Category: Sports News

Chinnor 2nd, 11 Pts vs. Canterbury 2nd, 10 Pts
Match Report – Home League Game – March 24.
Scorers – Tries: Adam Winchester x 1
Penalties: Thad Cooper x 2

TALK about a close shave! Chinnor Seconds took another top class scalp Canterbury Seconds by beating them 11pts to 10 in the Canterbury Shield League. This brings it to three out of three for the last three league games. This was quite a feat since Chinnor 2nds had lost five players to the first team, and another four to injury, sickness, travel and work commitments creating nine changes from the normal 15 starting.
Due to the third team having a bye, we were able to play some of the team and three young players from the Chinnor academy who held their own very well, and it bodes well for Chinnor?s future.
The two teams played with passion and in the spirit rugby should be played, hard and physical.
Chinnor came out fired up and ready for the game having lost to Canterbury in the away game. With the advantage of a strong wind at their backs in the first half, Chinnor should have done better, missing many chances but lacked patience. Having said that, great defence by Canterbury who were camped in their own half for most of the first half did not concede a point until the 35th minute when the young academy player, Thad Cooper, was successful with a penalty and the first half finished three – nil.
With Canterbury having the wind in the second half, they seemed to make better use of it than Chinnor did and went ahead after only seven minutes with a converted try followed four minutes later with a penalty and were in the lead 10 points to three. It took until the 30th minute before Chinnor closed the gap with a try by Adam Winchester. In the last five minutes Chinnor were fortunate to have Thad Cooper give Chinnor the win 11 points to 10 by converting a penalty.
A big thank-you to young Mark Westaby, Thad Cooper and Ollie Heath and all the others that helped us out.
Man of the Match was Adam Winchester for his full commitment to the second team, week in and week out and not for his clearance kick towards the end of the game.

Walter McGuicken
Second Team Manager

Photo: Courtesy of Chinnor RFC website

Chinnor 1st XV 8 vs. Canterbury 1st XV 43
National League Three, South – Saturday, March 24
IN bitter wind and cold, Chinnor?s make shift side went down by 43 points to eight against a sharper Canterbury side on Saturday.
With absentees, injuries and match day injury problems, Chinnor had to change five of their team on the morning of the match. They held out well but the faster pace and well drilled ploys of their opponents eventually wore them down.

For the first 10 minutes, Chinnor clearly had the upper hand and were unlucky not to score. From a very quickly taken lineout on their 22, Canterbury ran a sweeping backs move to go five points up, courtesy of an unconverted de Kock try, on 13 minutes. Shortly afterwards, Chinnor lost prop Paddy Conlon to a yellow card for entering a ruck from the side. Canterbury?s Pratt took quick advantage by scoring a try two minutes after, converted by Wolmarans. Running the ball from deep, Chinnor managed to knock on the final ball with an undefended Canterbury line 10 metres ahead.
On 26 minutes, an indiscretion by Canterbury saw Chinnor?s full back Hewitt score Chinnor?s first points of the afternoon from a penalty goal. Canterbury increased the pressure, particularly at scrums where Chinnor were second best all afternoon. Chinnor?s Hutchings was yellow carded for overenthusiastically freeing himself from being held back. Another Canterbury try from de Kock was matched by a Chinnor breakout by Hewitt who began an intricate interpassing move that saw Duder touch down for an unconverted try on 36 minutes.
At 17-8 down, Chinnor were holding out when Canterbury ripped the ball from a maul and a surprised lock Keir strolled over unopposed for Canterbury?s fourth try and bonus point. Wolmarans added the twp points for a Canterbury half time lead of 24-8.

Chinnor once again started the half brightly and were denied a score by a stout Canterbury defence on the line. Seven minutes into the half, lively Canterbury winger Melford touched down for Canterbury, Wolmarans converting. 10 minutes later the other Canterbury winger, Pratt, repeated the treatment, Wolmarans again converting to give Canterbury a 38-8 lead.
Just on full time Canterbury scored again from lock Keir ? this time unconverted to win the match comfortably, 43-8.

For Chinnor, Rixon, covering at no 8, carried the ball well and repeatedly got a retreating Chinnor scrum out of trouble. Hewitt attacked well from full back. Canterbury?s fly half de Kock was a class act, scored two tries and steered Canterbury to victory.

Chinnor: Hewitt, Seymour, Williams, Pritchard, Carter (White 72), Duder, Wiseman, Winpenny, Immelman, Conlon (Whelan 73), Burrows, Hutchings (c), Beets (Jackman 64), Benson, Rixon
Scorers: Hewitt (pen); Duder (try)

MATCH REPORT – Thame United 3, Shortwood United 0; Saturday, March 24 – League game.
THAME United, who are in 18th league place, delivered their best performance this season on Saturday when they convincingly defeated 7th placed Shortwood United. Manager Mark West, who was appointed in January, has transformed the team who have only been beaten once in their last six games.
The first 20 minutes was fairly even with chances at both ends. Thame than started to pressurise the visitor?s goal and had a good chance on 28 minutes when, following a corner the ball was played to Matt Graves, in space, 10 yards from goal, but his shot was wide. The Thame pressure paid off in the 41st minute when Ben Connelly played a chipped ball into the path of leading goal scorer Nathen Jack who finished confidently with his right foot from eight yards. Shortwood could have equalized two minutes later, when Chris Greenough was through on goal but the courageous Thame keeper Milan Barisic dived at his Greenough?s feet to clear the danger.
The home team increased their lead in the 45th minute when a corner was cleared to Connelly who hit a strong goal bound shot from 20 yards, which was deflected off of Graves to beat the Shortwood keeper.

The visitors came out fired up after the break and the pressure was on Thame but the home defence coped well, and the spectators were soon treated to some entertaining end to end football. Both teams had penalty appeals turned down and both keepers were kept busy with Barisic on top form. Shortwood changed their formation to play with three men up front but could not penetrate the much improved Thame defence. Thame?s 3rd goal came in the 79th minute and it was a beauty. Jack, who had just returned to the pitch following an injury and was clearly in pain, picked the ball up at the halfway line, beat his marker and ran at goal before hitting a powerful, well placed, shot from 30 yards low into the right hand corner of the goal. Job done!

Shortwood are a talented team who were always capable of coming back but Thame richly deserved this win, and to claim what is only their third clean sheet of the season.

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

Thame travel to 15th placed Highworth Town next Saturday (31st). Their next game at Highworth Stadium is on Easter Monday when they are ?away? to AFC Wallingford.

PLANS for a housing development on Thame United’s old Windmill Road site, which include a community centre, went on show today.
The sale of the site, with planning permission, could raise around

TEAMS from Thame Tennis Club have been completing their winter league fixtures. In the Aylesbury League, the Ladies 1 team in Division 3, captained by Dawn Munro achieved an excellent win of 7.5 sets to 0.5 sets at home to Haddenham II.
For their final match of the season, played in extremely windy conditions at home to Wendover, the team secured a draw of 4 sets all (Team: A Gornall, J McCleod, C Carder, and R Suter). The Mixed Doubles team were away to Cublington. Having been comprehensively beaten by them earlier in the season, Thame put in a vastly improved performance missing out on the match by a much closer margin of 3.5 sets to 4.5 sets. 1st pair, Lyn and Adrian Broadway, took a set and a half against the hosts 2nd pair, but lost to their 1st pair 1-6, 4-6. It was a similar story for 2nd pair John Ansell (c) and Terri Merry who took 2 sets in their first match 6-4, 6-3, but again could not overcome Cublington?s 1st pair, losing 4-6, 3-6.

Meanwhile, in the Thames Valley League, the Ladies team have played their final 2 matches. In their penultimate match at home to Mapledurham 2nd, team captain Ann Gornall and Jenny McCleod halved with the visitors? 2nd pair 1-6, 6-3 and lost a tie beak against their 1st pair 6-8, before going on to win the final set 6-3. Ann Green and Beryl Plater were unable to overcome either pair, losing both matches 1-6, 2-6. The team completed their season with a home loss against Witney 2nd of 3 sets to 5.

Thame Tennis Club will be holding its annual Open Day on Sunday April 15 to which all are welcome. There will also be an Open Afternoon for junior players and a general Open Evening on Tuesday April 17. For further details please call Aidan Coles on 01844 238900.

LEAGUE MATCH 17/03/07 Slimbridge AFC 3, Thame United 0
THAME’S run of five unbeaten games came to an end on Saturday at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire, at the hands of a team strongly fancied to win the title. Although second in the league at the moment, Slimbridge have plenty of games in hand and had comfortably beat Thame United?s ground sharing hosts, Wallingford, 4 ? 0 during the week.
Despite facing gale force winds and being blinded by the low sun, Thame made a promising start and forced a corner in the first minute. The visitors still had Slimbridge under pressure when, after seven minutes, Slimbridge?s Joe Tustain broke through the Thame defence to score the first Slimbridge goal. From then on it was downhill for Thame with Goalkeeper Milan Barisic forced to make several fine saves during a period of heavy pressure.
On 33 minutes, Craig Cole scored Slimbridge?s second goal from a goalmouth scramble following a corner. In the dying seconds of the first half, Matt Green put the ball in the back of the Thame net to send the visitors in at half time three nil down.

In the second half, playing with the wind and sun in their favour, Thame were a different side and dominated the game. With a comfortable lead, Slimbridge were content to defend and this time it was the turn of the Slimbridge goalkeeper to take the pressure but, despite hitting the post and crossbar and forcing many fine saves, Thame were unable to get the elusive goal. Frustration showed and both Robbie Eason and Ben Connelly were booked for dissent, Ben Connelly taking a second yellow card, and being sent off with less than ten seconds of the game to go.

Thame United: Barisic, Ansell, Hocking, Boult (Captain), Eason, Matt Higgs, Connelly, Rhodes, Jack, Da Silva, Graves (Luke Rickets)

Thame are at home at Wallingford?s Hithercroft Stadium next Saturday (24th March) against Shortwood United.(K.O. 3.00)

CREATING A COMMUNITY FOOTBALL CLUB FOR THAME – A NEW FUTURE FOR ONE OF OXFORDSHIRE?S OLDEST CLUBS
PLANS to create a high quality new home for football in Thame are being launched at the Town Hall on March 23 ? 24.
Developed by the recently formed Thame Football Partnership, the new strategy will bring together Thame United FC, Thames Boys and Girls FC and other footballing interests in the town to create a community football club on a single site in the town.
In creating the strategy, Thame Football Partnership is drawing on support from Sports Solutions, a leading national specialist in sports club development.
Work has begun in developing financial plans and identifying potential sites locally. Vital capital funding will be available for this project when planning permission is forthcoming for the residential redevelopment of Thame United FC?s former ground at Windmill Road.
The development plans will be on view in the Upper Chamber at Thame Town Hall from 2pm-8pm on March 23, and 10am-2pm on March 24. The plans include providing training and recreational facilities together with an artificial, all weather pitch which will maximise the playing time possible at the new ground.
This new centre will provide a much needed home ground for Thame United FC, one of Oxfordshire?s oldest football clubs, established over 100 years ago as well as a home and training facilities for the highly successful Thame Boys and Girls FC, which comprises over 350 children from under-7 level onwards.
Representatives of the Thame Football Partnership will be joined by Fraser Digby of Sports Solutions in manning the exhibition, and answering questions from local people.
Jake Collinge, chairman of Thame United FC, said: “We are determined to create this valuable new resource for Thame. The new facilities will bring pleasure to hundreds of children playing with the Thame Boys and Girls FC team. Providing a much-needed home for Thame United FC will secure over a century of football heritage for this town.”
Fraser Digby, Sports Solutions said:”Looking at this project from the vantage point of the many schemes that we are involved with across the UK, I believe that it is a sound plan, driven by a determined and recently appointed management board of the Thame Football Partnership.
“I believe that this is a solid, sustainable project that deserves strong local support. I look forward to discussing the approach being taken with local people at the Thame Town Hall exhibition.”
The exhibition will also give the opportunity for residents to view and comment on the draft plans from JG Land and Estates for the residential re-development of Windmill Road ? Thame United FC?s former home.

CHINNOR 2nd – Nil Pts vs. Witney 1st – 18 Pts
Date: 11 March 2007 – Away Cup Game – Match report.
CHINNOR Seconds lost to Witney First team in the Oxfordshire Cup Semi final on Sunday. Unfortunately three of the team?s influential players were omitted due to cup rules. The team just didn?t manage to gel as they normally do. It seemed to be a bitter pill to swallow having come off such a great result against Ealing last week. It seems they were still on a high and not as focused on this game as they could have been.
And Witney deserved their win on the day.
It was a very disappointing game of rugby that was more like tag wrestling at times, and not the type of rugby that Chinnor have been involved in this season, with so much going on off the ball in rucks and mauls.
The ref allowed players to be taken out around the rucks which appeared questionable to say the least, and not one yellow card.
The first try for Witney came by the way of a forward pass and when the linesman informed the ref he chose to ignore it and awarded the try, The second try was from a lineout and when the linesman indicated to the ref that the ball was not in straight the try was still awarded. Chinnor was penalised at every scrum and this with a pack that have not had this problem in the last 22 games.
The game turned into bit of a farce, with the ref unwilling to be approached by the Chinnor captain on questioning the reason for the penalties being awarded.
Nothing changed when Ian Stock came off with concussion and thankfully nothing worse, and Tom Whelan was substituted, they still had the same problem. When Chinnor should have been awarded a penalty try for not retreating 10 meters, nothing was done.
Chinnor did make their own mistakes for not taking points from four penalties from in front of the posts.
Chinnor takes their hats off to Witney for the win. Thanks for the game and best wishes for the rest of the season, and the best of luck in the Cup final in two weeks.
A big thank you to all the supporters who travelled to Witney; just a pity it was so disappointing.
Please note that it is not in my nature to comment on the reffing in a game, but I felt duty bound this time.

Walter McGuicken
Second Team Manager

Thame United 1, Hounslow Borough 0; League Match Report – Tuesday 13/03/07
THAME United extended their unbeaten league run to FIVE games on Tuesday evening when they beat Hounslow Borough by a single goal at Wallingford?s Hithercroft Stadium.
It was an entertaining match, played at a fast pace and although there was little to choose between the teams, Thame just about deserved their victory.

The game saw the return of Milon Barisic in the Thame goal. He had a good game, pulling off a particularly memorable save after about 25 minutes play to give Thame their first clean sheet since October.
Both sides created good changes in the first half. After 20 minutes Darren Moore beat 2 men on the left before hitting a goal-bound shot which the Hounslow Keeper did well to turn over the bar. Thame?s leading goal-scorer, Nathan Jack created several good changes but seemed to have lost his knack for clinical finishing, as his shots were either wide or too close to the goalkeeper.
Thame restricted the visitor?s chances in the second half and although possession was fairly even, the Thame goal was rarely threatened. The only goal came in the 75th minute. United were awarded a free kick on the left, about 35 yards from goal. James Saulsbury?s well placed kick was met, at the far post, by central defender Robbie Eason who rose to head in from close range.

The last 15 minutes saw Hounslow pushing for an equalizer but Thame defended well and snuffed out any chances.

Thame United: Barisic, Ansell, Da Silva, Matt Higgs, Eason, Boult, Saulsbury, Connelly, Jack, Wiltshire (Dawson) Moore.

Thame United 2, Bicester Town 2;March 10, League match
THIS was an entertaining game in which, for the second successive week, Nathen Jack scored a brace for Thame as they drew with 10th placed Bicester Town. The point resulted in Thame climbing another league place in their fight to avoid relegation.

After an even first 15 minutes, Thame started to gain the upper hand and controlled the remainder of the half having several good chances. They were unlucky not to take the lead in a frenzied 40th minute when Jack rounded Bicester goalkeeper Jeff Simmonds at the edge of the area and hit a goal-bound shot which was blocked by a defender. The rebound fell to Anthony Dawson whose shot was also blocked; Jack picked it up and hit the crossbar, Dawson then met that rebound with a header which was cleared. Bicester took the lead 2 minutes later when, following a Thame free kick Simmonds hit a long kick which sailed over the heads of the retreating Thame defence and found Bicester striker Adam Hamp unmarked. Hamp turned and hit a good lob over Thame keeper Mike Higgs from 25 yards. Despite having more possession Thame were a goal down at half-time.

Thame?s equalizer came in the 58th minute when Robbie Eason lifted a ball from just inside the visitors half to Jack who struck a quality lob over Simmonds from 20 yards. Bicester then had their best spell of the game and took the lead again with 10 minutes remaining when the experienced Hamp played a square pass to Danny Bone who struck a good shot pass Higgs from 15 yards. Shortly after, Thame were awarded a free kick 35 yards out and Adam Rhodes hit a superbly placed shot towards the top left hand corner of the Bicester goal but Simmonds just got a finger tip to the ball and turned it wide. With a minute of normal time remaining Manager Mark West, who had brought himself on as a substitute, found Jack in space and Thame?s leading goal-scorer hit a beauty from 20 yards to square the match.

Thame United: Mike Higgs, Ansell, Da Silva, Boult (Rhodes), Eason, Matt Higgs (Hocking), Connelly, Saulsbury, Jack, Dawson (West), Moore