WON ON THE POSTS.
(With the British Army in France.)
The decisive victory of the Racing Club de Petiteville—late the deuxième équipage of the Sportif Club de Petiteville—over the troisième équipage of the Société Athlétique de Pont Neuf would not appear to have any bearing on the washing of Percival's collars and pyjamas; but, according to Elfred Fry, there was a poignant connection between the two.
When the Sportif Club received the challenge they doubted whether to accept it, as the Société Athlétique was rumoured to include several veterans approaching fifteen years of age and of tremendous physique. On being conceded the choice of ground, however, they took up the gage and trained and practised with such vigour that two days before the date of the match Georges Darré, right back, punted his toe through a previously suspected weak spot in the ball and irreparably ruined it. The Société Athlétique was informed of the disaster and asked to supply a ball, but they answered that no known authority or precedent existed for visiting teams providing the accessories. There was also an insinuation that the story of the burst ball was a fabrication, designed to give the Sportif Club a loophole of escape from a contest that spelt certain defeat.
Stung to the quick, the deuxième équipage made an urgent appeal to the premier équipage of the Sportif Club, who replied that this was the first intimation they had had of the existence of a deuxième équipage, and recommended a tourney at marbles or a combat of peg-tops as being more suitable to their tender years.
Naturally this insult could not be brooked, and it was decided to break away from the parent body and reorganise under the title of the Racing Club de Petiteville; but this did not help them to solve the question of a new ball. Then it was that Théo Navet, left half, and son of the blanchisseuse in the rue Napoléon, had an inspiration, and Percival's pyjamas became linked up with the destinies of the club.
"It wouldn't surprise me, Sir," said Elfred on the evening when Petiteville was ringing with the news of the Racing Club's victory by 4 buts to 2, "if you are the only officer in Mess to-night with a reelly clean collar."