Category: Missed a ThameNews story?

IN a ‘nip and tuck’ match throughout, Chinnor managed to squeeze past Lydney by 22-17, on Saturday (17/01).

 Lydney opened the scoring on seven minutes when skipper Chris Holder scored a try in the corner. Chinnor then began to dominate territory. A long series of rucks and mauls ended in a try for full back Jake Olley, who shortly afterwards was sinbinned for interfering illegally at a breakdown.

Lydney came back strongly and, after a period of long possession in the Chinnor 22, scored their second try wide out through prop Eamon Rees. On 30 minutes, Chinnor capitalised from a Lydney indiscretion with a try from a rolling maul, Alfie To’oala dotting down. Both sides went in even at half time, 10-10.

Chinnor started the second half brightly when, after a series of possessions right from the kick off, Ben Manning went over for a try wide out on 43 minutes. Keohane added the extras to put the home side 17-10 ahead with 44 minutes played. Lydney came back into the match when Mike Wallis scored from a rolling maul. Wicks’ conversion again tied the match, now 17-17. On the 69th minute, Chinnor’s Piggott , just on from the bench, finished off a period of sustained Chinnor pressure by scoring the Chinnor bonus point try to put the home side ahead 22-17. Lydney then strove to come back into the match but desperate defence in their 22 for the last five minutes saw Chinnor hold on for a 22-17 victory.

Teams
Chinnor: Jake Olley, Jaryd Robinson, Ed Keohane, Junior Fatialofa, Reuben Haile, Sam Angell, Frank Jones, Guido Cambareri, Dean Brooker, David Coutts, Ben Manning, Andy Tibbatts, Matthew Bolwell, Ryan Long, Alfie To’oala (c)
Interchanges: Ricardo Cano, Joe Pickett, Loti Molitika, Martin Nutt, Robbie Martey

Lydney: Eamon Rees, Josh Hannam, Josh Innes, Brad Barnes, Chris Holder (c), Tony Wicks, Jack O’Connell, Zen Szwagrzak, Chris Farrell, Adam Ledner, Charlie Danniel, Dave Bennett, Matt Boobyer, Harry Brown, Chris Rovery
Interchanges: Josh Perks, Tim Longton, Duncan Bell, John Rodgers, Mike Wallis

Scorers
Chinnor
Tries (time): Olley (14), To’oala (30), Manning (43), Pickett (69)
Conversions (time): Keohane (44)
Penalty Goals (time):
Drop goals (time):

Lydney
Tries: (time) Holder (5), Rees (24), Wallis (56)
Conversions: (time) Wicks (57)
Penalty Goals (time):
Drop goals (time):

Referee: Calum Howard
Attendance: 321
Half time score: 10-10
Full time score: 17-10

THE game of Squash is certainly taking off among youngsters in Thame, thanks to the encouragement and training so many of Thame’s primary school children are getting at Racquets, in Thame.

On Saturday, January 17, 26 youngsters descended on Racquets Fitness Centre, for the club’s latest junior tournament. 

Racquets Academy Coach and former World ranked Pro, Sue Martin Downhill, said:  “In the December tournament there was a beginners grade which needed a development ball and two serves to get a game going. This time, some of the same children, plus others, were playing the real game of squash with the double yellow dot black ball – and only one serve! Their games have improved so much in just the last month.

“Keen Fionn Leaney and his friend Ollie Hucklebridge from Cuddington and Dinton CE School,  took the first and second prizes respectively. In a round robin format with a totalling up of points from each game, the tenacity of making each point in each game count meant that Ollie came through second over Matthew Harper, of Barley Hill Primary School, who had actually  won more matches. It was a fantastically competitive grade.”

In the top grade there were five players – all looking forward to a great future in the sport. Ollie Ralphs, Lord Williams’s School, competed well against the winner of this grade in the December tournament, a guest from Henley, Luca Babb. Going up two games to love, Ollie made the standard mistake of relaxing and finding himself two – all.  Fortunately for Ollie, support from the balcony from his Racquets peers kept his spirits up and Ollie fought hard to take the fifth; not bad for a player who only started playing in September of last year.

Sue continued: “Ollie was the first junior to take up a Racquets Academy position and has brilliantly shown how dedication to playing four times a week and having support and regular coaching can produce amazing sports results.

“In the middle grade, we were able to play a full 16 draw, knockout tournament. So many of the matches were closely fought. All with a great friendly, competitive nature.

“Previous one-day tournament winner, Adam Benke (LWS), was knocked out in the semi-finals by the most recent Racquets Academy junior, Olliver Dudley-Heidkamp (LWS). This was an unexpected win as Ollie has not been playing for as long as many of the other players and has only in the past three weeks started committing to four times a week. 

“This tournament really showed how a little bit more commitment to any sport can reap rewards within a short time, especially in junior sport. We are hoping to grow the Academy over the next few months so we are looking for juniors who have a dedication to sport regardless of their current standard or age. One of our Academy kids began without being able to hit the ball and now, with amazing perseverance, can play a commendable game of squash and is improving every week.

“It is such a pleasure to coach and mentor these kids.”

Anyone who would like more information about the Racquets Squash Academy, or would like to speak to Sue, can contact her via: http://www.racquets-fitness-centre.com/contact-us/

THE twelve match winning run had to come to an end at some point, and it did at the thirteenth game of asking at a damp and cold Riverside Park on Saturday (17/01/15).

And it was a much deserved victory for the home side as they completely nullified United’s normal game, and played with tenacity and no little skill in breaking down the United back line. The warning signs were apparent from the first minute when the ball flashed across the Thame goal, before United created, what ultimately turned out to be, their two best chances of the match.

First, after seven minutes, Ben Gray skewed an effort wide from eight yards when, well found by Luke Ricketts before, three minutes later, the same player’s goal bound effort was blocked. Thatcham then came forward, finding space down both flanks, and nearly took the lead on twenty minutes when a shot from 20 yards clipped the top of the bar. A short while later the home side took the lead when Matt Tapping in the Thame goal could only parry a shot into the path of Josh Stockwell who finished from close range.

For the remainder of the half it was Thatcham who enjoyed the majority of the possession, with United content to hit the home side on the break, but finding the centre back pairing of Hughes and Thomas in commanding form.

The second half opened with renewed urgency from United, and the home side were on the back foot for the first few minutes. However, the normal pattern of play was soon resumed and, when Ellis Hercules was adjudged to have handled the ball 25-yards from goal on 60 minutes, Stockwell stepped-up to place the free kick over the wall and into the far corner of the goal for a two-nil lead. Manager Mark West immediately made changes, moving to a back three, but Thatcham continued to dominate possession whilst United looked to get behind the Thatcham back line. Tapping then made a fine save to keep United in the game, whilst Luke Ricketts went closest for Thame on 80 minutes, placing an effort just wide from ten yards. Final score: Thatcham Town 2, Thame United 0.

As it was, the home side thoroughly deserved the victory and United will be looking to start another winning run on Saturday when Wootton Bassett Town are the visitors to the ASM Stadium.

United:
Tapping, Evans (Hodgkins), Hall, Hercules, Mulholland, Lynch (Kedzierski), Jones (Connelly), Morris, Gray, West, Ricketts

SOURCE: Contributed by Jake Collinge

THAME Youth Under 12s football team has achieved the remarkable feat of going 364 days unbeaten – before losing the Penn and Tyler’s Green on Sunday, January 11. Prior to the weekend, the last time the team lost a game in the league was on January 12, 2014, against Downley Dynamos Colts.

During that time the team have played 18 games, winning 17, and drawing one – scoring 111 goals in the process. The team has been promoted twice during their unbeaten run. They’ve also played four friendlies in the same period, and won all four. The only blemish on the record is the team’s heartbreaking defeat in the cup final against Aylesbury United Juniors – a 4-4 draw that Thame lost in a penalty shoot-out after extra time.

The team captain, James ‘Jammy’ Fahey said: “We have a good team spirit, and everyone tries their best to get better. It’s nice to win, but we all love playing football whatever the result.”

The team manager Mark Britton said: “We are lucky to have a fantastic group of players. They are a talented bunch, but they have also worked very hard for their success. The undefeated run had to end sometime, and I’m very proud of the way they play great team football, and support each other no matter what the result.”

SOURCE: Contributed