ORANGE TIME

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 689, 14 June 1929, Page 6

ORANGE TIME

HPHIS picture of a young: man reflectively chewing at an orange suggests a “fruitful” field for writing something about what footballers do in the five-minute interval between two 45s of hectic tussling with an egg-shaped leather ball. Half-time is also snown as lemon time, despite the fact that not one team in ten chews lemons these days. Lemons are too sour or too costly, or something. Anyhow, most players chew oranges. Some are too busy getting the mud out of their eyes, ears and mouth to want to chew anything —except the “rag.” One super-de-luxe Rugby player of the writer’s acquainance used to regularly change his boots and stockings at half-time. lie was a very fine goal-kicker, and'he always had at least

a couple of pairs of brilliantly blackleaded boot with him. In New Zealand, it is the custom at half-time for Rugby players to spend the “breather” in the dressingshed. In England, not all the rain, hail and snow would prevent its players from nonchalantly strolling round on the field with their hands in the pockets of their baggy 'shorts. Half-time was an impressive interlude with the English League team that was here last year. When the whistle blew for the interval, it seemed to be a signal for Trainer Lave Murray to tear on to the ground with an immense carpet bag. From its innermost recesses he could produce, ike a conjurer, anything from a piece :>f sticking-plaster to a bottle of Dcaten-up egg and sherry.