Category: Sports News

A revival of the Chicks team at Chinnor RFC kicked off this season with training starting again on January 8, Saturday, promising a new lease of life for girls’ rugby.

Spokesperson, Lauren Whitworth, said: “We are Looking forward to new members, games, a tour in the Easter holidays and 7s tournaments in the summer. Chinnor Chicks is gearing up to be a team worthy of the club badge.”

If you or anyone else you know is interested in being a part of the Chicks why not visit on a Sunday morning? The club meets on the benches by the club house at 10am.

“All abilities, from only having caught the last ten minutes of a game on the TV or being playing since you could walk, are very welcome,” added Lauren.

For further details:- Visit LINK

LEAGUE GAME: Monday, 04/01/11 – Meadow View Park: Thame United 1, Ardley United 3. MATCH REPORT (Contributed)

ALMIOST Almost 250 spectators braved a cold Bank Holiday Monday to watch Thame United face league leaders Ardley United at the ASM Stadium. They saw an entertaining, keenly contested game which the visitors won 1-3, a score which flattered them. All four goals came in the second half.

The opening exchanges were fairly even with both teams looking a little rusty, having not played since early December. Thame first chance fell to Stuart Braun but he scuffed his shot wide. Minutes later a strong volley from Sam Cowan forced a good save from the visiting keeper. Much of the Thame threat came from their on-form wingers, Ben Connelly and Luke Rickets. A Connelly cross was met with a strong downwards header by Aaron Rogers but the keeper just managed to scramble the ball clear. At the other end Thame keeper Milan Barisic was busy, and did well to win a 1 on 1 with visiting winger Danny Bone, by diving and bravely deflecting the ball from his feet. Barisic was in action a few minutes later, reacting quickly to tip a 30-yard shot over the bar. In the final minute of the half, Braun was unlucky to see a defender block his powerful shot on the line with the keeper beaten.

Thame created two good chances in the first few minutes after the restart but were unable to convert them. The deadlock was broken in the 55th minute. Ardley were awarded a corner and as the ball was cleared referee Murdoch saw an infringement and blew for a penalty, indicating that a Thame player had unfairly pushed an opponent. Ian Concannon took the spot kick well, giving Barisic no chance. Encouraged by the goal, the visitors increased the pressure on Thame and netted their second goal four minutes later when striker Stuart Bridges side-footed in a cross from the right. Ardley continued to push and, on 62 minutes, were awarded a corner on the left. The ball came in close to goal, just below the crossbar, and as Barisic jumped to collect it, he spilled the ball to the feet of Lewis Trovers, who tapped home.

Thame fought back and scored with 15 minutes remaining. Following a blocked run on the right Connelly played the ball back to Stuart Barr who hit a long ball which Alex Stuart met with a glancing header into the top left of the goal. Manager Mark West brought on 3 substitutes, including newcomer Connor Hayes, but there were no further goals. Ardley played out the final few minutes with some slick passing, keeping the ball, thus denying possession to Thame.

Thame United: Barisic, Barr, Newell (Meredith), Saulsbury, Brown (N Rhodes), Cowan, Connelly, Braun (Hayes), Stuart, Rogers, Ricketts.

Thame are again at home next Saturday, 8th January, when Flackwell Heath are the visitors.

THAME United have this afternoon announced that the official opening of the ASM Stadium will now take place on January 18, 2011. The event was originally scheduled for December 21, 2010, with a friendly against Oxford United, but had to be postponed due to the weather conditions.

Oxford United have now confirmed that they are able to fulfill the fixture on January 18, and will send a strong squad for the game.

Thame Chairman, Jake Collinge, said: “We are extremely grateful that Oxford United have quickly re-confirmed their commitment to the fixture. We were obviously disappointed that the weather caused the postponement of the game in December as well as being acutely aware of the pressures and requirements that Oxford United have as a League Club. However, their willingness to send a strong squad to the game demonstrates their close ties with grassroots football in Oxfordshire.”

The match will kick off at 7:30pm, with gates opening at 6:15pm. Admission prices will be

THAME United go in to the New Year knowing that their biggest challenge for the remainder of the season is not necessarily the opposition, but the prospect of playing a minimum of 26 games in less than four months. This will mean at least two games a week and, despite the postponements already endured this month, it is normally January and February when the weather really hits the fixture list, and so it is likely that there will be additional postponements over the coming months.

“The postponements over the last month, whilst putting something of a dampener on our return to Thame, have also left us with a fixture pile-up that will require us to draw on the depth of our squad,” remarked manager Mark West.

United will require all of that depth on Bank Holiday Monday (3rd January, 3:00pm kick off) as they entertain top of the table Ardley United at the ASM Stadium. Ardley come in to the game having lost only two league games all season, one of which was a defeat to Thame on the August Bank Holiday, when striker Alex Stewart scored both goals for the away side in a 2-0 victory. Since then Ardley have only slipped-up against Shortwood United and have a five point lead at the top of the table.

Although over five inches of snow remained on the main pitch at the ASM Stadium on Monday (27th December) evening, by midday on Tuesday the surface was free of snow, well-drained and frost free. With the long range forecast indicating relatively milder day time and night time temperatures, the Club are not anticipating any problems with the pitch for the match, so at least they can begin to make in-roads into the remaining fixtures as Thame look to lift themselves in to the top half of the table.

PHOTO: Mark West

DESPITE the adverse weather, Racquets Fitness Club remains open as usual for members and non members.

Plus, they are opening our doors to non-members to use our gym facilities at a discounted rate.

DUE to the adverse weather conditions and safety concerns at the site, the Official Opening Ceremony at Meadow View Park today and the fixture against Oxford United have been postponed until January.

A new date will be announced early in the New Year.

CHINNOR rugby camp, scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, December 21,is cancelled but Wednesday 22nd is still happening.

First team Captain, Matt Hutchings, will still be running a one day fun in the snow rugby camp on Wednesday, 22nd December from 10 am, at Chinnor Rugby Club, Thame.

For further information and to book on the course, contact 1st XV captain Matt on tel: 07736032847 or alternatively email: hutch42001@yahoo.co.uk

Packed lunch, drinks, warm clothes and change of/wet weather clothes will be required.

THAME United?s First Team and Reserve fixtures against Newbury and Witney respectively have been postponed due to the snow.

THAME United crashed out of the Oxon Senior Cup at Kidlington on Tuesday night, December 14, when they lost 2-0.

Thame conceded two sloppy goals early on and despite dominating play for long periods of play and hitting the crossbar on two occasions they could not get themselves back into the game.

The team performance was felt to be much better than that against Bracknell Town.

LATEST: All training sessions on the Astroturf have been cancelled.

SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council is rewarding the hard work of 51 young people aged 11 to 19 from across the district, including eight from Thame, by giving them a total of

YOUNG athletes in South Oxfordshire are being encouraged to apply for a share of a