Category: Sports News

CHINNOR Oxen 20 – Marlow 4ths 3; MATCH REPORT – Running out onto home turf, the Oxen were looking for a revenge encounter with Marlow and with bright sunny weather and perfect pitch conditions how could they fail.
From the beginning the Oxen applied the necessary pressure to keep Marlow mainly in their half of the pitch, resulting in an early penalty from Johhny ‘Not so Famous’ Vaughan. A small lapse later and Marlow
returned the favour to equalize the scores at 3 -3. Undeterred the Oxen brave fought back and a surging forward move saw Steve ‘Bull’ Bridges score a try, with a Johnny ‘he’s not that funny’ Vaughan kick
the conversion.

The second half saw a number of early substitutions including Craig ‘The Haggis’ Balzier come on for Tony ‘Old Boy’ Howells. Intially Marlow had the upper hand but with ‘True Grit’ spirit the Oxen forwards,
including John ‘XXX large’ Cann, fought back to allowing yes, Johnny ‘Who? Vaughan to take a penalty conversion.
The Oxen continued to apply pressure to Marlow’s weak points with great rolling mauls, sadly resulting in t wo disallowed trys. Sensing blood an aerodinamic performance by Tony ‘Arrow Head’ Wilkinson, smashed through the Marlow lines to take another try for the Oxen, with a JV conversion.

All in all a great start to the New Year.
Richard pitman.

OXFORDSHIRE Cup Quarter final: Chinnor 1ST 82 pts, Grove 13 pts – Saturday, January 12 – Match report:
Twelve tries and eleven conversions for Chinnor, with a penalty try and two penalties to Grove, was the order of the day in this Oxfordshire County Cup Quarter Final. Had Chinnor showed a little more composure on occasions they could well have been into three figures. As it was, Grove played with a lot of spirit with their last ditch tackling being an illustration of their commitment.

Chinnor took the lead in the first minute when Ben Hewitt finished a sweeping move across the park straight from the Grove kick-off. A Cathcart conversion from the touchline set the tone where he missed just the one kick all afternoon. Further tries came at regular intervals from Zane Winslade, debutant, Sam Black, Trevor Powell, Pip Seymour and Andrew McQuire. Grove replied with two penalties from Roger Sevier who also converted a penalty try awarded for an infringment off the ball which few people, among both spectators and players alike, were aware of.

With Chinnor running the ball at every available opportunity, further tries came from Pip Seymour and Ben Hewitt who both scored twice, giving them a match total of three each, Joe Isofu and Trevor Powell.

Both Chinnor and Grove rang the changes in the second half, mostly tactical, although Pip Seymour with a dead leg and Adam Hastings, who was the recipient of some vigorous attention from his ex colleagues, were enforced.

That the game took place at all, amazingly on a surface that was ideal for a running game, was due to the care and attention lavished on it by the ground staff along with the recuperative drainage powers that Kingsey Road enjoys.

Photo: Chinnor Winger, Pip Seymour, powers through to score a try.

SOUTH West Division One, Chinnor 29 pts Cleve 0 pts; Saturday 5th January – MATCH REPORT
Once again Chinnor, on winning the toss, elected to play with the wind. Possibly a fairly risky strategy in that sufficient points need to be accumulated in the first 40 minutes to provide a buffer from an inevitable second half onslaught by their opponents. However this was the third time this season that they have chosen to have the wind at their backs and the third time the gamble has paid off. The key to this strategy is patience and once again it took up to 15 minutes for Chinnor to register their first points via a rolling maul. James Cathcart, who’s tactical kicking in the first half was spot on, put them in the right place to launch the forward drive with Patrick Stennings going over. Cathcart’s place kicking was also on song with a conversion from the touchline and a well judged penalty some 3 minutes later increased the Chinnor lead. It was Ben Hewitt’s time next as he went over the line with the Cleve defence in complete disarray. Cathcart converted with soaring kick from the touchline. With Craig Burrows and Tom Whelan both scoring via forward drives, and Cathcart kicking another conversion, the Chinnor option of using the wind advantage in the first half appeared vindicated.
The second half saw Cleve continually attacking the Chinnor line, but all to no avail. It was a fine defensive display by the entire side which was occasionally assisted by some poor Cleve handling. With Ben Hewitt claiming a catch behind his goal line meant for Cleve winger Huntley they had exhausted all their options to leave them scoreless. A fine win to start the new year but there remain stiffer hurdles ahead.
Bracknell away on Saturday week will be massive.

Oxfordshire Cup game at home next weekend – Chinnor v Grove.

WOKINGHAM & EMMBROOK 1, THAME UNITED 2; Saturday, Janury 5, 2008, Match report:
THAME United were fortunate to come away from Wokingham with three points in a display that was far from their best and would have left their hosts wondering what they had to do to win a game.

United struggled from the start with their usual passing game hindered by the damp conditions underfoot, and with the Wokingham midfield and attack showing greater mobility in the final third of the pitch. Nevertheless, Thame caused the home defence problems with their pace out wide and forced a succession of corners in the first quarter of an hour. None of these resulted in a clear cut chance, and it was Paul Searl in the Thame goal who had to be alert on a number of occasions in the opening half to thwart the lively Wokingham strikers.

Just as it looked as though the game would go in to half time scoreless, an Adam Rhodes cross was met by the head of captain Dave Hocking who from a difficult angle beat the keeper. Although the ball was heading in to the goal, an attempted headed goal line clearance by the retreating defender only helped the ball over the line.

The second half opened in similar fashion to the first half, with Wokingham pushing forward and Thame seemingly content to hit their opponents on the break. Whilst Wokingham created a number of shooting opportunities, Searl was never really tested until the 79th minute when following a neat passing move from just inside their own half, the ball fell to substitute Shaun Watson, who confidently finished from eight yards.

The equaliser stirred Thame back in to the life and for the remainder of the match they enjoyed their best period of the game. The winning goal arrived five minutes from time when following their best passing move of the game, Ben Connelly played the ball through to Adam Rhodes who turned his marker just inside the penalty area and gave the keeper no chance from an acute angle. There was still time for Thame to create another opening as Nick Skiller raced on to through ball from Matt Higgs in the last minute only for a defender to block his goal bound shot. However, Thame were relieved when the referee blew the final whistle, and the win sees them consolidate their position in the top half of the table.

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

Thame United are without a game until Tuesday 22nd January when the face Henley Town away, with the next home fixture against Finchampstead on 26th January (3:00pm kick off at Hithercroft, Wallingford).

Thame United Reserves produced one of their most impressive performances of the season as the continued their push for promotion with an 8-1 demolition of Aylesbury United Reserves. Leading goalscorer, Matt Leach, scored a hat-trick to take his tally to 10 goals in 7 games, with the other goals coming from Tom Hoskin (2), Richard Jewell, Alex Jewell and Olly Gascoyne.

CHINNOR RFC Seconds, Home League game on Saturday, January 5, 2008 – SCORE: Chinnor 2nd, 27 points, vs Esher 3rd, 10 Points.
Tries: Captain Rob Fenwick x 2, Richard Binning x 1, Guy Hackshaw x 1 and Aaron Russell.
Conversions: Thad Cooper x 1
MATCH REPORT

Chinnor seconds saw the New Year in with a very good win against Esher 3rd who?s first team are in National league one.
This was a tough game played by two good teams but still a game that Chinnor seconds will be very pleased to have won. They had full control in the first half but had too many dropped passes and interceptions, mainly due to the adverse weather that created a very wet slippery ball.
Chinnor were first to put points on the sheet with a well-worked try that saw Guy Hackshaw score in the corner after five minutes. Esher cut the lead with a penalty. Esher then took the lead in the 20th minute with an interception on the Chinnor 10 metre line that finished with a try. Chinnor were camped on the Esher line for ten minutes before Aaron Russell broke the defence for a well deserved try and the first half finished 10 points all.

In the second half Chinnor played to their strengths by keeping the ball in the forwards, driving Esher back and winning the Esher scrums, thus disrupting their line outs and putting them under constant pressure.
Captain Rob Fenwick rewarded Chinnor five minutes into the half with a great forwards drive and a try and took the lead 15 points to 10.
Chinnor was unlucky not to add to the points tally with the ball being so slippery. Chinnor then moved further ahead in the 25th minute with a well-worked drive by the forwards and Rob Fenwick scored his second try.
Esher never let up but had no answer to the Chinnor pack who were relentless in their attack which kept Esher on the back foot.
Chinnor backs worked very well with the forwards and were very unlucky a number of times. But weather conditions dictated how the game was played.
In the 35th minute Chinnor had a ten metre scrum and drove the Esher boys back over their try line for no. 8, Richard Binning to dot the ball down for a try, well converted by Thad Cooper.
And Chinnor ran out winners 27 points to 10

Walter McGuicken

Penn & Tylers Green 3, Thame United 2
BOXING Day?s match at Penn and Tylers green was a game that Thame United did not deserve to loose. They had more possession, created some good chances, had a perfectly good ?goal? disallowed and, although the referee offered little protection, maintained their discipline well against an unnecessarily physical Penn side. Due to Christmas commitments Thame were without some key players, including leading goal scorer Nathan Jack.

Thame started well but, against the run of play, Penn scored in the 10th minute. A cross from the right found home striker, Dave Keenan in space and he hit a well placed shot from 15 yards, beating Thame?s goalkeeper, Paul Searl. A few minutes later Graeme Catlin, forced a good save from the home keeper when he met a Ben Connelly cross with a strong header. Thame were having more of the play and it seemed only a matter of time before they equalised, but in fact it was Penn who, on 29 minutes, increased their lead. A cross from the left was met with a weak goal bound header from the unchallenged Andy Goddard. The normally reliable Searl fumbled the save and it was 2-0 to the home side. On 35 minutes, Thame?s Player/Manager Mark West met a corner with a good header which seemed to cross the goal line before being blocked by a defending hand but, despite Thame protests, the unsighted referee waved play on.

Thame pulled a goal back 15 minutes into the second half when Connelly made a good run to the right by line and pulled the ball back for Catlin to shoot home from 5 Yards. Again it seemed that Thame would equalise, but again it was the home side who increase their lead, this time by a break away goal, scored by substitute Dean Allen. Thame?s second goal came on 72 minutes when, following a corner, the ball fell to Lee Thompson who unleashed a 25-yard goal bound shot which the keeper parried, but Thame sub Matt Leach picked up the rebound to finish from close range. Penn were reduced to 10 men soon after when fiery substitute Gary Finch, who had come on in the 42nd minute, was dismissed for a second bookable offence. The final frenzied minutes saw Thame players push forward and create several chances, but they were unable to find the net, and it was the home side who took the points.

Thame United: Searl, Cowan, Watkins (Jewell), Thompson, Hocking, Boult, Connelly, Rhodes, Catlin (Ansell), West (Leach), Ricketts.

Thame United 1, Chalfont Wasps 4 – Match Report
SATURDAY’S League game (29/12/090, was always going to be a difficult fixture for Thame United. Chalfont are top of the league and have not lost a game this season. There was always hope that Thame could raise their game and at least force a draw. On the day however Thame failed to convert their chances and Chalfont deserved their win.
The first half was fairly even with both teams creating good scoring opportunities.

Nigel Swafford had a good chance to put Thame in front when, unmarked and five yards from goal, he met a cross but his ?free header? sailed over the bar. On 43 minutes both Thame keeper, Paul Searl and a visiting forward collided going for a cross and the ball rebounded off the post into the six yard box. The visitor?s Liam O?Neil managed to scramble the ball home during the ensuing scramble, and despite protests from Searl that he had been impeded, the goal was given.

Thame had a good chance to equalise 10 minutes after the restart when Luke Rickets his a perfect cross from the left wing to Nathan Jack, unmarked in the goalmouth, but although it seemed easier to hit the target than miss, Jack?s shot was over the bar. Chalfont increased their lead 20 minutes after the break when O?Neil met a cross from the left to head over Searl.

There was a glimmer of hope for the Thame faithful in the 74th minute when substitute Nick Skiller pulled a goal back. Skiller made a good 30 yard run before hitting a shot which the keeper blocked, but the determined Skiller, picked up the rebound to slot home. So, 1-2 and 15 minutes remaining. It was however game over for Thame when in the 80th minute former Thame player Kevin Franklin scored from 12 yards following a good passing move. With three minutes to play, visiting winger Johnny Mason caught the Thame defence too far up field and scored confidently from 15 yards.

Perhaps the score flattered Chalfont as possession was fairly even, as were the number of chances created, but time and time again Thame frustratingly failed to hit the target or stretch the visiting keeper.

Thame United: Searl, Thompson, Leach (Way), Ansell, Hocking, Monjou, Connelly, Rhodes, Swafford (West), Jack (Skiller), Ricketts.

NB Thame are away to Wokingham & Emmbrook next Saturday, January 5.

CHINNOR scored in the last seconds of the game to record a draw at Maidenhead on Saturday (15/12). They should never have been in the position of chasing the game as they squandered chance after chance in the first half particularly.
They created scoring opportunities but a combination of either spilling the final pass or taking the wrong option cost them. The fluidity of the previous week was just not there. They took Maidenhead on up front too frequently when the better course of action would have been to tire the heavier Miadenhead forwards by making them run across he park as often as possible.

Chinnor were forced to make a late change when the influential Ben Hewitt had to withdraw with a calf injury. Martyn O’Mahoney went to full back and Jaike Carter came in on the wing. Maidenhead took the lead in the 15th minute when centre Warren Abrahams, who was to be a thorn in Chinnor’s side all afternoon, seized on a loose ball to run 50 metres, score under the posts and convert his own try. Up to this point Chinnor had already gone close on several occasions. Maidenhead went further ahead with another Abrahams try in the corner which he failed to convert. A James Cathcart penalty reduced the arrears and when Jaike Carter scored wide out some minutes later, and Cathcart converting, Chinnor were back in the hunt.

Carter had been pulled back minutes early when a defence splitting pass was adjudged forward wwhen he was heading for the posts. An Abrahams penalty on the stroke of half-time put Maidenhead five points to the good.
Pip Seymour, who was causing problems every time he had the ball, got Chinnor off to a flying start finishing off a good move to score in the corner. The scores were not level for too long as Abrahams kicked his second penalty and then scored his third try which he also converted. Chinnor were now 10 points adrift with time running out. They showed a lot of character in getting back on level terms with two further tries from Pip Seymour and Jaike Carter. Indeed, had James Cathcart worn his kicking boots, Chinnor could well have sneaked the result with the last kick of the match.

For Chinnor, Pip Seymour had another barnstorming game with Jaike Carter also prominent with some strong running. An injury to Trevor Powell’s shouder, early doors, did not enhance their cause. If any Chinnor supporter was asked, would he take ten wins, one draw and one loss before Christmas? the answer would well and truly be in the affirmative.

TUESDAY, December 18 – Soccer Kits Supplementary Cup Match; Thame United 4, Banbury United Reserves 1. MATCH REPORT:

THAME United progressed to the next round of the Supplementary League Cup on Tuesday evening, with a convincing win over a Banbury side that has won only three games this season. Thame played some attractive football and this result will help build confidence going into their three Christmas games.

The first 10 minutes were fairly even but then Thame started to dominate and from there on Banbury were ?on the back foot?. The home team?s first goal came in the 35th minute when, following a corner, the ball fell to Adam Rhodes on the edge of the penalty area. Rhodes hit a strong, well placed, shot through the crowded area and past the Banbury keeper. A minute later Nathan Jack hit a cross from the right which a Banbury defender managed to head into his own goal.

Thame?s third came 10 minutes after the restart when, following a good passing move, Jack hit a low cross from the left by line which Nick Skiller confidently slotted home from close rage. It was 4-0 in the 72nd minute courtesy of a Nathan Jack special. Thame?s talented striker beat three men before unleashing a left foot thunderbolt from 20 yards which gave the visiting keeper no chance.
A minute later Banbury pulled a goal back when visiting striker Steve Howkins was given too much space. In the final minute Thame goalkeeper Paul Searl, who had been idle for much of the game, made an outstanding save from close range to maintain a score line which was a fair reflection of the match.

Thame United: Searl, Thompson (Cowan) Ansell, Higgs (R. Jewell), Hocking (Watkins), Catlin, Connelly, Rhodes, Skiller, Jack, Ricketts.

Thame united are away to Bisley Sports next Saturday (22nd). They visit Penn and Tylers green on Boxing Day before entertaining league leaders, Chalfont Wasps on Saturday 28th December (K.O.3pm)

SOUTH WEST Division 1, Saturday, December 8 – (apologies for belated publishing of match report); CHINNOR 77 pts V St. Ives 0 pts. IN view of the conditions, this was quite a remarkable scoreline. In driving wind and rain, it is reasonable to expect a dogged encounter with a couple of points separating the sides, and the team making the most of wind advantage coming out winners. Not so at Kingsey Road on Saturday, December 8.

Quite an outstanding display of handling skills saw Chinnor romp home in fine style and scoring 11 tries in the process. It is not that St Ives were a poor side, they were just blown away by fine team play allied to a few outstanding performances. Pip Seymour, now coming of age as a winger scored 3 tries, Richard Williams whose running and spotting gaps was first class and Joe Winpenny’s off-loading the ball in the tackle were top drawer. Picking out just these players does not detract for a second from the whole round team effort.
St Ives won the toss and elected to play against the wind. Chinnor took the lead in the 3rd minute with a well judged penalty form the accurate boot of James Cathcart. Another penalty from the same player, just 3 minutes later, put Chinnor on their way.Next came a try via a rolling maul from Grizz McQuire converted by Cathcart on the 12 minute mark and when he added another penalty minutes later Chinnor were 16 points to the good after 18 minutes play.
With Seymour scoring his first try, fellow winger Jaike Carter getting in on the act and skipper Matt Hutchins going over, Cathcart converting two of these and adding a penalty at the half-time whistle, Chinnor had a 38 point cushion to defend into the wind.
Initially, pick and drive was the order of the day after the interval. This set the platform for the home side to run in some sparkling tries. However this was achieved at some cost with skipper Matt Hutchins having to leave the field with a leg injury which looks like keeping him on the sidelines for several weeks. Seymour got his second try in the corner to put Chinnor further in front. Tries then came at regular intervals. Owen Gustafson broke from the middle of the field and found McQuire up in support to put Carter in for his second try, Seymour got his third with a fine individual effort and Trevor Powell finished a sweeping move to score Chinnor’s 8th try.
With the wind proving a difficult obstacle Cathcart converted just one of these. Three more tries were to come, Cathcart scoring two 2 – one where he showed a fine turn of speed to outpace the covering defence, the other when he finished a break by Richard Williams to score under the posts and then add the conversion. With Tristan Corpe on as substitute for the injured Ben Hewitt, scoring a debut try, Chinnor were home but not quite dry.
Finally, a word on the pitch. Taking into account the conditions, both before and during the game it stood up tremendously well. For this a deserved word of praise and thanks to Bob Mitchell.