Ted Mincham

[6] Then at the end of the season he debuted for the senior side in a Labour Day tournament held over two weekends at Carlaw Park where he made 3 appearances.

The Auckland Star prior to the start of the season said "Young Mincham, who graduated from the juniors late last year, will become a permanent fixture on the wing, as far as can be foreseen, and a successful career appears to be ahead of him".

[18] Richmond finished last in the championship but beat Marist Old Boys and City Rovers in the Roope Rooster 1st round and semi final respectively with Mincham scoring a try in each match.

The Auckland Star reported that "Young Mincham has something of the same blemish" in reference to a teammate who had "pace, energy, and strength, but is inclined to be rash at times".

Players such as Ben Davidson, Hec Brisbane, Len Scott, Alan Clarke, and Claude List were unavailable so the selectors (Bert Avery, Albert Asher, and Thomas McClymont) chose a particularly young side.

[38] The Evening Post said "Mincham, who played for Poneke in senior rugby this season, and who is an ex-Auckland league player, will captain the Wellington team".

The newspaper reports noted that "Mincham did not shine in the rugby game for Poneke for the simple reason that he was poorly served with the ball.

He showed on Saturday that with plenty of the ball he is a dangerous man, and one try he scored down the side line with but a yard in which to work and the two opponents to beat, was a real masterpiece.

[42] Mincham was then named to captain Wellington in a match against Canterbury at the Winter Showground on 23 September but he ultimately did not play and his season came to an end.

At the same time it was reported that Ted's father William (Bill), had been reappointed as the Auckland rugby league representative team selector along with Ernie Asher, and Bert Avery.

[48] Ted was in outstanding form for Richmond where he was playing centre and after 9 rounds of the Fox Memorial championship he had scored 9 tries and kicked 22 goals.

[49] He was selected to play centre for Auckland though the New Zealand Herald said he "would probably prove more valuable as a wing, but he is the type of player who can adapt himself to the inside positions".

Following a 10–9 win over Devonport it was said that "Mincham at centre was one of the shining lights of the contest, and his final burst through the opposition in a swerving run that carried him three quarters the length of the field and within a few yards of a try, deserved a better reward".

They said "the splendid football of L. Brown and E. Mincham, the rival centre three-quarters, was a feature of the big game, and the pair made a favourable impression with the crowd.

[67] Against Taranaki he scored 3 tries in a 37–14 win at Carlaw Park and was said to be "the scintillating start of the Auckland backs, his speed, sure handling and team work with his centre, Lou Brown, bringing a rich harvest of tries for his side".

[71] Although the Herald reported that "Prentice, Brown and Mincham were at the top of their form, and he was involved in a run down the side line which led to Cooke’s try that ultimately won the North Island the match.

With the "backs taken collectively [being] uneven on attack, although some of them, notably (Arthur) Kay, Lou Brown and Mincham, teamed sweetly at times".

Early in the game after Australia had opened the scoring with a try Mincham made "a nice run… on the wing, [which] placed New Zealand in a good position".

[80] Following the loss Mincham was dropped for the third test and was replaced by his Richmond teammate Alf Mitchell with the Auckland Star saying that he "certainly did not perform satisfactorily".

However Mincham missed out with the Herald reporting that he "is decidedly unlucky to be omitted from the players chosen to practise in view of the matches against England".

[96] The Herald wrote "Mincham, who previously represented New Zealand, has been showing fine form in club football for Richmond and is a clever attacking player.

It was said that he and Roy Powell gave the best display seen at Carlaw Park this season in their respective positions... Mincham has undoubted talent as a centre and his play on Saturday was excellent".

Mincham kicked a penalty for the losing side with it said that he, Noel Bickerton and Roy Powell "were the pick of the backs, with snappy penetrating runs and safe handling".

[107] He had in fact refereed a game days earlier on 18 June between the Ellerslie United and Manukau seventh grade sides on the Auckland Domain.

[111] At the end of the season the Richmond club held their annual picnic at Tui Glen with 450 in attendance and various sports were played including a seven-a-side tournament with the senior schoolboys competing for the Mincham Cup.

[113] At the start of the season his father Bill (William) was made a life member of the Auckland Rugby League Referee's Association after 25 years of service to the game.

[118] He also played for the reserve grade side in the Stallard Cup knockout final against Otahuhu Rovers on 16 September which Richmond won.

[120] The Auckland Star reported "after a season’s absence from the game E. Mincham reappeared in the Richmond backs to assist that team against North Shore.

[123] The 1942 season saw Mincham play a small number of games which were against Ponsonby on 16 May, Manukau on 13 June, and the newly combined City-Otahuhu side on 4 July.

Ted was working for the Railway Department in the 1940s and he received an exemption from being conscripted into the World War 2 effort owing to his occupation in early September, 1942.

His father Bill Mincham at the opening game of the 1926 season.
Richmond Rovers RL club and grounds where Ted Mincham played as a junior and senior.
Mincham winning the 100 yard maiden handicap at the Labour Day sports day on 22 October at the Auckland Domain.
Mincham playing for Richmond against Ponsonby at Carlaw Park in Round 1, 1930. He is shown immediately to the left of the #12 player.
Ted Mincham about to fend Ray Hines in the 2nd test v Australia at Carlaw Park.