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CARDIFF ARMS PARK - THE LONGEST KICK |
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1st February 1986 - Cardiff Arms Park The crowd thought him mad, the media ‘ambitious’ only one man was certain he could do it. 70 yards 8 ˝ inches (64.65 metres) was the distance of the penalty that Paul Thorburn kicked against Scotland in 1986. The longest successful kick at goal in the history of Welsh International Rugby. This was the 4th of 5 penalty goals kicked by the Neath legend as Wales went on to defeat Scotland by 22 points to 15. Pictured above is the ball that 'flew' that astounding distance while below you will find more photos of the ball and a picture of the boots with which he kicked that incredible goal. These are together with a 'printers' plate of the article that featured the kick in the Western Mail of the following week. The boots and printer's plate were loaned by Paul Thorburn to the Neath Rugby 125 exhibition held to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the founding of the WRU in Neath. The ball is now a treasured exhibit in the World Rugby Museum collection.
This is how the legendary commentator Bill McLaren viewed the kick. "NOW I'LL TELL YER - YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS BUT THAT IS THE WELSH 10 METRES LINE AND PAUL THORBURN IS GOING TO ATTEMPT A GOAL "IT'S MILES TO THOSE GOALPOSTS" HE IS OF COURSE A BIG KICKER - HE'S SCORED 438 POINTS LAST SEASON FOR NEATH BUT THIS WOULD BE A MONSTER THORBURN THEN............... WOOOOFFF WHAT A BELT HE'S GIVEN IT "THAT IS AMAZING" "I'VE SEEN ALL THE GREAT GOAL KICKERS IN THE WORLD OVER THE LAST DECADE BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN A KICK LIKE THIS ONE. HE GAVE IT A MONSTER SMACK, IT'S WHAT 60...62 METRES ALLOW A BIT MORE FOR THE ANGLE IT JUST CREPT IN....... BUT IT COUNTS ...................
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wrm-0563-eqbawasc1986-thorburn & WRM-0714-mmwasc1986 |
