RUGBY BURLESQUE

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 96, 24 April 1916, Page 4

RUGBY BURLESQUE

,V SUCCESSFUL GALA.

In outward appearance at least the Trentham soldiers who essayed to play football on Saturday were like Gilbert's heavy dragoon, a mixture of many ingredients. To describe them one must refer for terms to the drapery and millinery advertisements. Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed as some of the "ladies." There was one "lady" of ample proportions in red and tangerine, achieving an Oriental sunset effect. Another skirt was of a delicate shade of mouse grey—and quite transparent. In another costume a tagel straw < hat was the most remarkable feature—the skirt was not worth1 mentioning. Quite a popular fashion was the slit skirt, the slit being one part design. and three parts accident. Even a Rifle Brigadesman's step is apt to bring disaster on" a hobblo skirt. The members of the team appeared on tho playing ground at Athletic Park, performing the well-known crocodile step. As they could j only fall sideways they managed to keep their feet under them. But when the ball had been set in motion and the genuine ladies, wearing bußiness-like skirts .which were not hobbled, commenced their charges, there was a collapse on the part of the soldiers. One soldier fell on his knees and continued that way for the better part of a spell. Several were "injured," but were quickly revived by holding up their feet —so that the blood would rush to their heads. The game was most exciting; it was just like a lottery—no one knew who was winning, and on many occasions it was difficult to say who was pjaying. Mephistopheles and Ally Sloper (who has enlisted in the Grenadier Guards) sometimes left their places on the side lines just to make play interesting. The referee was most impartial, never allowing breaches of rules to affect his decisions in the least. After four very strenuous spells it was announced that the ladies had won, but no one could tell the scores. | For tho rest, the gala was well attended, and the New Zealand Natives' Association may congratulate itself upon tho success of its effort to raise funds for tho wounded soldiers and the supply of band uniforms. No one would have been justified in staying away on the score of an objection to Rugby in wartime. And probably none did. The stand was well filled with people, and there were some hundreds on the bank also. Very many ladies were there, and a good proportion of the young men who watched were in uniform. The proceedings were considerably enlivened by two bands, the New Zealand Natives' and the Trentham Camp Band. The selections played ■were much appreciated. On the conclusion of the gala a football I bearing the names of all the lady players was presented, through Captain Bell, to Colonel Potter, Commandant of Trentham Camp.