The All Blacks v Northern Command (a team chosen from Players who were in the british forces stationed in North England)...Headingley..1942 or 43. Northern Command were leading by 1 or 2 points,3 minutes left to play,The AB were awarded a free kick near the touchline just INSIDE,their own 25 yard line,and the famous Kiwi fullback BERT COOK picked up the ball and commenced to dig a hole with his heel to place the ball for a kick at goal,yes 80 metres at least.the crowd started whistling and jeering(me included) thinking he was crazy,he took his time meticulously and took only two steps back and then BANG...over it went at least 10 feet above the crossbar,the greatest goalkick the world has EVER SEEN,and I was priveledged to be there to see it, Incidentally if any of you saw Bert(who played for Leeds for many years after) you might remember his unique kicking style,...he had no follow through with his leg after making contact with the ball.
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The greater the challenge,the more magnificent the triumph.
Excuses are the clutches of the untalented"
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