Category: Sports News

MATCH REPORT: Worthing v Chinnor – Saturday, January 31. Score: Worthing 47 pts Chinnor 13 pts.

Chinnor’s mini revival hit the buffers at Rugby Park, Worthing, on Saturday. Worthing’s juggernaut pack out muscled the Chinnor eight in and around the ruck area where they also gained a fair proportion of turn-over ball. They played to a pattern, an effective one at that, with their pick up and drives committing the Chinnor forwards to the tackle and then shifting the ball to both their strong running fly-half and centres to make further inroads into the Chinnor defensive line-up.

Chinnor did not help their cause by persistantly endeavouring to run the ball inside their own 22 metre line, forfeiting possession, and gifting Worthing try scoring opportunities.
Chinnor were forced into making two changes from their selected line-up. Tom Whelan came into the front row for Bob Baker who is on England Under 20’s duty next week-end, and James Serrano started for the injured Pip Seymour.

Worthing took the lead in the 6th minute with a Ben Coulson penalty. Defences dominated proceedings with the game evenly poised until Chinnor conceded a soft try in 32nd minute when, from the back of a line-out, the ball reached the Worthing centre Callum Wilson who brushed off a couple of tackles to score near the posts. Coulson added the extra points. Minutes later Ben Hewitt was successful with a penalty which gave a half-time scoreline of 10 points to 3 in favour of the home side.

Within two minutes of the restart Chinnor scored a well worked try by transferring the ball to the tight side to give James Serrano a run into the corner. Worthing settled their nerves soon after by virtue of two penalty goals by McLean and a try by Harris, this from a Worthing turn-over deep inside Chinnor territory. Chinnor responded with a try when, from one of their very few kicks out of defence, the ball was spilled by the Worthing full-back giving Serrano a clear run to the line. Unfortunately Ben Hewitt missed the resultant conversion but nevertheless, with the score-line 21pts to 13, Chinnor were in with a shout with 20 minutes left on the clock.

Instead of playing in a similar mode to the previous 60 minutes Chinnor decided to play catch-up rugby which proved to be calamitous. They had the wind at their backs, ignored the fact that they had scored with a kick from a kick inside their 22 metres, but instead they insisted on running the ball just metres from their line. This played into the hands of the Worthing forwards who then created the platform to run in three tries in just 10 minutes. That their goal-kicker McLean could not miss his kicks at goal from any position only added to the Chinnor pain. This was then compounded, when from a series of moves involving both forwards and backs, Chinnor created an overlap only for the final pass to be intercepted, and with every Chinnor player up in attack, the way was clear for McLean to race 90 metres, score under the posts and convert his own try on the final whistle.

Obviously this was not a good day at the office and lessons will need to be learned. Chinnor did not play well and were way off the intensity of the past two weeks. However the scoreline was someway off a true reflection of the game as a whole. They should have utilised the swirling wind at their backs and played the game in the Worthing half, particularly in the second period, rather than continually running the ball out of defence which was a strategy that was patently not working.

It was also not a good day for Angus Neilson. The Chinnor No.7 spent the night in a Worthing hospital with severe concussion. Apparently he took a knock early in the game but carried on without so much of a word to the bench. He was replaced late on in the game because of a shoulder injury! This would go some way to explaining the ease in which Worthing went over for their first try. It would appear that he stayed on the park as both parents were over from Australia on a surprise visit to watch him play and celebrate his 21st birthday bash at Chinnor later on in the evening. Angus has made a big impression at Chinnor both on and off the field. We wish him a speedy recovery.

CAMBRIDGE RFC 2XV v Chinnor 2XV ? Saturday 24 January 2009 – Match report by: Steve Halson.

It was a case of men v boys when the 2XV travelled to Cambridge last week end.

As expected Cambridge, whose first team are pushing for National One Honours, fielded a strong home 2 xv team.

With both teams vying for top spot in Canterbury 2, the game lived up to it?s expectation. The Chinnor pack performed well and were fitter and quicker throughout the match. But it was in the backs that Chinnor lacked the physical presence of their opposition.

with an average age closer to 18 than 20, the Chinnor backs performed to the best of their ability and at the close of the first half, were beginning to show some promise with their speed of foot on a very spongy surface. The game seemed available for the taking when the score reached 19-6.

However, three tries in quick succession in a 15 minute period took the game far from Chinnor?s reach at 38 -6.

The Chinnor points came from two very well taken penalties by Joe Robinson but man of the match for his hard work and efforts linking forwards and backs was Ricky Hopwood.

The seconds are at home to Westcombe Park this week with a few new faces and some more familiar ones coming back from injury.
Chinnor will no doubt be welcoming their usual large following of support for the first home game of 2009.

Chinnor RFC

A YOUNG Thame duelliest has taken the under 18s, Three Counties title with a dramatic last hit against a Wycombe rival.

Alec Jeddere-Fisher, of Thame Duellists Fencing Club last weekend took the Buckinghamshire, Berkshire & Oxfordshire Under 18s Epee fencing title in a final against Johnny Block of RGS Wycombe.

Alec, who had been beaten at the semi final stage by Block in the previous two competitions of the season, looked to be heading to another defeat, going 1-4 down in the opening stages of the final. But showing impressive determination and self belief, he launched a gutsy fightback, and after levelling the score it was nip and tick with neither fencer able to establish a commanding lead in the bout.

But at the death it was the Thame fencer who held his technique together best, to take the final hit and the title, securing a satisfying 15-14 win.

This spectacular win was just part of a strong season for the young fencer, whose medal placing at the higher regional level in the Foil discipline has already booked him a place at the Foil Under 18 Nationals.

Club chairman, James Kingston, said: “The win and the national level experience he?s getting is a really strong basis for Alec to make the transition to senior level competition next year and we wish him all the best for the Nationals.”

Thame Duellists Fencing Club gratefully acknowledges financial support from Thame Town Council and from CPM UK.
The club welcomes new members, both adults and juniors. Anyone interested should call Club Chairman James Kingston on 07947 049511.

PHOTO: Thame Duellist Under 18 Alec Jeddere-Fisher celebrates his Three Counties win.

THAME’S Mayor joined joined staff from Thame Leisure Centre, and Fox FM’s Thunder Crew recently, to help promote Oxfordshire County Council’s Go Active campaign’s De-tox month.

Throughout January, the team are visiting various centre around the county encouraging local people to get healthy and active for the New Year.
The aim is to burn off a million calories – the equivalent of a staggering 715 Christmas puddings, but already So far South Oxfordshire is leading the way having burned 343,612 calories in the first week of the challenge! The county together has burned 935,244 calories in the first week of the challenge – and there are 2 weeks to go.

CHINNOR V BARKING – Saturday, January 17 – MATCH REPORT; This was, by some considerable distance, Chinnor’s best performance of the season. They have stepped up to the mark on a number of occasions, notably against Richmond and Canterbury but for sheer persistence and doggedness interspersed with some delightful tries, this was top drawer.

Chinnor welcomed Chris Mahoney to the side, the Oxford Blue making his debut at full-back. Ed Devine came into the second row and there were starts for Bob Baker and Ian Stock. With Angus Neilson returning at openside, Chinnor took the field with a well balanced unit.

It was Barking who started with much intent not allowing Chinnor a touch of the ball until they restarted after Ratford had slotted a well struck penalty into the wind. A couple of minutes later, following Chinnor’s first incursion into Barking territory, Ben Hewitt replied in kind. From then on it was mostly Chinnor calling the shots. A break down the blind side by Ben Hewitt saw him transfer the ball to Pip Seymour who gathered his own chip ahead to score wide out. It was good to see both Hewitt and Seymour showing some of last season’s sparkle. The Chinnor side were now pounding the Barking line and eventually scored with Ian Stock almost strolling over unopposed to score the second try.

With Hewitt missing both conversions but then striking a long range penalty, Chinnor had opened up a 13 point advantage. They should have extended this lead but were to impatient at key critical moments and allowed Barking off the hook. This cost them dear just on half-time when Barking’s speedy threes broke the shackles to score from some 80 metres. They recycled the ball well before it reached Scott Shaw who went over under the posts. With the conversion a formality, the referee blew for half-time with Chinnor just 6 points to the good which appeared scant reward for all their pressure and with the knowledge they would be facing a stiff breeze on the restart.

There were many raised eye-brows when the teams took the field for the second half. Both the Barking props who trotted off the field at half -time, were unable to restart owing to injury hence forcing the referee to call for uncontested scrummages. This was not particularly to Chinnor’s liking but did not prevent them from starting the second half with pace and intent.

Following a scrum some 25 metres out from the Barking line, Hewitt fed the ball to Mahoney who took the pass with his angle of running taking him clean through the Barking defence to go over under the posts. This just five minutes into the restart should have settled the Chinnor nerves as it put them 13 points in front. However, as this season has shown, nothing can be taken for granted at Kingsey Road. A try by Scott, quickly followed by another from Kellard when the speedy Gash took advantage of the uncontested scrum scenario to put Kellard over, saw Barking just one point adrift with some 25 minutes remaining.

Next up was Chris Mahoney who scorched though the middle of the Barking defence, shrugged off a couple of would-be tackles to run some 40 metres and score under the posts. A Hewitt conversion then gave Chinnor an eight point buffer which they held onto to give them a well deserved win. They did go close to increasing the lead in the final stages but were well content that this was a five point win by virtue of the four tries they scored which was a season’s first.

The whole side played with much passion. Angus Neilson was perpetual motion from the word go and it was good to see the young props, Bob Baker and Ian Stock, make a statement. Their Barking counterparts would probably agree here as they failed to pass muster for the second 40 minutes. Chris Mahoney made a sparkling debut which promises much for the remainder of the season. The only downside was Ed Devine who looked at home in the second row, having to leave the field with concussion. Latest reports are that he is recovering well.

Chinnor 30 pts Barking 22pts.

IN addition to the first team league match, London Welsh will be sending their Development squad to play Chinnor Second XV tomorrow.
Kick Off, 2pm

MATCH REPORT: Holyport 0, Thame United 2

United put in their best all-round team performance of the season in the last game of 2008 against a Holyport, a side who in their previous fixture had easily beaten league leaders Ascot United 4-1.

It was a measure of the quality of the performance that Thame’s keeper, Paul Searl, was rarely called to action for the whole game.

The omens, however, did not look good for United when leading scorer Matt Miller was injured during the warm-up. Any concerns from his late withdrawal were quickly dispelled as United spent the opening 15 minutes camped in the Holyport half. The first real opportunity came in the fifth minute when William Wallace, playing on the right of midfield in the absence of suspended Ben Connelly, connected with a volley 12 yards out that the keeper pushed beyond the post for a corner. A short while later lone striker Stuart Barr hit a spectacular overhead kick from 8 yards that forced the home keeper in to an even better save. Thame eventually got their reward in the 16th minute. Adam Rhodes flighted an inch perfect free kick in to the heart of the Holyport box that was met by Sam Cowan who volleyed beyond the keeper with the home defence static.

Thame continued to control the next 15 minutes without forcing the home keeper in to action. In the final few minutes of the half, Holyport had a sustained period of pressure but with Searl claiming every cross that came in to the box, they failed to create any real goal scoring opportunities.

In the early stages of the second half United had a great opportunity to extend their lead when another free kick from Rhodes was met by the head of brother Nik whose glanced effort went the wrong side of the far post. Whilst United were increasingly forced on to the back foot as Holyport looked for an equaliser, the defence held firm and Holyport grew increasingly frustrated, which was reflected in a growing number of yellow cards. The game was effectively over in the 69th minute when Luke Ricketts beat the keeper to a ball on the edge of the box that fell kindly to Tom Hoskin whose first effort was cleared off the line, with the rebound placed calmly in to the roof of the net. The goal was just reward for the performance and the final 20 minutes passed without significant incident, with the exception of a red card for Holyport substitute Phil Collins with 5 minutes remaining.

Weather permitting United have a home game on Saturday 10th January (3:00pm kick off at AFC Wallingford) against second place Wokingham & Emmbrook.

Thame United: Searl, Newell, Way, Hocking, N.Rhodes, Cowan, A.Rhodes, El Kassir (Hoskin), Wallace (Meredith), Ricketts, Barr

Thame United Man of the Match: Steve Newell

Photo – gGalscorers, Sam Cowan and Tom Hoskin

MATCH REPORT: Chinnor 3 pts Rugby Lions 37 pts; December 20, 2008.

THERE is no substitute for pace. Rugby Lions possessed this in abundance and utilised it to run Chinnor ragged in the second quarter of the game. Chinnor did not assist their cause by kicking the ball away from the limited possession they had. The Lions were swift to capitalise and showed that in open play, with deft handling, speed and good angles of running, they were lethal finishers. In the fifteen minutes leading up to half time they accumulated 24 unanswered points.

Chinnor started with one change from the selected line-up with Macsen Williams coming into the back row to replace the flu stricken Angus Neilsen. The exchanges were even in the first quarter, giving no indication of the points deluge that was to come. James Hawkin for the Lions and Ben Hewitt swapped penalties before Hawkin kicked another goal in the 13th minute. The Lions forged ahead from the 23rd minute with Warner taking the final pass and going over under the posts. This move had started well inside the Lions half after Chinnor had failed to find touch from a penalty. With Hawkin converting this, and then adding another try of his own within minutes, which he again converted the Lions were well on their way. A try by Hales which amply illustrated why he is the League’s leading try scorer, and another by Reed, both converted by Hawkin who also managed to slot in a penalty between the tries added up to a 37 points to 3 interval scoreline.

Chinnor defended bravely at the start of the second half to put in some fine cover tackles. To a man they all stood up to be counted during this period keeping the well launched counter attacks by the Lions at bay. One such tackle by the covering Chris Rowley on the speedy Hales was a good example of determination and resolve as was a head on effort by Ben Hewitt on the big, powerfull and aggressive Lions No.8 Stuart Riding. With just 15 minutes left and the second half scoreless, Chinnor began pressurising the Lions line with some considerable intent. They went close on several occasions during this period being brought down inches close to the line. In fact they finished the stronger but the damage had been done in the second quarter of the game.

The Lions were probably the best side Chinnor have faced this season and that includes the likes of London Scottish and Ealing. Their back three were particularly potent and along with a pair of competent half backs, who always tended to take the right options, they were not to be found wanting. Add to this a massively influential No.8 then you have quite a good recipe for success.

To put the game into perspective. Chinnor’s line was breached on just four occasions, all emanating from open play, and add to this the Lion’s kicker slotting everything in sight, then not a disaster by any standard.

Lessons will and must be learned but it is no disgace to come second to a side who were top notch on the day. Heart must be taken from the Chinnor second half performance which was brave and showed character. With the manner in which the fixtures have panned out for the second half of the season there remains hope.

ANYONE travelling along the Thame to Longwick Road on Boxing day, might be forgiven for thinking that they may still be under the influence of the liquid festive cheer they had indulged in the day before.

For they are quite likely to find themselves sharing the highway with some very strange-looking characters on bicycles.

But fear not oh Christmas traveller, for most likely ’tis only members of Wycombe Cycling Club, taking part in their traditional 11 mile time trial for which many of them will be donning fancy dress!

On a more serious note, the club, which includes several members from Thame, recently learned of the death of their elder statesman, Jack Pearson. He was 96 years old and had been a member of the Club since 1927, almost one of the founding fathers and certainly the longest serving – a record unlikely to be ever repeated.

According the Club’s present President, Gordon Wright, Jack Pearson was an accomplished hard track and grass track rider with a feared reputation. This picture shows him in a commanding position on the front inside, at the Palmer Park cylce track in 1931.

Jack was Club president from around 1964 until 1983 and was a Club time keeper from around 1957 to 1983.
He took every opportunity to join members of the club whenever he could and was infact a guest at the Club’s recent annual dinner and presentation evening just days before he passed away.

FOR the second time in two weeks, Thame United will meet local rivals Chinnor on Saturday, December 20, (3:00pm kick off at AFC Wallingford), in the Second Round of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup.

In a typically hard fought derby match two weeks ago, the game ended all-square at 1-1 with nine-man Chinnor forcing a last minute equaliser through ex-Thame United player and Chinnor manager, Richard Carr. This time Thame manager Mark West, who successfully led United to their two most successful runs in the FA Cup in 2003 and 2004, will be looking to renew his magic touch in cup competitions by steering United to a third round tie with either Launton Sports or Clanfield.

The game promises to be as exciting as the recent league fixture, with both teams looking to gain local bragging rights. With the league match two weeks ago having the highest attendance of any Hellenic League game, a large crowd is also expected at AFC Wallingford, and an equally close game anticipated, with Thame having had the upper hand over Chinnor in recent meetings, but with Chinnor currently above Thame in the League.

Unfortunately United?s preparation for the game was hampered last weekend when the fixture with Bisley Sports was postponed due to the poor weather conditions. Chinnor were one of the few teams to play, and came away from Eton Wick with a 2-1 victory and, on the back of this, will go in to the game feeling confident. Admission for the game is