Category: Sports News

A Thame man has received recognistion for his outstand voluntary services to the Oxfordshire Rugby Union.

Steve Parslow received the covetted Oxfordshire Rugby Football Union RVC tie, presented by Oxfordshire RFU President, Colin Baldwin on Saturday, September 12, 2009, in recognition of his outstanding Voluntary Services to Oxfordshire Rugby Union.

Spokesman for Chinnor Rugby Club, Peter Matthews, told Thamenews.net: “Steve Parslow is Chinnor Rugby Clubs ‘Man Friday’ – and every other day of the week! He is a member of the General Purpose Committee and organises Car Parking for every club event and match day. He arranges tables, clears tables, collects beer glasses.

“Steve has, until recently, also coached and managed Chinnor Chicks, our girls’ rugby team and last season was voted Clubman Of The Year.

“Steve is in fact a man without whom Chinnor Rugby Club would be very much the poorer,” he concluded.

FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round – Halstead Town 1, Thame United 1 – Saturday, September 19, 2009

UNITED returned from deepest Essex with their FA Vase dreams alive following a hard fought 1-1 draw against Halstead Town of the Eastern Counties League. United started the brighter of the two teams, kicking down the pronounced slope, and forcing two early corners that failed to trouble the home keeper. Halstead came back strongly and failed to hit the target with two headers before Adam Rhodes went close with a half volley from 20 yards in the 18th minute. Again Halstead came back strongly and a free header from 6 yards in the 22nd minute was placed over the bar when it seemed easier to score. For the remainder of half it was Halstead in the ascendancy but without any real penetration.

As with the first half, United started the second half strongly and very nearly opened the scoring in the 51st minute. A well worked corner was played to Ben Connelly on the edge of the box and delivered to the far post where a Nik Rhodes downward header was well saved by the keeper. Two minutes later and Stuart Barr collected the ball on the wide left and went on a penetrating run, with his angled drive from 20 yards coming back off the post but, unfortunately for Thame, straight back in to the hands of the home keeper. 10 minutes later and Barr, shot over from 20 yards when well placed. The remaining 25 minutes were a tense affair, with both defences on top.

With the score goalless after 90 minutes, the game went in to extra time and, again, it was United who started the brighter with Jones going close with two opportunities in the first few minutes. However, it was Halsted who opened the scoring in the 104th minute. Thame keeper Lee Orkney pulled off a stupendous save pushing a drive from 12 yards over the bar, but from the resulting corner Lee Townrow scored with a near post header. United came back strongly in the second period of extra time.

In the 107th minute an Adam Rhodes free kick was headed on by brother Nik in to the path of Mark Jones, who swivelled and hit a powerful left foot shot from close range in to the bottom corner. The equaliser was no less than United deserved and with their fitness telling, there only looked to be one winner. In the end, United were happy to bring their hosts back to Wallingford for a replay on Tuesday evening (22/09/09).

After Tuesday, United have another cup game on Saturday away at Kidlington.

Thame United: Orkney, Cowan, Wakelin, Hocking, N.Rhodes, A.Rhodes, El-Kassir, Connelly (Way), Rogers (Hoskin), Jones, Barr.

MARIA Lawton completed a stunning hat trick by winning all of her three finals at Thame Tennis Club?s Finals Day recently (Sept 2009.

In going one better than last year and starting in the Mixed Doubles, Maria partnered Mark Wilkins to a 6-2 7-5 victory over the experienced pairing of Ian Catchpole and Dawn Munro.

In the Ladies Doubles, Maria again partnered Jo Kelly and in a very close three set match, they retained their title by overcoming last year?s runners-up Fiona Pidgeon and Clare Carder 6-2 5-7 6-1.

To complete her triumph and again retain her title, Maria then met Fiona in the Ladies Singles final and after some pulsating tennis and another three sets, finally succeeded in winning 3-6 6-3 6-2.

In the Men?s competitions, last year?s Men?s Doubles champions Richard Bradley and Neil Morgan successfully retained their title by defeating Jeremy Carder and Steve Nannery in another closely fought three set match 7-5 6-7 6-3.

This year?s Men?s Singles final saw the appearance of one of the youngest finalists for many years, Joel Morris, who is one of the Club?s rising stars.

Unfortunately for Joel though, he came up against Tom Moore (pictured left) who himself had recently been one of the Club?s youngest ever finalists (and champion) but despite their young ages, combined to put on one of the Club?s most exhilarating ever Men?s finals.

Both players were hitting the ball with immense power and accuracy and whilst Tom won the first set 6-4, Joel fought back to win the second set 6-4. Eventually, Tom?s experience saw him through and he won the third set 6-1 to claim the Men?s Singles
Championship that he?d last won in 2005.

For more information about the Club, go to www.thametennisclub.org.uk.

PHOTO: Tom Moore(left) and Joel Morris

12th Sep 09 – Chinnor 12 vs 10 Reading – Match report by Bill O’Donnell:

ON a beautifully sunny summer day, these two sides managed to conjure up a grey and uninspiring display which led to a narrow 12-10 victory for Chinnor.

Starting energetically, Chinnor quickly picked up an injury with prop Tom Whelan having to leave the field after just three minutes, replaced by Joe Winpenny. Two minutes later, Chinnor got on the score board with a penalty goal from Cathcart. Most of the game in the first half was in the Reading half but Chinnor?s territorial and possession superiority gained them little. Referee Adam Friend had a busy time with the whistle and the game was a stop/start affair throughout.

After one infraction too many, Reading?s hooker Fisher was yellow carded on 11 minutes. On the 26th minute, Chinnor lost their second player to injury with captain Hutchings damaging his hand. Macsen Williams replaced him and played brightly throughout. The game meandered until halftime with the score still at 3-0 to Chinnor.

The second half served up much the same fare. Cathcart for Chinnor and Smart for Reading exchanged penalty goals to eke the score up to 6-3 in Chinnor?s favour. On the 65th minute, the large home crowd gasped as Chinnor fullback Cathcart, attempting to field a garryowen, spilled the ball straight into the hands of pacey Reading winger Taniela Bakoso. Casually jogging to the posts, Bakoso put Reading ahead for the first time in the match. Smart converted to give Reading a 10-6 lead. Just a few minutes later, Chinnor were awarded a kickable penalty. With Cathcart now replaced by Wallace, James Hewitt took on the kicking duties to calmly reduce Reading?s lead to 10-9.

With just 12 minutes left, Chinnor upped the pace and a penalty kick from Hewitt was just wide. In the 74th minute, Reading received their second yellow card of the match with No 8, Dan Phillips taking an early shower but Chinnor could not manoeuvre a scoring position. With the referee shaping to blow for full time, Chinnor?s new fly half Chase stamped his mark on the match. From 40 metres out, he coolly dropped a goal to give Chinnor a 12-10 victory.

In a game that saw both sides never get out of second gear, Chinnor will be happy to have snatched victory at the death. With regular scrum half Prescott sidelined with injury, Tom Jarvis had a tidy and satisfying debut in the 9 shirt. Worrying for Chinnor, however, is the mounting casualty list so early in the season.

Chinnor team: Cathcart (Wallace 66), Williams R, Hewitt B, Hewitt J, Shiel, Chase, Jarvis, Stock, Tattersall, Whelan (Winpenny 3), Hutchings (Williams M 26) Black, Gilbert, Hastings, Mowbray.

Reps: Winpenny, Wallace, Williams M

PHOTO: Chinnor No.7 Adam Hastings powers through in their 12 – 10 win over Reading

FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round: 12/09/09 – Thame United 0, Burnham 2. MATCH REPORT (Contributed)

TWO defensive errors cost United as they slipped to defeat against unbeaten Southern League side Burnham in the FA Cup on Saturday. Whilst against teams of a similar level United may have expected those mistakes to go unpunished, against higher league opposition they were made to pay. That said, Burnham?s opening goal in the sixth minute still relied on a measure of good fortune.

As United sought to play the ball out of defence, a mistimed pass was collected by the Burnham left winger whose miss hit cross found its way to Rob Saunders. Saunders then scuffed his effort back across goal and, unfortunately for United, the quickest to react was the Burnham?s prolific goal scorer Dean Papali who beat keeper Lee Orkney from close range.

At this stage Burnham were on the front foot and extended their lead 10 minutes later when a cross from the left was met by Saunders, unmarked 10 yards from goal on the right side of the penalty area, who drove his shot inside Orkney at the near post. United improved significantly after the second goal and, for the remainder of the half, had as much possession and attacking play as Burnham. The nearest they came to getting on the score sheet was a thunderous effort from 30 yards by Lawrence El-Kassir whose shot was heading for the top right hand corner until the keeper pulled off a spectacular save to push the ball over the bar.

The second half started in similar fashion with United closing down the opposition and moving the ball around quickly. However, it was Burnham who nearly extended the lead in the 52nd minute when an effort from 18 yards came back off the post. Perhaps the turning point for United came with 25 minutes remaining. Luke Ricketts, who had the caused the Burnham defence problems all afternoon, ran in to the box only to be fouled as he beat his marker. To the surprise of most of the crowd, the referee awarded a goal kick and Ricketts, who sustained a serious head injury in the incident was forced to leave the field of play. United continued to press for a goal but were unable to find their way past a resolute Burnham defence, although substitute Tom Hoskin created a couple of half chances which, if luck had been with Thame, may have altered the result. As it was, Burnham took their chances early in the game and progress to the next round.

United are in cup action again next weekend as they travel to Halstead Town (Essex) in the FA Vase.

Thame United: Orkney, Cowan (Meredith), Wakelin, N.Rhodes, Hocking, A.Rhodes, El-Kassir, Barr, Jones (Way), Rogers, Ricketts (Hoskin).

THAME UNITED RESERVES were also in cup action as they faced Division 1 side Finchampstead in the Chairman?s Reserve Challenge Cup. United started the better of the two sides as they raced in to a two goal lead following a brace from Matt Leach. However, Finchampstead cam back strongly and scored three goals of their own. Raymond Patrick then scored an equaliser for Thame and forced the game in to extra time. There were no further goals during extra time and, in the penalty shoot out, it was Finchampstead who progressed winning 5-4.

PHOTO: Lawrence El-Kassir

CHINNOR SECONDS XV 15 Pts, Vs Barnes 27 Pts: Away League match – September 12, 2009 – MATCH REPORT:

CHINNOR Seconds played their first league game of the season against Barnes second team on Saturday and with Chinnor fielding five senior sides this weekend, securing players was a huge problem with several players out due to injuries and players not available.

It proved to be more than a challenge when another three players pulled out of the team on Saturday morning. This resulted in a much-changed team to play Barnes.

Chinnor expected the Barnes team be powerful and strong and they weren?t far wrong! Within five minutes of the start one of the game, a Chinnor player found himself isolated and the ball was ripped away from him and Barnes ran in a converted try.
For the next fifteen minutes Chinnor?s game improved and the team settled playing good rugby, exemplified by Ben Farr who took the ball in his own half and darted his way through virtually the full Barnes team to score in the corner – a great individual effort.

He followed that up three minutes later with a penalty and Chinnor were in the lead by eight points to seven. Unfortunately Chinnor lost Bob Harris with a back injury and, due to the shortage of players, Chinnor?s pack was forced to changewhich lost them momentum and dominance.

Jack Bull then followed up chasing a fly kick up field by Harry Hillier, and managed to pick up the ball for a second Chinnor try, converted by Ben Farr.

Five minutes to half time Chinnor were caught napping when Barnes took a quick tap penalty while Chinnor were waiting to scrum for a knock on by Barnes. They scored a soft try under the posts and the score was 15 ? 14 in Chinnor?s favour.

During the extra five minutes of injury time, Chinnor missed several tackles and allowed Barnes another converted try and the first half finished 21 ? 15 in Barnes favour.

Five minutes into the second half, Barnes went further ahead with another penalty. But Chinnor was very unlucky in the third quarter when Harry Hillier was called back for a penalty with an open try line ahead of him because the referee deemed him to be ahead of the kicker and not retreating. The only problem with this was that Harry was the actual kicker. Shortly after Barnes was awarded another penalty in which they were successful.

All the boys played with total commitment on a ground that was unbelievably hard and dusty, and deserve applause for their dedication on the day. The score did not reflect the game. Final score was Barnes 27 ? Chinnor 15.

Man of the match was Ben Farr who had an outstanding 80 minutes of rugby.

With another two players out of the first team for at least eight weeks due to serious injuries, the second team will have to send more players up to the first team.

Next week Chinnor seconds have a local derby against Maidenhead at home and desperately need everyone to be available.

Walter McGuicken

Photo: Man of the match, Ben Farr

MATCH REPORT – Thame United Reserves 1, V Shrivenham Reserves 1 – 6th September, 09

THE Reserves began their season on Saturday at Southern Road when they faced Shrivenham Reserves of the Reserve Division 2 West in the Presidents Cup Group C.

In an entertaining game, United took the lead after only five minutes when right back Gavin Way found himself in space on the wide right and was able to progress in to the box unchallenged and drove an unstoppable shot from the angle to beat the keeper at his near post. United were unable to hold on to the advantage and Shirvenham equalised ten minutes later when an injured Matt Leach, playing in the Thame goal, was unable to get down to a strike from the edge of the box and the ball nestled in the bottom corner of the Thame goal.

After the goals there was little goalmouth action in the remainder of the game as both teams cancelled each other out in the middle of the park. Nevertheless, Leach was called on to make a couple of impressive saves, whilst Stuart Barr went closest to grabbing a winner for United. In the end a draw was probably a fair result.

The Reserves have another home fixture at Southern Road next weekend (12th September) as they face Division One Reserve side Finchampstead in the Chairmans Cup, 3:00pm kick off.

Thame United: Leach, Way, Gibbs, Wakelin, Barnett, Merdith (Higgs), Gascoyne, Stocker (Jewell), Webb (Patrick), Barr, Braun

Photo: Goalscorer Gavin Way

CHINNOR seconds – Friendly – Home – match report for 5th September 2009.

Chinnor Seconds took on probably one of the strongest second fifteen in the country, Roslynn Park. A team one division higher than Chinnor in the shield and in their third friendly of the season. Unfortunately for Chinnor they only had fifteen players for the game after losing some of the squad to the first team and many being unavailable to play due to holidays. With four teams from the club playing this weekend all teams where up against it and had to cope with the bare minimum of players.

The game started off well for the Chinnor side with most of the play in the Roslynn park 22 metres, but they were unable to initiate a score on the board, and it was Park that scored the first points of the game when Chinnor gave away a penalty. Chinnor came straight back at Park with a forwards drive resulting in captain for the day Andy Millburn who scored the try and eighteen year old Ben Farr converted. In the 15th minute Chinnor added another seven points on the board with a try once again from Andy and a conversion from Ben, resulting in a well deserved lead for Chinnor at 14 points to 3. It took Park some time to get their first well worked converted try through the centre and Chinnor came back with a penalty by Ben Farr and the first half finished with Chinnor the deserved lead of 17 points to 10.

The second half started with Park bringing on six strong players with fresh legs and the pressure started to tell with Chinnor having no one to call on. Park got their rewards with the new players and scored their second converted try in the 6th minute and after thirty minutes into the second half were leading 37 points to 17. Chinnor made two basic errors towards the end of the game, running into trouble that resulted in losing the ball and finally a charged down kick ending the game with a finishing score of 49 points to 17. The score line is not a reflection of the game and the high tempo it was played at or how committed this team was.

Chinnor can be very happy with the result against such a strong team from London.

Man of the match could be any one of these players, Andy Millburn led the pack, James Hewitt marshalled the back line (something the seconds have needed for the last three years), Ben Farr kicked beautifully, Ben Sander tackled everything that moved and Jon Lavin got over the advantage line every time he touched the ball with Sam Blewitt awesome in the lineout. Everyone played their part and should be mentioned by name.

Walter McGuicken

A NEW community leisure card scheme has been launched by the district council, in partnership with its leisure provider, GLL/Nexus.

The aim of the scheme is to get more people fit and healthy by offering a greater choice for all age groups, with various types of membership options to suit different lifestyles.

Cards include ?pay as you go? as well as prepaid memberships and unlike some private gyms, membership and payment can be amended as and when your needs change.

There?s even a scheme for infrequent users, so they too can benefit from discounted activities by building up reward points. Other benefits include a free or discounted first activity and the ability to book online.

The pay as you go card offers great value for money and is ideal for those who visit the centre once a week. Benefits include discounted activities and courses, online booking and a reward scheme. People on specified benefits can get a concessionary card, which allows the user many activities at 50 per cent off during off peak times (Monday-Friday before 5pm and all day at weekends).

Prepaid memberships are for those who use their centre frequently and include both junior and adult memberships. As well as the benefits included within the pay as you go card, prepaid memberships provide additional benefits such as free use of the gym and swimming.

Bill Service, Cabinet Member for Leisure said: “We want to see more people in South Oxfordshire using the excellent facilities available at our leisure centres. The flexibility of community leisure cards will allow more residents access to health and fitness facilities. Join your local centre today to get fit and active.”

Rick Durrant, Managing Director for Nexus Community said: “We are really excited about the launch of this new scheme. It provides greater choice and flexibility for customers and we are particularly pleased to have increased the options for under 18?s and over 60?s. Many of the centres have recently been refurbished and with the launch of the community leisure card we hope to see significant increases in participation from all sections of the community.”

THAME United look to extend their FA Cup run this Saturday (12/09/09)) at the Hithercroft Stadium in Wallingford when they entertain Burnham FC from the Zamaretto Division 1.

Although Burnham are a couple of leagues above Thame in the current football pyramid, this is an eagerly anticipated clash with both sides unbeaten this season, but with Thame boasting one of the few remaining 100% records with seven wins from seven games.

Thame?s Asst Manager, Frank Thompson commented: “This will be a really good test to see how far we have come recently, we have had a really good start to the season and this is our biggest game by far so we are looking forward to the challenge. We have a home tie and in the FA Cup you can never predict the outcome. If we play to our full potential and compete with them, we will have a good contest here. It would be nice to get a good crowd behind the team, it?s surprising what a difference it can make and it would be a great boost for the club to be in the draw for the next round.”

Club Chairman Jake Collinge added: “It is a measure of how far we have come in the last year that we are looking on a game against a side two leagues higher as one that we are capable of winning. What is all the more pleasing is that this is being done with a team of mainly Thame-based players, many of whom have progressed from Thame Boys and Girls FC, and along with future development at Church Farm, demonstrates the significant progress we are making both on and off the field.”