FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1919, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

■ m> ii ' WHEN THE NEW ZEALANDERS PLAYED THE FRENCH. ~ An Australian travelling in England - sends his impressions of a recent Army football match between New Zealand and Prance. His story jg crisp.— "I went out ,to Twickenham to the New Zealand Forces v. France, and! enjoyed the gamo thoroughly. The King, his four sons, and Sir Douglas Haig were seated in an improvised box about > six feet from my seat, and, being so close, I waß able to note the keen interest and enjoyment ,they took in the game. HJUI. especially followed each movement with keen relish, and whenever the New Zealanderg put in any of their tricky Btunts on the line the smile of the man who knows would light up bis face, and he would turn to Sir Douglas Haig with what appeared to be the query, 'Well, what do you think of that*'- Sir Douglas does not talk much. His keen, cameo-1 ike face and piercing eyes keep his thoughts well hidden. The Prince of Wales and his brothers entered Into the sport thoroughly. The two oldest boys smoked cigarettes in their father's presence, which proved that the parental chain was not tight. There were a great number of red-braided officers, with innumerable service ribbons, sitting round the Royal box. "The New Zealonders, in the same old black togs (somewhat ou,t of repair) were first to appear, followed by the Frenchmen, whose loyal-blue jerseyc, white knickers, and red socks were spotless and well-fitting. If appearances counted, the evenly-built, aftleuo-lookiia representatives of France had it all over the rugged, careless, bald-headed (in three instances) men from down under. For a time France had all the better of matters, heeling out in cleanest style and getting ,the ball to the halves as straight as the proverbial shot. And , they scored first. Then the Now Zealand boys woke up, and young Singe, who plays a scrupulously fair wing-forward game and is always on the ball, evened up with a good try. At half-time ;the scores were even—3 all After half-time the New Zealanders made it willing, and France never had a look-in. Had tho blacks eared, they could have made it 20 to S. The French play the old game of passing across the field, but do not work with any cohesion, and as soon as New Zealand got in some of their short passing and cut-in, proppy sprints, the Froggies (as the American soldiers call them) were left standing still." i