LONG RUGBY KICKS

Evening Star, Issue 23378, 22 September 1939, Page 5

LONG RUGBY KICKS

SOUTH AFRICAN FEATS REMARKABLE DISTANCES ACHIEVED 'What is the longest Rugby kick on record in, South Africa? .There are no records available, but it is known that in actual play remarkable distances have been kicked (says a South African: writer). In the test match against the British team at Ellis Turk last year there were two outstanding kicking feats. First there was Vivian Jenkin s place kick from about 7yds over the halfway line which cleared the posts with several yards to spare—about 70yds in all—and There was a dropkick of about 60yds by. Gerry Brand. But these kicks, are insignificant compared with the best of the giants among kickers, Douglas Morkel, whose feats are legendary. Perhaps the greatest, kick Morkel ever accomplished was in » match in the Railway tournament against Billy Miller’s C.H.R. team-.- - - This- fact -wasfrom about 12yds in his own half, and cleared not merely the 67yds over the goal Tine,'.but cleared the further 15yds over, the dead ball line and the stand, which was ’situated beyond, the ball actually landing in the B ground below. The distance was never actually measured, hut was probably about 95yds. This kick, had it been measured, would probably, stand as a world record, but though Morkel’s feats are famous in the game, they were just part of the game and Morkel was one] of the last to claim records or want them.