SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2290, 8 September 1908, Page 3

SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

FOOTBALL. POVERTY BAY RUGBY UNION

The usual weekly meeting of the Poverty Bay' Rugby Union was held last night in the Masonic Hotel. Present: Alessro 11. E. Maude (chairman), W. 11. Brady. J. A. Eaton, C. 51’orso, L. (). Ingram, L. B. ShorrUf, and E. L. Alaudo (lion. see.). Tho use of a ground at the Domain on Thursday was granted to. tho employees of sfr. J. H. Ormond, at 1.40, to play a combined team of blacksmiths,' aiul at 3 p.m. for tho annual match between Common, Shelton and Co. and combined merchants; the proceeds of tho latter match to go to the Accident Fund. With regard to a player imported for using bad language .in the match last Thursday, it was resolved that, taking the ” circumstances of the offeuco into consideration, a caution bo administered. Owing to the withdrawal of the City and Star teams, the Thursday competition was dosed, and tho Gisborne Club were declared tilts winners. - - .

Permission was granted to tlio Gisborne Club to play a match at To Knraka on Thursday. The use of ,tho Domain was granted on'September 17th for a fixture between teams from tlio City Band and the Piro Brigade. Permission was granted to tho Motu Club to play a match against To Karaka, Wneronga-a-liika, and Kaiti-City juniors on 17th, 18th, and 19th just. A circular letter was received from the New Zealand Rugby Union confirming disqualifications. . A nninbor of accounts were passed for payment. . , t It was decided that the selectors of the junior representative team bo asked to furnish a list of all players available to make a trip to Napier for one week. GISBORNE CLUB. A special general meeting of the Gisborne Football Club was held in Morse’s saloon last evening. There was a fair attendance, the captain (Mr. J. S. Thompson) being in the chair. Tlio principal business of the ovens ing was the allocation of the two gold medals for the best forward and back respectively. This was decided by ballot, and the winnors eventually proved to bo Mr. J. Scott (forward) and Mr. H. Henderson (back). The medals will be presented .to the winnors at tho Club’s smoke concert on Wednesday, 16th insfc. . The question of establishing a cricket club in connection with the football club was discussed, and tlio matter was left in the hands of Mr. J. Gibson, a general meeting to be called at an early date. It was decided that the season bo concluded on Dominion Day with a match in aid of the proposed Maternity Home, and the secretary was instructed to write to the Poverty Bay Ilugby Union with a view to arranging a match with the winners of the Saturday championship club, KaitiCity. A telegram was received from Me. G. B. Oman, a vice-presidont of tho Club, extending congratulations to the Club on winning the Lysnar Challenge Banner. Some minor business was transacted and tho meeting terminated. V RUGBY REFORM. [Press Association.] DUNEDIN, Sept. 7. At a meeting of the Otago Ilugby flnion to-night, a communication was received from the New Zealand Union to the effect that a special meeting will be held on October Ist to consider the advisability of amending tho rules with a view to an improvement of the game. Tho local committee decided to recommend alterations in the direction of abolishing the charge in the case of a free kick or kick at goal, providing for a throw-in of not less than say five yards from touch, the 'imposition of a penalty in the event of the ball landing directly in touch from a kick-off or kick-out, the imposition of a penalty on a player crossing an imaginary, line drawn through the back of the scrum on his own side wliilo the ball is in the scrum, the reduction of the team to thirteen players, the modification of the advantage given to the side which touches down, tlie referee putting the ball in the serum, a goal from a mark or a penalty counting two points, allowing a player brought to the ground to pass though the ball has touched the ground providing it is done immediately, the game being played in four spells of 20 minutes each. It is also recommended that a copy of tho resolutions be sent to the New South Wales and Queensland Unions with the object of securing their co-opera-tion in the formation of an Australasian Rugby Union, and that the rules as to professionalism be amended ill the direction of paying players for time lost while touring with representative teaiiis. HOCKEY, LADIES' TOURNAMENT. YESTERDAY’S RESULTiS. [Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Sept. 7, The ladies’ hockey tournament was continued at Day’s Bay this afternoon, when a good number were present to watch the five matches played. In the senior grade, Canterbury beat Nelson by seven to one; Wellington A drew with Wairarapa A, one goal each; Hawke’s Bay beat Wellington Bby six goals to nil; and. Wairarapa B liiicl a bye. In tho junior grade, Hawke’s Bay beat Wanganui by two goals to one; Horowheiiua beat Wellington B by one goal to nil; and Wellington had a bye. \ A LADIES’ ASSOCIATION. [Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Sept. 7. At ,a meeting to-night of delegates from Wellington, Auckland, Canterbury, Otago, South Canterbury, Wanganui, Wairarapa, Hawke’s Bay, Nelson, and Horowhcnu.i, a New Zealand Ladies’ Hockey Association was formed, with headquarters in W"oiling ton.' The .first annual meeting will be held in April, when officers will be elected. Tlie meeting affirmed the desirability of holding annual tournaments, and. of inviting a team of English lady, hockey players to tour New Zealand. ATHLETICS. NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. •(Press Association.] DUNEDIN, Sept. 7. The Otago Centre of the New Zealand Athletic Union to-night decided to offer the next New Zealand Athletic Union championships to tlie Otago Caledonian Society. In the event of the latter body declining the offer, Oaniaru Caledonian Society will be given the opportunity of controlling the gathering. rowingT NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION. [Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Sept. 7. The Council of tlie New Zealand Rowing Association met this evening. Tlio Ngaruawahia Club appealed for .a ruling in regard to the Auckland Association’s decision in cutting out a race from the club’s programme. The club also asked if the Councirconsidered the time ripe for establishing a centre in tho Waikato, urging , that tho representation of country clubs on tho Auckland Association was unsatisfactory. It was decided to obtain information from Auckland in reference to the appeal, and to refer the question of forming another cell-

tro to tho annual meeting of delegates. It. was decided to change the date of tho annual meeting from October 12th to October 10th. The draft annual shows that affiliated clubs have a membership of 2735, an ineroaso of ovor 70 tor tlio you*. # I no balance-sheet shows a profit of £9 8s Od for the year, leaving, with the amount brought forward last year, a credit balance of £lOl 16s 7d.