Lives in Cricket No 34 - Frank Mitchell

17 drawn with the Gentlemen holding firm at 163 for six, but what a game this must have been, and how it must have enhanced the reputation of the school’s finest player. The end of the season results were a touch disappointing. Played 14, Won 5, Lost 7, Drawn 2. Mitchell’s own average in the scoring of 351 runs was 29.25 but The Peterite , having congratulated him on his batting, was caustic on aspects of his captaincy: ‘There is still much room for improvement in the matters of setting the field. This season we have witnessed some wonderful dispositions.’ There would be no need for future concern. Captaincy and leadership were to become hallmarks of Mitchell’s sporting life. School rugby Mitchell’s talent at games was first shown in his ability at rugby football. He did well in the lower forms at school and in May 1888 was appointed Football Secretary for the coming school year. But in September 1888, when the captain-elect had unexpectedly left the school, he was appointed captain of the First XV. He was just 16 years old. He was captain for two seasons and in the 1889/90 season the team were winning most of their games. They won the Yorkshire Public Schools Challenge Cup defeating Leeds Grammar School in the semi-final, and Ripon Grammar School in the final. The last report upon him in The Peterite read: ‘Played very consistently and unselfishly all through and did a tremendous amount of work, especially towards end of term in the important matches: kicking strongly, and judiciously, almost always into St Peter’s School, 1883-1890 The St Peter’s school team of 1890 with Frank Mitchell (seated centre) as captain. Whether one of the eleven schoolboys shown was the scorer or had lost his cricket apparel is not clear.