUIiNAMENT AT ST/'. CLAIR, An enthusiastic meeting of the Ladies' Guild Committee of the St. Clair Church -was 'held : on Tuesday evening, when it was unanimously decided to hold a ping-pong tournament in the St. Clair Gymnasium on the first-Wednesday in September. Prizes are to bo given for adies and gentlemen, and refreshments-will bo provided, A. considerable amount of 6llppoft liaa already been promised, and everything pornts to a successful meeting. xh« funds derived from tho same are lo be used • for much-needed repair.? to the manse. An advertisemenl appears in our column in reference to entrance money,, etc. Early applies ' lion should be made b.v intending players. NET BALL. A good deal of interest is being taken in the net ball tournament—the first oi its kind in the colony—which is to take place in the Agricultural Hall on Friday and Saturday next, August 8 and 9. Entries have been received from the majority of tho senior football clubs < in town, and several- of the' juniors have aIBO sent in names of competitors. As the game i 3 not generally known, the following will ,bo of interest:—Net ball is played in a netted enclosure measuring 60ft by 30ft, with a- net bag 'or goal suspended 10ft from the groundal each end. There are nine men aside. The space is divided into' three divisions, and the game is ' played witli an Association football. • The object of tho game is to get tho ball into tjio • opponents' r.et bag. There arc three men of each sido in each division. No. 1 division are goalkeepers. No. 2 centres, No. 3 defenders, and vice versa. There is no kicking, tripping, or pushing—it is a passing game. The players are confined to their own divisions, and there is no offside. The ball must not be held except-with the hands, and players mußt not run with the ball, though they may run to meet it or follow it. The spirit of the game is catch and pass by throwing, the ball in the air from midfield. A' free throw wilt bo awarded by the referee for running with oi kickingthe ball, shouldering, holding, tripping; or pushing an opponent.

A Wellington. telegram states that tlia New Zealand Hockey Association, which lias been, set up in Christchurch to govern the game 'throughout the colony, formed the subject of discussion at a. meeting of tho Wellington Association.- A resolution was passed that the new hotly should not be recognised. In accordance with this decision, leave was refused to the' United Club to play a matcli with, the Christchurch Club. It was not considered necessary to set up a Xortli Island Association at present.