Category: Sports News

LOCAL people of all ages and ability turned out for the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile on Sunday (21/03/10)on a warm, sunny morning that made conditions just right.

The Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green was there to cheer everyone on at the start of the event, which was organised by the Thame Lions Club.

After the event, which took participants from the South Pole recreation area in Southern Road, through Cuttlebrook nature reserve and onto part of the Phoenix Trail, the Mayor commented: “It was marvellous to see so many families taking part together. Young children were thrilled to receive their medals for completing the mile.

“This is such a good way to get young people involved in sport at an early age. They were so enthusiastic. I would just like to say, “Well Done!” to everybody.”

As well as the mile event,dozens of more serious joggers and runners ran a three or a six mile event earlier in the morning, all raising money for Sport Relief.

GO Active (Get Oxfordshire Active) is launching social jogging groups for beginners across South Oxfordshire from March 2010.

If you?ve thought about jogging but don?t want to jog on your own, you?re not confident enough to join a club or you don?t want to pay club membership fees, then ?JustJog? jogging groups are for you!

In partnership with Run in England, GO Active is launching groups led by qualified jog leaders that are fun, social and at just the right pace to help improve health and increase fitness.

Across South Oxfordshire groups will initially be starting in Thame, Wheatley, Watlington, Benson, Didcot and Henley-on-Thames. The first ten sessions cost

Henley Town 0, Thame United 1 – League game 16/03/10 -MATCH REPORT (Contributed)

The problem with playing the same opponents twice in a week is that there are few surprises. Players get to know each other?s play and set piece routines which they can then counter. The result is a lack of free flowing, passing football with teams cancelling each other out, leading to scrappy play, which is uninspiring for spectators. That?s exactly what happened at Henley on Tuesday evening when for the second week in succession Thame United defeated Henley Town. Last week it was by two goals but there was only one goal in it this time.

The first half was goalless with possession fairly even but few chances created at either end. Thame played better after the break and Sam Cowan was unlucky to see his goal bound shot deflected for a corner. Adam Stallwood had a good chance but his header was too close to the home goalkeeper. The deadlock was broken in the 65th minute when United were awarded a free kick near the right touchline. Mitchell Meredith hit the ball to the far post, just close enough for the goalkeeper to come, but to miss the ball, Nik Rhodes then cleverly headed from the left by-line into the 6-yard box where the unmarked Stallwood finished comfortably. Inspired by the goal United continued to press and they created some half chances. Towards the end, Henley began to reassert themselves without really coming close to an equaliser.

Although not pretty to watch, Thame ground out the needed result and are now seven points clear at the top of the league.

Thame United: Orkney, Meredith, J Way, Cowan, N. Rhodes, El Kassir, Barr, A. Rhodes, Stallwood, Jones (Baylie), Ricketts.

United entertain Rayners Lane at Wallingford next Saturday 20th March.

THAME Lions Club are pleased to invite you to their Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile. Starting at the Recreational Ground, in Southern Road, the route will take you through the Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve and onto the Phoenix Trail.

Suitable for all ages and abilities so get all your friends and family to join you and raise money for a great cause. Enter today, get sponsored and be part of Sport Relief 2010.

Date: 21st March 2010 Event Opens: 9am Event Closes: 1.30pm
Available Start Times

3 mile events 10.30am

More details and entry form:

www.sportrelief.com

MARK West has again strengthened his squad as Thame go into the last third of the season sitting clear at the top of Hellenic League Division 1 East.

West has managed to persuade James Saulsbury to rejoin Thame United after a five year absence. Saulsbury, a previous captain of the club, has been playing at Aylesbury FC having previously captained both Oxford City and Slough Town in promotion winning seasons and spent a couple of seasons at Hayes & Yeading.

A spokesman for the club said: “He is a calm, dependable and reliable defender with a great non league pedigree and we are delighted to have him back in the Thame set-up once again said West.

“With the number of games we have to fit in between now and the end of April we will have a number of weeks were we are playing midweek as well as on the Saturday and the squad needs to be big enough to cope with unavailability, injuries and suspensions. We haven?t had a great deal of luck with our centre backs recently with Lee Thompson, Dave Hocking and Greg Boult all picking up long term injuries although Greg is making good progress and should be back in the squad in a couple of weeks. Saulsbury?s return coincides with the return of Justin Merritt and Jon Gardner recently, all three who played in the Southern League side under West?s management a few years ago.”

DOUG Humphries, aged 60 years-old, played for Chinnor Vets at home on Sunday, March 14, 2010 – possibly making him Oxfordshire’s oldest player!

As a referee he is often at the club on Sundays helping at the junior games. He has also travelled with the First team to be a touch judge.

All this after playing for Chinnor RFC for 33 years!

MATCH REPORT – Contributed – League match 13/03/10 – Thame United 3, Finchampstead 0.

UNITED remain top of the league after a solid performance on Saturday when they defeated Finchampstead 3-0 at Wallingford. Influential forward Aaron Rogers was unavailable and, after about 30 minutes play, talented right-winger Ben Connelly hobbled off injured, but with the current depth of skill within the squad, these setbacks did not cause too many problems.

Thame had the majority of ball possession from the start and the first goal came on 20 minutes after a period of home pressure. United took a free kick which a defender headed out straight to Nik Rhodes who reacted quickly and hit a low, well-placed, 25-yard shot through a crowd of players into the left corner. Neither team, created any real chances in the remainder of the first half and at times, the play was scrappy, with few passing moves.

United played better after the break and increased their lead in the 58th minute when Luke Ricketts took an in-swinging corner from the right, which beat goalkeeper, defenders, and forwards to hit the far post side netting unaided. A rare goal, which I have not seen scored by a Thame player since the Oxfordshire Senior Cup final of 2002. Finchampstead created a good chance a few minutes later but the final header was, fortunately for Thame, directed straight at home keeper Lee Orkney who made a comfortable save. Thame?s third goal came on 79 minutes from a set piece when Stuart Barr took a corner on the left which the on-form Ricketts met, and flicked into the goal by the near post.

Thame United: Orkney, Newell, J. Way, Cowan, N. Rhodes, El-Kassir, Connelly (A. Rhodes), Barr, Jones (Meredith), Braun (Stallwood), Ricketts.

Thame are at home to Rayners Lane next Saturday 20th March.

RACQUETS Fitness Club in Thame has launched its new Cycling Club, for all cylists from average fitness upwards.

MATCH REPORT: Thame United 2, Henley Town 0, 09/03/10 -League match – CONTRIBUTED

Thame United extended their lead at the top of the league at Wallingford on Tuesday evening when they defeated Henley Town 2-0. The visitors have twice drawn with rival title contenders Wokingham & Emmbrook, so a close game was anticipated. In the event Thame controlled the first half but, for the second game in succession, were under pressure after the break.

United started brightly and after 2 minutes Luke Ricketts forced a save from the visiting keeper. A minute later, however Ricketts met a beautiful cross from Ben Connolly and coolly side-footed the ball pass the keeper from 8-yards. Thame increased their lead in the 21st minute when Nik Rhodes met a well-taken Ricketts corner with a powerful far-post header. Thame were enjoying 70% of ball possession with only occasional ineffective threats to their own goal. It could have been 3-0 shortly before half time when Aaron Rogers pounced on a defensive error to hit a 25-yard lobed shot which beat the goalkeeper before glancing off the crossbar.

The visitors started the second half strongly and Thame Keeper, Lee Orkney was busier in the first few minutes than he had been in the whole of the first half. Thame came back and the hardy, but cold, spectators were treated to some entertaining end-to-end football, with Rogers again going close for Thame. The final minutes saw United defending their lead with Orkney forced to make a good save from a point-blank header. Minutes later the visitors were awarded a free kick about 20-yards from goal. Thame were still preparing their wall when a quick-thinking Henley player took the kick which was heading for the bottom right hand corner before the alert Orkney showed his experience and agility by diving and pushing the ball wide.

Overall, it was a good performance from Thame, who are currently playing well enough to win the league title.

Thame United: Orkney, Newell, J. Way, Cowan, N. Rhodes, El-Kassir, Connelly (Wakelin), A. Rhodes, Braun, Rogers (Jones), Ricketts.

United are at home for the next two Saturdays. On 13th February they entertain Finchampstead, whilst on 20th Rayners lane are the visitors.

A THAME man who teaches racquet skills to local children, has received Regional Volunteer of the month award from England Squash.

Roger Ridler, has been teaching squash and ball coordination at Racquets Fitness Centre in Thame for many years, was given a certificate by Fraser Liverage, on Wednesday, 10/03/2010 for all his hard work and dedication.

Many of the youngsters taught by Roger carried on playing squash to regional and national level. He will be teaching once again this Easter holidays at Easter Camp at Racquets. Easter Camp will run on the 7th, 8th, 13th and 14th of April From 10am till 3pm.

The camp will consist of coaching, games, tournaments, studio exercise and Wii time; for further information call 01844 261754 or drop into the club, situated behind the cattle market on North street, Thame.