Ngongotaha man's autographs from a bygone era

SIGN: Ngongotaha's John Kirkland with his collection of autographs from players in the first test between the All Blacks and Britain and Ireland in 1950. PHOTO/JOHN BORREN

When Ngongotaha's John Kirkland saw an article in the New Zealand Herald about oldest surviving All Black Ron Elvidge, he started scratching his head.

As a 13-year-old Otago supporter Kirkland had been at the All Blacks v Britain and Ireland test in Dunedin in 1950 and recalls Elvidge's contribution that day.

He was also at a function for the players the following day, armed with a piece of paper and a pencil to collect autographs.

Among those at the function was Elvidge who had, the day before, scored the final try of the game to secure a 9-all draw.

Elvidge was on hand to take a pass from Vince Bevan to score the try. He became a hero once again in the third test in Wellington.

"[Elvidge] went through Billy Cleaver's tackle. He had stitches in his head and his left shoulder all strapped up - and he went over and scored the try," said Kirkland.

"That" try is the stuff of folklore, not only because it snatched a series win for the All Blacks, but because Elvidge, the All Blacks captain, had returned to the field after leaving because of his injuries. It was also his last game in the black jersey.

Peter Johnstone took over as captain for the fourth and final test.

"Ron Elvidge; his name's a byword down in Dunedin - he was everyone's hero - I was one of many and used to run around with No 11 on my back - that's the number he played in for Otago," said Kirkland.

When he saw the article about Elvidge, who is now the oldest living All Black, he started thinking about the test and the signatures he collected the next day.

"I read it and thought 'I wonder if I've still got those autographs'."

He soon found that he had - 18 pencil autographs from players of both sides, including Elvidge and his British Isles counterpart, captain Karl Mullen.

"They were both doctors," he said.

Among the British players' signatures are those of George Norton, Ken Jones, Bleddyn Williams, Jack Kyle and Peter Kininmonth.

All Blacks' signatures include Vince Bevan, Snow White, Brownie Cherrington and Peter Johnstone.

"Peter Johnstone coached me when I left school," said Kirkland who played for Taieri and South Canterbury.

Kirkland was taken to the game by a family friend, Dr JD Deaker, who was a solicitor and crown prosecutor in Dunedin.

"He always used to take me to the big games at Carisbrook and he took me to the first test. The next day there was a social do at one of the local marae on the Otago peninsula.

"He took me down and put me in the door and gave me a pencil and a piece of paper and said go and get some autographs - was 13 - now I'm 81."

Many of the All Blacks were from Otago, players like Lester Harvey, Kevin Skinner, Johnstone and, of course, Elvidge.

Kirkland admits to being as rugby mad now as he was then, and while he often goes to watch the Chiefs, he is still an Otago man through and through.

When, in 2010, Otago challenged Southland for the Ranfurly Shield, he drove all the way to Invercargill to see the game.

Kirkland has a ticket for the Maori All Blacks v British and Irish Lions at Rotorua International Stadium, but didn't manage to get one for the game against the Chiefs in Hamilton and said it was now a little bit beyond him to follow the tour around the country.

He hopes to be able to find a worthy home for the autographs he collected nearly 70 years ago.