BURLESQUE FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2753, 24 April 1916, Page 8

BURLESQUE FOOTBALL

FUN AT THE ATHLETIC PARK. Under the auspices of the New Zealand Natives' Association, a burlesquo. football match was played at the Athletic Park, on Saturday afternoon, the proceeds of which are to be devoted tq the Ladies' Guild work among the returned soldiers and the Association's Band's Uniform .Fund. . There wero between 3000 and '1000 people present, , tho weather being all that could .lie de- ; sired'. Soon after 3 o'clock tho ladies' team, neatly attired in dark blue skirtß and tam-o'-shanters and white blouses, made their ajipearaucc on the field, and began throwing the ball about with a skill that promised well for their chances. - Then the burlesque artists from the Trentham Camp wriggled on to the field of play, commanded by the Colonel of the Knut-s, whose feet wero continually at odds with his sword. "Ally Sloper," in the garb of Royal Horse Radish, was line umpireA For the first quarter of an hour the game was really funny.There was something tenderly amusing in seeing a fair flutterer collared round the'waist and kissed by a burly trooper in a skirt, whilst there was many _ a sprawler brought about, by the soldiers' facility in collariug low. But tbo game was' always one-sidod. Some of tho ladies handled the ball and ran in good stylo, and one substantial half-back proved a great tackle. One of the liveliest men in skirts wore a long wig, and as he was about to score a try, lie was downed by a girl, who. pulled off his wig, and waved it like a triumphant Delilah, with one of her feet on the vanquished nian's chest. The game deteriorated in a comedy sense after a bit through -tho soldiers getting rid of their "hobbles," either by tearing' or cutting the skirts, which destroyed the fun to a great erient. The, ladies won, of course, but what thoy won by, or how, no one knew or cared. A number of people in fancy dress invaded the Park, and rattled boxes under the 'noses of everyone throughout the afternoon. The proceedings were enlivened by the presence of tho Trentham Camp Band, and also tho band of the Natives' Association. At the conclusion of the game, a football, inscribed with tho signatures of all the lady players, was presented to ; Colonel Potter, through Captain Bell (in the Colonel's absence). ;