Category: Sports News

THAME United football club have announced a proposed completion date for their new ground at Church Farm, Thame.
Apparently, the Hellenic League side hopes that it will move into the new, 20-acre site by the start of the 2009/10 season.

The site will include a main floodlit pitch, a 300 seater stand, a 40m x 30m floodlight artificial pitch, three additional full-size pitches and four smaller pitches.
There will also be a club-house with function rooms, changing rooms, offices, a boardroom for match-day hospitality and a function facility for up to 250 people.

The complex is being developed through the Thame Football Partnership, an amalgamation of Thame United and Thame Boys, Youth and Girls.

The new facility will cost between

CHINNOR seconds went down to Hertford by 29 points to 17 in a game that they could have and should have won. This was a very tough game played against a very good team besides their first team not having a game.
It took until the 20th minute before Chinnor took the lead with a penalty by Tim Sutton and it then took to the 30minute for them to add to it with for a well deserved and fine try by Danny Burns after some fantastic driving by the forwards.
Chinnor then seem to have had a lapse in concentration, as a result Hertford ran in two well-worked tries and the half finished 10 points all.
Once again it took to the 15th minute before Chinnor regained the lead with a great individual try by young Tristen Corpe from the half way line. Sutton converted. It was then that that Hertford began substituting and brought on some of their big guns and good players. Chinnor was then put under a lot of pressure, and were holding on well until the ref awarded Hertford a disputed try and once again the scores were equal 17 points all.
Chinnor were awarded a penalty on their own try line in the 34minute and because they took a quick penalty and not on the spot, the ref rewarded Hertford a penalty and not a free kick from which Hertford scored and took the lead.
Minutes later they added to their tally with a converted try against the run of play and won the game by 29 points to 17.
Hertford players should have had at least 2 yellow cards as well as a red for stamping, despite it being his own player, which the player was obviously unaware of. The ref continued warning them without taking any action.

Walter McGuicken

SATURDAY’S League game against Chinnor, played at Wallingford was an entertaining hard fought match in which Thame narrowly defeated their near neighbours, 1-0.
It was the first time ever that the teams had met in a league match, although Thame ran out 3-1 winners in a cup game played last season.

The game started brightly and Chinnor went close after five minutes when Stuart Braun played a good ball to Gary Marshall whose hurried whose shot was high. Thame countered and after 20 minutes, James Bloomfield was unlucky to see his 20 yard shot go just wide. There were good chances at both ends but defences coped well and the teams went in for the break with neither goalkeeper seriously tested.

The second half was a different story. Thame came out from the break fired up, and controlled the first 25 minutes of the half. Chinnor goalkeeper, Lee Orwney was forced to make some good saves, notably from Matt Leach and Ben Connelly. The Thame pressure paid off in the 70th minute when a through ball found Thame?s Adam Rhodes bearing down on goal. Orwney came to meet the threat and was judged to have fouled Rhodes just inside the area. The referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Rhodes buried the spot kick and Thame took the lead.

Chinnor fought back and Thame keeper, Paul Searl, was busy for a while, making one particularly memorable save, whist a few minutes later a Thame defender headed off the goal line. The home side could however have gone two up when Sam Cowan hit a goal-bound volley following a corner, but Orwney made a fine save.

The last few minutes were frantic but Thame held out and just about deserved their win.

Thame?s man of the match was Sam Cowan but there were several other good performances notably from Luke Ricketts who, despite very physical marking, kept a regular supply of crosses coming in from the left.

Thame United: Searl, Thompson, Ansell, Higgs, Hocking (Watkins), Cowan, Connelly, Rhodes, Blomfield (Miah), Leach (Jewell), Ricketts.

Thame do not have a game scheduled for Saturday 9th. Their next match is on 16th February when they are at home to struggling Eton Wick.

Thame?s left winger, Luke Ricketts,

A 5K, sponsored Fun run/walk is to be held in memory of a Thame footballer and father of two who died of a heart attack in 2002.
The Richard Wheeler Memorial Race will take place on Sunday, February 24, at the Oakley Airfield (Worminghall end), starting at 10am.

So, if you are looking for a fitness challenge for the New Year for you and your family, run or walk around the Oakley Airfield and help the family and friends of Richard Wheeler support the valuable work of the British Heart Foundation.
Prizes will be awarded to the first man, woman, boy & girl home, with medals to all the finishers.

For an entry form contact Bev Mauger, on:
01844 218029 Mob: 07734 108701,
Email: bev.mauger@ukonline.co.uk

The event is Supported by Up & Running (Aylesbury) and Natwest Commercial Banking (Chilterns).

ENGLAND may have lost again Wales in the Eight Nations, but Chinnor RFC’s first fifteen went to the top of the League on Saturday, when they beat Bracknell, 19 points to 16, in what was a nail-biting finish.
Playing on a well prepared sloping Bracknell pitch, Chinnor went behind after 3 minutes to a Nowak penalty. With a physically lighter side, Chinnor opted to play at a fast pace and were rewarded in the 13th minute with a try. Chinnor?s Powell tore through a gap in the Bracknell defence and was on hand to finish the move with a try under the posts. Cathcart converted to give Chinnor a 7 ? 3 lead.

With breathless intensity, both sides strove for dominance. Bracknell sensed that Chinnor?s weakness was on the wings and they continued to move the ball wide as often as possible. However, the Chinnor defence was up to the job and continued to keep Bracknell out. A Chinnor offside allowed Nowak to reduce the Bracknell deficit by 3 points. Two more penalties to Chinnor taken by Cathcart led to a half time Chinnor lead 13 ? 6.

The second half started brightly for Chinnor with a sustained presence in the Bracknell 22. Bracknell stood firm and Cathcart decided that a drop goal was necessary. Now leading 16-6, Chinnor were put under continuous pressure which was only relieved in the 65th minute by a well worked but unconverted Bracknell try, scored by winger Nick Shears. Bracknell kept the pressure up and declined a number of penalty kicks for lineout catch and drives. These were repulsed by the Chinnor pack until the 80th minute. A Bracknell catch and drive was rewarded with a try by hooker Joe Shelton in the corner. Crucially, it was unconverted and tied the scores at 16-16.

With 5 minutes of injury time to be played, Bracknell fatally missed a kick to touch. It was run back by debutant Huxford and Hewitt. At a subsequent ruck, the referee Adam Friend penalised Bracknell for preventing the release of the ball. Cathcart, from 40 metres wide out, sailed the ball over the bar to hear the final whistle, giving a 19-16 victory to Chinnor with the last play of the match.

As the whistle sounded, the sizeable Chinnor support was the one source of noise in what felt like a Bracknell cemetery.

Bracknell proved to be tough opponents, good at set piece but lacked a cutting edge. They presented Chinnor with their toughest match of the season and will be wondering, with all the pressure they produced, how they managed to lose at Fortress Lily Hill Park. Perhaps they will be thinking about the value of kicking their penalties.

Outscored two ties to one, Chinnor won through a combination of unforgiving defence, with McGuire and Winslade most noticeable, a desire to attack with speed and solid decision making. The trusty boot and generalship of Cathcart was a significant factor. New boy Huxford looked quick and Chinnor?s other winger Carter and full back Hewitt penetrated the Bracknell defence consistently. The work rate and stubbornness of the pack, including scrum half Gustafson, were outstanding as was the midfield defence of Powell and Williams.

Scoring sequence (Bracknell first): 3mins 3-0 (pen: Nowak); 13 mins 3-7 (try: Powell, con Cathcart); 19 mins 6-7 (pen Nowak); 24 mins 6-10 (pen Cathcart); 37 mins 6-13 (pen Cathcart); 46 mins 6-16 (DG Cathcart); 65 mins 11-16 (try Shears); 80 mins 16-16 (try Shelton); 85 mins 16-19 (pen Cathcart)

Chinnor team: Hewitt, Huxford, Williams, Powell, Carter, Cathcart, Gustafson, Winpenny, Stennings, Whelan, Hutchings (c), Black, McGuire, Winslade, Rixon
Replacements (not used): Iosefo-Peni, Hastings, Seymour

THAME Tennis Club?s Ladies second team have started 2008 with two consecutive victories ? their first since promotion to Division 4 of the Aylesbury League.
Away to Horsenden, team captain Rosie Knight was partnered by Ann Green, back in the team after injury. Second pair, Lyn Broadway and Marianne Izatt-Brown, joined them in securing a 4.5 -3.5 sets win.

In the following match at home to Long Marston, Lyn was this time partnered by Pip Barfield. They took three sets from their opponents, which, added to Rosie?s and Ann?s clean sweep of four sets, gave the team an emphatic 7 sets to 1 victory.

Ann Green was also in action elsewhere in the Aylesbury League, this time in the Mixed team in Division 4. At home to Aston Park II, Ann and her partner, John Patrick, beat the visitors second pair 6-4,6-2 and had halved the first set against their first pair 6-6. They were 5-3 up in the second set when play was halted.

Team captain, John Ansell, and Pip Barfield dropped two sets against the opponent?s first pair, but again had halved the first set and were 5-4 up in their second match at the end of play. The final outcome was a 3 sets to 3 draw.

For information about Thame Tennis Club please go to our website at: www.thametennisclub.org.uk

Chinnor 1st XV, 25 vs. Redingensians 1st XV, 5 Saturday, January 26, 2008 – South West Division One

CHINNOR won this hard fought game in the first 20 minutes of the second half. They were just 12 points ahead at the interval having the advantage of the blustery breeze at their backs. Readingensians were proving to be a difficult side to break down. With their ball retention being first rate, they kept the ball in the hand for long periods thus denying Chinnor the possession they needed to utilize the wind. Indeed it was just the one spillage that allowed Chinnor to scoop up the ball and with some swift handling put the ever present Ben Hewitt in for the first try. With Readingensians continuing to deny Chinnor possession,it took a fine, powerful run from Zane Winslade, shrugging off several tackles in the process, to break the deadlock and score under the posts allowing James Cathcart a simple conversion. This try came in the 32nd minute and with no further score gave Chinnor a 12 point buffer at half-time.

With all to play for in the second period, Chinnor upped their game. They adopted the pick-up and drive tactic which was rewarded when after an initial forward surge they released quick ball to allow Ben Hewitt to show his side-stepping skills and score a well worked try. With Cathcart adding the conversion into the wind, the Chhnnor faithful could breathe more easily. MInutes later, skipper ,Grizz McQuire, went over from a rolling maul and Chinnor were 24 points to the good.

Readingensians continued to persevere and were rewarded when Joe Duffelen scored in the corner three minutes from time. This was a workmanlike performance from Chinnor who stuck to the basics and raised their game when it was required.

Chinnor 2nd XV, 64 vs. North Walsham 2nd XV, 5 – Saturday, January 26 – League match:

CHINNOR Seconds hit top gear on Saturday, with a 64 points to 5 win over North Walsham, the team that is three positions above them in the Canterbury League Division 2.
North Walsham 1st team are a national 3 side and Chinnor 2nds played this game with such focus and discipline. It must be said that North Walsham played better than the score indicates and never gave up and kept coming back at Chinnor. Everything that Chinnor did turned to gold and the understanding between forwards and backs was a pleasure to watch.

Matt Hutchins, captain of the first team, had his first game of rugby in six weeks played for the seconds to get back to match fitness and was a great help to the team and the boys learnt a lot from him.
Chinnor put the first points on the board after six minutes, scored by Matt Webster converted by Tim Sutton. But North Walsham pulled five points back only four minutes later. Chinnor did not let up and in a 10 minute spree Tristen Corpe ran in two tries and Bob Baker one, both players from the Chinnor Academy. This really shocked North Walsham. From then on the game was evenly balanced with both teams playing great rugby. On the stroke of half time Chinnor went further ahead with a try by Ian Stock and the first half finished with 5 tries and 3 conversions, against 1 try giving Chinnor 31 points to 5.

The second half was a carbon copy of the first, with Baker going over for his second try in the fifth minute followed five minutes later with Corpe scoring his 3rd with an individual run from his own 10 meter line through the entire North Walsham team. The next 20 minutes resulted in attack and defence by both teams, with both teams playing good open rugby and thoroughly appreciated by the spectators.
The last 10 minutes Chinnor went on another try scoring spree with tries by Phil Scott Priestly, Tim Price and Tim Sutton, two being converted successfully and Chinnor scored 33 points to nil in the second half.

The game ended well with Chinnor deserving winners by 64 points to 5.
Any of the 17 players were contenders for man of the match but the one that stood out a little more than the others was Tom Iles for his relentless work and is man of the match for this week.

The North Walsham team captain paid Chinnor the biggest compliment, saying that if they had not known differently, they would have believed that they were playing the Chinnor 1st team.

Scorers:
Tries: Tristen Corpe (3), Bob Baker (2), Ian Stock, Matt Webster, Tim Sutton, Tim Price, Phil Scott-Priestley

Photo: Tristen Corpe on his way to scoring a try

LEAGUE: 26/01/08; Thame United 0,Finchampstead 0

DESPITE winning 0-4 the last time these teams met, Thame United could only manage a goalless draw with lowly Finchampstead last Saturday. It was Thame?s first game for three weeks and it showed. They were without leading goal scorer, Nathan Jack, whose leg injury is likely to keep him out for several weeks.

Thame dominated the game from kick off and in fact the game was 15 minutes old before the visitors launched their first attack. But, despite having two thirds of the possession, they were unable to create many goal scoring chances. Thame almost conceded an own goal after 23 minutes when both goalkeeper, Paul Searl, and defender Matt Higgs went for a ball on the edge of the Thame area. In the confusion Higgs lobbed his own goalkeeper and the ball was goal bound but Dave Hocking reacted quickly and was just able to clear it before it crossed the line.

A few minutes later Higgs was unlucky when he met a corner with a good header which was cleared of the visitor?s goal line. About five minutes before the break, Thame defender Hocking was injured during a scramble following another Thame corner and sadly left the field with a suspected fractured arm.

Thame came close to scoring with the last kick of the first half when the impressive Luke Ricketts took a free kick about 25 yards out. The ball was heading for the top right hand corner but the visiting Keeper did well to get his finger tips to it and deflect the ball over the bar.

The second half was much the same with Thame dominating the game but not able to penetrate the visitors defence. Manager, Mark West, made substitutions to enable Rickets and Graeme Catkin to play as strikers, but it was to no avail. The visitors packed their defence and managed to hang on until the final whistle.

For Thame this was definitely two points dropped rather than a point won. It is a measure of their superiority that they forced 16 corners against the visitors 1.

Thame United: Searl, Thompson, Ansell, Higgs, Hocking (Watkins), Catlin, Connelly, Rhodes, Skiller (Graves), Leach (Miah), Ricketts.

THAME UNITED are at home to local rivals Chinnor next Saturday 2nd Feb.(K.O. 3.00)

ALL this month (January) SOLL Leisure is offering health club membership with no Joining Fee and a genuine 14 day money back guarantee.
They are also offering 2 months free on selected memberships. For more details ring Thame Leisure Centre on 01844 215607.