This Sporting Life (Part Two - Answers)...

Okay, I know many of you approached me about last week's quiz, but it doesn't appear that anyone could come up with the answers.  So here are the sports, and what each term means.  Some of the descriptions are somewhat simplified, so as not to confuse you more!


Please note that the term "football" indicates Association Football (soccer).

Drawing stumps (Cricket)
When the umpire draws the stumps from the ground (removes them), it signifies "game over".

Hooker (Rugby)
A forward in the front row of the scrum, whose job it is to "hook" the ball out of the scrum.

Long on (Cricket)
A fielding position, on the "on" side of a batsman, near the boundary.

Heat leader (Speedway - motorcycle speedway to Americans)
One of the top three riders (by average) in a team.

Up and under (Rugby)
A high kick forward, giving you (or your team-mates) time to run to where the ball lands.

KERS (Formula 1 or Rallying)
The Kinetic Energy Recovery System recovers stored energy under braking.

Square leg (Cricket)
A fielding position on the batsman's "leg" side.

Wood shot (Badminton)
A stroke whereby the shuttle is struck with the frame of the racquet.

Inside-right (Football)
A position supporting the centre forward(s), on the right central side of the pitch.

Double Nelson (Cricket, usually)
Named after Lord Nelson (the origin is not 100% certain), "Nelson" is a score of 111; a score of 222 is known as "Double Nelson".

Tight head (Rughby)
A front-row prop forward, to the right of the hooker.  The prop to the hooker's left is a "loose head".

Nutmeg (Football)
The act of passing the ball through an opponent's legs.

The nick (Squash)
The part of the court where the wall meets the floor.

Keep the mat (Lawn Bowls)
After winning a coin toss at the start of a game, the player can choose to start first ("keep the mat"), or let the opponent start first ("give away the mat").

Asking rate (Cricket)
The rate of runs to be scored per over, in order to beat the opposing team's score.  For example, a team needing to score twelve runs in three overs is an asking aate of four.

Fly-half (Rugby)
A position; the fly-half supplies the backs from the forwards, usually from a scrum or maul.

Chinaman (Cricket)
A ball bowled a particular way, in order to achieve a particular movement when bouncing.  A "Chinaman" is bowled by a left-hander; the same ball bowled right-handed is called a "googly".

Sweeper (Football)
A central position between the defenders and the midfielders.

Half-butt (Snooker)
A long cue used for shots where a normal length cue will not reach.

Dead bowl (Lawn Bowls)
A bowl that has not touched the jack, and has finished out of the area of play (eg in the ditch).

Number eight (Rugby or Speedway)
In rugby, the Number Eight is a forward at the back of the scrum.  In speedway, it is a rider (often a novice or junior) who is listed as a team member for a match, but does not have to ride.

Hospital ball (Football)
A slang term commonly used for a ball that is fought for by two players with no real advantage on either side - in other words, it is a "50/50" ball.

Hospital pass (Rugby)
A pass whereby the receiving player is likely to get injured - and end up in hospital.

Tight length (Squash)
A ball played down the side wall, hugging the wall, and landing in the back corner of the court.