Alfred Derwent Mitchell (2 April 1910 – 28 February 1974) was a rugby league player. He represented the New Zealand rugby league team in 1 test against Australia in 1935. In the process he became the 238th player to represent New Zealand. Mitchell also played one match for Auckland Province in 1935. He played for the Richmond Rovers club in the Auckland Rugby League competition from 1933 to 1936. Mitchell enlisted in the New Zealand military and fought in World War 2.
Early life Alfred Derwent Mitchell was born in Haʻapai, Tonga on April 2, 1910. His mother was Samoan born Mele Mataele (Mitchell). His father was Ernest Hamilton Rea Mitchell. Ernest was born in Litherland, Merseyside, England and had been traveling the Pacific Islands when he met Mele. They had several children, including Ernest, Jane Eusenia Mitchell, Evelyn Jane Violet Mitchell, Sarah Evelyn Thompson, Agnes Catherine Bouchier, Caroline Beatrice Taripo, Robert Edward Mitchell, Henry Hamilton Mitchell, Dugald Trevor Mitchell, Alfred, and George Gordon Mitchell. The children were born in a variety of islands, including Samoa, Tonga, and the Cook Islands.
Dugald, who was born in 1907 died aged just 1 in 1908. The eldest son, Ernest was killed on September 24, 1916 in World War I at the Somme when most of his siblings were very young. Ernest had been educated at Auckland Grammar School. Youngest son, George, like Alfred would go on to represent New Zealand at rugby league in the late 1930s.
In 1928 Alfred was sent to study at Feilding Agricultural High School near Palmerston North. That same year he equaled the high school record for the 220 yards senior championship with a time of 25 seconds.
Playing career Navy rugby side At some point in the early 1930s Mitchell moved to Auckland and is likely to have begun working in the Naval Dockyards. He played for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves junior rugby side in 1932 against the Royal Navy junior side. It was their annual match with Mitchell named at fullback.
Richmond Rovers rugby league club On April 19, 1933 he registered with the Richmond Rovers rugby league club. It was stated in his registration that he was living in Sandringham at the time. He was aged 23 by this time and made his debut in round 1 of the Fox Memorial Shield competition which was and still is Auckland Rugby League's premier club competition. The match was played on the main field at Carlaw Park and saw their opponents, Newton Rangers win 25-11. Mitchell played at centre but had an inauspicious start to his rugby league career when he was knocked out. The “three-quarter line was operating prettily up to the time of the unfortunate accident to Mitchell”. The New Zealand Herald reported that “Cameron and Mitchell were injured in a collision and the last-named, who had been playing well, was unable to resume”. It was later reported that he had been taken to Auckland Hospital and was living at 54 Paice Avenue in Sandringham. He then missed Richmond's next 3 matches as he recovered before returning to their first grade side for their round 5 match against Marist Old Boys on May 27. Marist won the match 12-6. In round 6 against Newton in a match won 18-10 by Richmond it was said that their “three-quarter line — Marshall, Mitchell and Bennett — always was dangerous, the ex-Feilding High School centre, Mitchell being a classy player”. The Herald said that he was “a promising footballer”. Then in their round 7, 36-12 win over Ponsonby United he scored his first try. The Auckland Star said that “Marshall, Mitchell, and Bennett make a speedy three-quarter trio, and the centre's [Mitchell's] play on Saturday was most impressive”. His “good try” came in the first half after Richmond had been dominating in open play. Then in round 8 in a 12-8 loss to City the Auckland Star said that the Richmond backs attacked across the field too much which cramped “the wingers, of whom Mitchell was the star. This player shows much promise”. While the Herald said he and Bennett “played with plenty of dash”. Round 9 saw Richmond draw with competition leaders Devonport United 5-5 at Carlaw Park. He had played once more on the wing and it was said that “Mitchell was out of his usual position, but is well equipped as a scoring man”. The following week in a 13-5 loss to Marist, the Star reported that the Richmond “wingers, Marshall and Mitchell, were very fleet and willing”.
Mitchell's form by this point in the season had caught the eye of the selectors and he was named as a reserve for an Auckland trial to be played as curtain raiser to the Auckland v South Auckland (northern Waikato) match on July 15 at Carlaw Park. In this era reserves were only allowed to be called on due to first half injuries and Mitchell was not required to play. Around this time the legendary rugby and rugby league player Bert Cooke returned to the Richmond side and as a result the young Mitchell was dropped down to their senior B side. Though he did return to the top side for round 3 of the Challenge Round series of matches on September 2. He played again the following weekend in round 4, and then again in the Stormont Shield final against Devonport United. Richmond had qualified earlier by winning the Roope Rooster competition, with the Stormont Shield being played for by the championship winners and the Roope Rooster winners each season. Richmond lost 12-7 but Mitchell was outstanding on the day. The Auckland Star, in reference to the Richmond three-quarters, said “these three club colts – Mitchell, Young, and Abbott- combined brilliantly. The first mentioned, a Feilding High School old boy, was the star of the day, his strong and clever running and defensive work stamping him a player of exceptional calibre”.
Then on September 27 Mitchell was given the opportunity to play against the touring St George side from Sydney. They had finished runner up in the NSWRFL competition. They played seven matches on their tour. Richmond won a physical encounter 13-8 with Mitchell and Stan Prentice “the outstanding backs”, with “both playing hard football and tackling solidly, while they consistently followed up fast”. On October 10 Auckland Rugby League decided to find the ‘best club team in Auckland’ by pairing up Richmond and Marist, who had both defeated St George. Richmond won the match easily by 31 points to 8 but Mitchell, playing on the wing “left the field with a wrenched knee”. As a result he missed the final few matches of the season including Richmond's second match with St George which they also won 5-3. This brought to an end his debut season in the rugby league code.
The 1934 season saw Mitchell play 12 games once more for Richmond. His season was cut short slightly by injury too, though he did manage to score 6 tries for them. Mitchell's first try though did not come until round 7 when Richmond defeated Marist 20-8. Richmond were undefeated at this point, beating most teams handily. As well as scoring he also helped Bert Cooke score after Mitchell broke away “and Ted Mincham ran round on the outside of him to take the pass. Realising the opportunity Cooke dashed up in a flash and reverse passing between Mincham and himself completely baffled the defence, Cooke eventually touching down between the posts”. The week prior Mitchell had played for the Richmond reserve grade side but due to an injury to McNeil after just ten minutes of the senior game he had had to come on as a replacement and play another hour of football.
Mitchell's first try of the season came in Richmond's 26-10 win over Ponsonby United. He scored a double in a closely fought match which Richmond only led 15-10 until late when the Auckland Star said “Richmond rode to victory on the crest of a wave. In those fleeting minutes glimpses were again seen of the tenacity of one player particularly – Mitchell, the young Richmond left flank-man, who gained due reward to crown a most meritorious general performance”. The Herald said he “ran determinedly from all positions”. The following week Richmond thrashed City 43-14 and Mitchell scored a hat trick. He “was the best of the three-quarters”, but “was unlucky to receive a nasty ear injury toward the end of the game”. On July 14 in a match with Newton, Mitchell was concussed and admitted to Auckland Hospital the following morning. At the time it was stated that he was living on Wellington Street in the City. Making his debut for Richmond in the same match was future Kiwi, Eric Fletcher who had grown up in the Palmerston North area where Mitchell had spent his senior high school years. Fletcher was captaining the Palmerston North Boys' High School 1st XV in Mitchell's final year at Feilding High School in 1928. Along with Mitchell's injury in the match with Newton, Cliff Satherley, and McNeil were also injured, with Mitchell and McNeil still in hospital 2 weeks later. Though it was said that they were “progressing favourably”. Mitchell ultimately missed 5 matches for Richmond and only returned to play in the Stormont Shield final on October 13, some 4 months after his head injury. He took his place in the side ahead of Bennett and unsurprisingly he “did not seem quite in form”. Richmond won nonetheless 21-5 over Newton to claim their first ever Stormont Shield title.
New Zealand selection The 1935 season was to be the most significant of Mitchell's career. He played 18 matches for Richmond, scoring 8 tries, as well as making his one and only appearance for the New Zealand national side, in addition to a match for Auckland Province.
In Richmond's opening match for the season against Newton the ball “did not go so much the way of Mitchell” in a 27-15 win. His handling was also said to be “a little uncertain”. In round 2 Richmond beat Mount Albert United 27-13 with “Noel Bickerton, Bert Cooke, and Ted Mincham on their toes, with the result that Mitchell and McNeil sparkled”. Following a 14-6 over Newton on June 15 it was said that he had “shone for his resource”. And that Fletcher and Mitchell were prominent on attack”. His first try of the season came against Devonport in round 10. He was described as “fit and alert” along with McNeil on the other wing in a 28-0 win. He “showed plenty of dash and scored a fine try as the result of determined running”.