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”.