Category: Sports News

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from the Oxford Mail.

THE twenty third, CPM Thame 10km road race will take place on Sunday, June 24, starting at 9.30am from Thame Leisure Centre.
The charity run, organised by Thame Runners, has grown steadily in popularity with an estimated 800 entries expected. As in previous years, profits from the event are distributed to local charities.

The installation of the new dry play area next to the Sports Centre has entailed significant soil mounds which will not be cleared and re-landscaped until September. Therefore, without a suitable and safe children?s course around the perimeter of the playing fields, the organisers regrettably have had to cancel the children?s fun run event for 2007 only.

Another change for 2007 will be the temporary road closure of the ring road between the Risborough and Chinnor Road roundabouts for one hour, from 9.30am to 10.30 m on the Sunday – necessaary unfortunately, because of the behaviour of a few drivers who were not prepared to wait a few moments. The organisers have had to pay for the closure to ensure the safety of the participating runners.

Entry forms for the Thame 10Km can be downloaded from the website Link

Photo: Runners prepare for ‘the off’ just before the 2005 CPM Thame 10k road race.

RACQUETS, Thame, are running special Junior Squash during Half Term week, May 29, 30 and 31.
There will be Squash coaching, training, playing and tournaments between 10am and 3pm.
The cost will be

THE Oxfordshire v Cornwall game on Saturday, was a game of two distinct halves, Oxfordshire going 22-5 up at half time but with Cornwall cming back to end the game with a 22 – 22 draw.
A large, vociferous crowd enjoyed the day, despite the wet weather, and the beer tent and BBq were kept busy all afternoon.

Oxfordshire’s next game is at Weston Super Mare next Saturday, May 21, when they play Somerset.

Oxfordshire needs to win that game against Somerset to be in the final against the winner of the NORTH POOL.

The final will not be played at Twickenham this year, but at the ground of the North Pool winner.

THAME Tennis Club Men?s first team are enjoying a strong start to their summer season in the Oxford League. Following their earlier victory over Witney, the 3 pair team secured a 7 sets to 2 win over a surprisingly weak North Oxford C side. First pair Steve Bell and Chris Russell took all 3 of their sets. Lee Wright and Ian Catchpole won 2 of their 3 sets, only losing to the visitors? first pair, as did Richard Bradley (c) and up and coming young player Mark Wilkins.

Elsewhere in the same league, the Ladies 3 pair in Division 2 had a good victory away to Witney by 6 sets to 3. Team: R Suter, F Pidgeon, D Munro, K Pinner, T Merry, J Mcleod. In Division 5, the Mixed 2 pair team, joined by new member Kevin Bowers, had a very successful match, beating Southfield B by 8 sets to 0. Team: S Nannery, C Redding, K Bowers, C Gray (c). Meanwhile, the Men?s C 2 pair were at home to Bicester D, losing 2 -6, with Tony Knightley and Doug Still taking 2 sets from Bicester?s second pair (other pair B Fieldsend (c), P Bozier).

For the first time this year, the Club has entered a Men?s and Ladies? team into the National Club League, which provides extra opportunities for its advanced players. The Ladies have started their challenge with a match at North Oxford. Terry Merry won her singles match whilst Dawn Munro lost hers. They teamed up together in doubles and went to 3 sets, finally losing in the 3rd. Away to Cholsey on a beautiful evening, Terry again won her singles, with Fiona Pidgeon also winning her match. The pair then had a straight sets victory over the hosts? in the doubles.

OXFORDSHIRE beat Surrey 43 to 14, on Saturday, in the rugby County Championship Shield South Pool. The Oxfordshire team included JP Immelman, who, having played for Chinnor RFC for two years, will shortly be returning to his native South Africa.
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Chinnor RFC will host the Oxfordshire v Cornwall game this coming Saturday, May 12.

Photo: Featuring Hooker, JP Immelman

MATCH REPORT – League Game – 28/04 – Thame United 0, Slimbridge 4.
THAME United brought their season to a close on Saturday, with a heavy defeat and a disappointing display against champions-elect, Slimbridge.
Despite having games in hand over current leaders North Leigh, Slimbridge realised that a win against Thame was vital to maintaining the pressure on the current leaders and they started as though they meant business. Indeed, with their first attack of the match and with the game less than a minute old, the ball fell to John Meadows some 30 yards from the Thame goal. Meadows hit an unstoppable shot that beat keeper Milan Barisic low to his right.

The following twenty minutes saw the best period of the game for Thame as they pressed for an equaliser. With James Saulsbury assured in midfield and the pace of Darren Moore and Adrian Smith causing the Slimbridge defence problems, Thame created in a number of half chances with both Saulsbury and Moore going close. However, as the half wore on Slimbridge searched for a second goal but, with the defence well marshalled by captain Dave Hocking, Barisic was largely untroubled.

With the game delicately poised 1-0, Thame were forced to make a couple of changes, with leading scorer Nathan Jack, himself returning from injury, replacing the injured Adrian Smith, and John Steadman replacing Matt Ansell at the back. However, Thame were again caught cold early in the second half when, after a good passing move, John Cant found himself in plenty of space to coolly beat Barisic from 12 yards. With the warm conditions sapping the player?s energy and Thame searching for a way back in to the game, Slimbridge exposed the gaps in the Thame defence and scored two further goals late in the game through Edward Ward.

This was a disappointing display from a side that in the last three months of the season had put in improved performances and always been in with a chance of getting results out of games. Although the defeat ensures Thame will finish in a relegation position, their fate for next season remains unknown due to the withdrawal from the league of two sides during the season and relegation and promotion issues from feeder leagues still unresolved.

Thame United: Barisic, Ansell (Steadman), Graves, Hocking, Higgs, Saulsbury, Rhodes, Connelly, Da Silva (Watkins), Moore, Smith (Jack).

THAME UNITED RESERVES finished their league programme on a high, with a 3-0 away win at Englefield Green Rovers. The result followed an impressive end to the season which saw new manager Marcus Walker, appointed in early March, losing only one game in nine, winning five and picking up 18 of the total 24 points Thame secured all season.

Thame United have their end of season awards ceremony at Racquets on the evening of 12th May 2007.

MATCH REPORT – LEAGUE GAME 24/04/07 – Thame United 3, Fairford Town 2. By Bob Dixon
Thame United, who are currently in 19th league position, defeated 13th placed Fairford Town on Tuesday evening in a fast and entertaining game.

Thame took the lead with their first real attack when, after 4 minutes, they were awarded a free kick midway in the visitors half. Adam Rhodes hit a high ball to the far post which James Saulsbury met with a well placed header. In the 17th minute Fairford replied in spectacular fashion, when Ashley Edenborough struck a surprise 30 yard thunderbolt which hit the underside of the Thame crossbar on its way into the net. Thame had more possession than the visitors and created some good chances. On 37 minutes the hardworking Darren Moore struck a strong 18 yard shot which forced an outstanding save from the visiting goalkeeper. The Thame pressure was rewarded 3 minutes before the break when a diagonal pass found Adrian Smith 30 yards out. Smith outpaced one defender, and beat another before dribbling around the advancing keeper for a tap in.

The second half was more even and the visitors almost equalized in the 53rd minute when Edenborough was put through for a 1 to 1 with Thame?s impressive keeper, Milan Barisic, but the courageous Barisic dived at his opponent?s feet to cleanly lift the ball clear. Fairford did however equalize in the 67th minute when Phil Corcoran hit home from close range during a goalmouth scramble. Thame?s winner came on 73 minutes when, following a good move, the ball was fed to Moore who finished well from close range.

This was an encouraging performance from the young Thame side that are playing far better than their league position suggests.

Thame United: Barisic, Ansell (Watkins), Da Silva (Rickets), Matt Higgs, Hocking, Saulsbury, Graves, Rhodes, Smith (Jack), Connelly, Moore

Thame United face the potential league champions on Saturday when Slimbridge visit Hithercroft Stadium in Thame?s final match of the season (KO 3.00)

THAME Tennis Club Men?s first team secured victory in their opening game of the Oxford League summer season, beating Witney B by five sets to four.
At three-all, after the first two rounds, the result was in the balance, but Steve Bailey-Kennedy and team captain, Richard Bradley, won 2.5 from 3; Marc Ashworth and Lee Wright took 1.5 from 3 and Ian Catchpole and Tony Morris secured the vital set to ensure the win.
Elsewhere in the same league, the Ladies 2 pair in Division 3 secured a draw of 4 sets all at home to Bicester. The team of Susie Thompson, Ann Gornall, Ann Green and Lynn Broadway (c), were unable to overcome the visitors? very strong first pair, but won both matches against the second pair. Meanwhile, the Mixed 2 pair in Division 5 had a good victory of 3.5 sets to 0.5 sets at home to Abingdon D. Team; C Macgregor, K Pinner; N Hutchinson and C Gray (c). Finally, the Mens C 2 pair was unfortunately wiped out on their opening fixture away to Bicester C. On a gloriously hot day they were unable to take a set from the hosts who have restructured their 3 pair teams into four 2 pairs. Team: J Ansell (c), P Bozier, B Fieldsend and D Still.

THAME racing driver, Mark Webster, recently got his 2007 season off to a flying start with an eighth placing at the Snetterton circuit in Norfolk.
Mark is competing in his third season in the National Stock Hatch series which promises to be the UK?s most popular with more than 120 drivers competing in near standard 1600cc saloons.
Support from local companies Systech Instruments, In8 and Racquets Fitness Centre, along with British Gas and Sporting Index, will see Mark next compete in his Fiesta XR2 at Castle Combe on May 7, followed by events at Brands Hatch and Silverstone.
Follow Mark?s season at his website