Category: Sports News

SUNDAY, February 27. saw the Lionhearts at Hemel
Hempstead for the Watford National Open.
The day started with Tom Way and Phil keavy in the
mens novice under 75kg and under 70kg.
Tom way, who continues to impress after his last event, totally dominated his first opponent, winning 10-0! His next fight was a little closer, 7-4 but again Tom displayed good techniques, scoring well with the front leg kicks. His performance secured him third place and his first trophy!

Phil keavy, having gained some recent form, has been
unlucky with injuries and suffering from another low
kick, was unable to really show his abilty losing 8-6.
But Instructor, Duncan Elliott, says that he thinks that when fully fit, Phil will start to regain a
placing in the top three.

Later in the afternoon, Merrell Vaughan, competing
for the first time in the ladies intermediates, got off to a good start leading off her side kick and scoring with body punches. She won through to a third place to match Tom’s; an execellent result for a debut.

Duncan Elliott himself was in good form, after deciding with his U.M.A.N (United Martail Arts
Network) colleague, Jason Morrison, to ask for a change in the draw after they were matched against each other.

Jason won his first fight, going into the
semi-final where he met the Nemesis instructor, Peter
Felix.
“Jason was unable to control the fight in his usual style,” reported Duncan, ” and had to settle for a third.
“I then got through to the final myself and met Jasons opponent, Felix, who I had beaten twice in previous encounters, so was quietly confident of
victory. But Felix showed new determination and gave me a good fight only seperated by my precision axe kick which I celebrated with my team members!
“I was pleased with the win and the overall team
performance of the Lionhearts – there’s more to come
from them I’m sure.”

Despite the appalling weather, Chinnor Under 10 A?s took the fight to Witney last weekend, with some superb opening runs by Matthew Smith, James Millett and Iestyn James. Good driving from Ben Chapman and solid ball skills from Sam Edwards and Charlie Proctor gave Matthew the chance to ground the first try.
Working as a team, Thomas Strathdee and Harry Lowe scored the second and third tries and Liam Evans the fourth. The second half got underway with scorching run from Charlie K and a fifth try from James. Another run from Charlie K led to Harry scoring the sixth and final try, with the final result a convincing 30 ? 0.

Chinnor Under 10 B1?s back and forward play was equally inspiring against Witney, with strong driving from forwards Ollie Bevan, Henry Leggett and Matthew Karslake, and Thomas Bellars striking deep into enemy territory with an impressive run, giving Henry the chance to score the first try of the match. Adam Pipkin ran the ball down the field, taking four Witney players with him, before popping it out to Matthew K who bulldozed his way through the opposition to score the second. Jack ?Gazelle? Gibbons made a scorching run down the opposite wing, well supported by Matthew Donnelly, and scored the third. The second half started with a lovely try from George Kent, ably supported by Cameron Matthews and Sam Hook, and a fantastic run from Andrew Kay, spinning off tackles like a pinball in a machine. A well-deserved win and a final score of 20 ? 0.

It showed true grit, strength of spirit and a love of the game when Chinnor Under 10 B2s took on Witney in the driving rain for the last match of the morning. Thanks must go to Callum Wright, who valiantly joined the opposition due to short numbers. Theo Keeping, Tomas White, Chris Hopgood and Harvey Goddard put the pressure on in the scrum, and a blistering run from Finn Tapping gave Chris Wright the chance for the first try. Chinnor then developed an eerie fascination with watching the ball roll around loose on the ground, giving the opposition two tries in quick succession. Jake O?Neill and Ben Macintosh (in his first match with Chinnor) tackled well, and Joseph Lynch was strong in support. Harry Stansfield equalised with a great running try in the last minute of the match bringing the final score to a freezing, sodden 10 ? 10 draw.

Match Report – Chinnor 2nd, 24 Pts vs. Ealing 2nd, 17. March 03, Home league Game.
Tries: Jaike Carter x 1, Danny Burns x 1
Conversions: Adam White x 1
Penalties: Adam White x 1
CHINNOR Seconds took another top class scalp when Ealing Seconds underestimated a team from the sticks (their words), beating them 24pts to 17 and destroying their chances of winning the Canterbury Shield League on a day made for rugby. This was another great win after beating Havant one of the top teams 2 weeks ago 26 points to Nil.
Two very passionate teams played the game; in the spirit rugby should be played, hard and physical with no quarter given.
Chinnor came out fired up for the game and were in Ealing?s face from the start. They were very unlucky not go ahead in the first minutes as a result of some great defence by Ealing. Finally 15 minutes into the game they got their reward with a well worked try by Jaike Carter, after some fantastic play by the forwards & backs duly converted by Adam White. It took till the 25th minute for Chinnor to add to the points tally with a successful penalty by White.
Chinnor were unlucky to concede a try in injury time and the first half finished 10 points to 5 in their favour.
Chinnor kept the pressure up from the start of the second half and went further ahead in the 10th minute after some great work again by the forwards, with scrum half Danny Burns going over the line and converted by White resulting in Chinnor increasing their lead 17 pts to 5.
The next twenty minutes saw Ealing put Chinnor under a lot of pressure and although Chinnor had a number of opportunities, Ealing were the ones to add to the score board, first with a try and then with a converted try in quick succession. Thus resulting after 30min with the score being level at 17pts a piece. After this set back the Chinnor boys dug deep making the last 10 minutes nail-biting rugby. At no point in this period did the Chinnor boys on the field look worried and with 4 minutes left on the clock were rewarded with a well earned second try, once again by Carter and converted by White. Chinnor finished the game winning 24 points to 17. All 19 players had a fantastic game played with great heart and spirit, which made it impossible to choose a man of the match.
The consensus of the Chinnor crowd is that this was one of the best games seen at the club, with the other accolade coming from Ealing stating that the Chinnor 2nd team on the field was 95% players from their first team, however flattering was totally untrue, maybe they would like to see our team sheets for the season but thanks anyway.
A big thank you to the match day sponsors Bank of Scotland, we really appreciate their support and what all sponsorship does for Chinnor RFC

Walter McGuicken
Second Team Manager

LEAGUE MATCH – Saturday, March 3; Pegasus Juniors 1, Thame United 2; Match Report By Bob Dixon
THAME United made the long journey to Hereford on Saturday and returned with a well deserved three points after recording a 2-1 win, a score line which belied Thame?s overall superiority.
Leading Scorer, Nathan Jack, netted both Thame?s goals in the ninth and 65th minutes and thus deserves the headlines, but the victory owes much to a committed and spirited performance from all 13 players used during the game.
In an evenly balanced opening half, Jack put the visitors in front after nine minutes crashing home a trademark, left-foot shot from just outside the box. The lead lasted for a mere ten minutes however, when, from a rare Pegasus attack, Daniel Sobocinski lobbed an equaliser.
Skipper, Greg Boult, almost regained the lead three minutes later but his crashing drive scraped the cross bar. Shortly after this, Thame?s left back Dave Hocking received a bad knee injury and was replaced by Joe da Silva.
The remainder of the first half proved uneventful but after the break, Thame came out fired up with the intention of dominating the half and, on 55 minutes, James Saulsbury came close to scoring his side?s second goal when after his initial attempt was blocked, his follow up shot from the edge of the penalty area brought a fine save low down from keeper Bryn Watkins.
From an isolated Pegasus raid Thame?s stand in keeper Ed Farmer (replacing broken leg victim Lee Farrow) was called into action on 64 minutes when he pushed a fierce shot from substitute Liam Jones round the post. From the resultant corner Thame regained possession and the ball was knocked on to Jack who burst through to score calmly from 12 yards – this time with his right foot.
Adam Rhodes almost increased the lead when his well struck free kick from 30 yards was pushed over by the keeper and then on 71 minutes, came one of the few controversial incidents of the game. Goalkeeper Watkins appeared to take Nathan Jack?s feet from under him but to the total amazement of the Thame camp, referee Davies awarded a free kick against the Thame striker.
Thame continued to dominate the rest of the game creating further scoring opportunities most notably Darren Moore?s 85th minute effort but in the end had to settle for 2-1.

It is now three league games without defeat for Thame and Mark West?s side now look forward with optimism to home games with Bicester on Saturday (10 March) and troubled Hounslow Borough the following Tuesday.

Thame United: Farmer, Smith, M Higgs, Eason, Hocking (Da Silva), Boult, Saulsbury, Rhodes, Jack, Dawson (Connelly), Moore.

LAST weekend (Feb 25) saw Thame Ladies 1 take on Chesham 1879 in Division 3 of the Aylesbury League and, with strong play on both sides and despite a very close tally of 38 games won by Thame to Chesham?s 40 games, Thame lost the tie by 3 sets to 5.
Team: F Pidgeon, S Thompson, D Munro (c), and R Knight.

In the same League, the mixed team in Division 4 took a 5 sets to 3 win at home to Cheddington. In a very competitive match which was completed in heavy rain, first pair, Ann Green and John Patrick, won 3 of their 4 sets 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, 2-6. Second pair, John Ansell (c) and Terry Merry, took half a point against Cheddington?s first pair with a score of 4-6, 6-6, but brought their total up to 2 points with a win against the visitor?s second pair 6-2, 6-6.

However, the team?s fortunes were reversed last weekend with an away loss of 2 sets to 6 against a strong Quainton team. Lynn and Adrian Broadway won their first match 6-4,6-2, but were unable to overcome the Quainton first pair in the next match, whilst Pip Barfield and Colin McGregor went down to the hosts 1-6, 1-6 and 2-6,0-6.

Meanwhile, in the Thames Valley Winter League, the Ladies team were away to North Oxford 4th. In another rain interrupted match, team captain Ann Gornall, partnered by Jenny McLeod beat Oxford?s second pair 6-4, 6-4, and then won a tie break against their first pair 7-6. However, they were unable to achieve a clean sweep, losing the final set 2-6.
Beryl Plater and Louise Wilkins lost to the host?s first pair 2-6, 2-6 but came back from losing a tiebreak in their second match to take a set 6-2. This achieved a draw for Thame of 4 sets all which secures a safe position in their division.

LEAGUE MATCH 23/02/07 – Thame United 5, Harrow Hill 2
THAME United recorded their first win of the year last Saturday when they recorded a double over Gloucestershire-based Harrow Hill. The game was crucial for both teams as they are both fighting relegation. Whilst Thame are by no means out of the danger zone, a defeat would have meant almost certain relegation.
The match was preceded by a one minutes silence in honour of Thame United supporter and Trustee, Steve Summersbee who sadly passed away last week.

This vital game was played in heavy showers on a waterlogged pitch which at times had the consistency of glue. The first 20 minutes saw chances at both ends but Thame were gaining the upper hand when after 21 minutes Adam Rhodes hit a good cross from the right which beat Andy Read, the Harrow goalkeeper, and was then turned into his own net by veteran defender Paul Frowen. On 30 minutes, following a period of Thame pressure, Harrow were awarded a free kick in front of the Thame goal. Whilst the initial kick was blocked the follow up shot was heading for the left hand corner of the Thame goal before Thame goalkeeper Lee Farrow got a hand to it, but only succeeded in pushing the ball into the path of oncoming striker Eddie Weyman who finished well from 5 yards. The teams went in 1-1 at half time after a sometimes scrappy first half.

Eight minutes into the second half came a moment of controversy. Nathan Jack hit an astounding
‘supersonic’ shot from 25 yards which hit goalkeeper Read near the left post of the Harrow goal, hit the hoarding surrounding the pitch and bounced back onto it. What was in doubt was whether the ball had passed into the net before hitting the hoarding or had hit it to the side of the goal. With Thame players celebrating, the uncertain referee consulted his linesman, and a goal kick was awarded. It seemed that it was not to be Thame?s afternoon.

Things got worse for Thame when with 60 minutes played goalkeeper Farrow was carried from the pitch with an injured ankle and defender Dave Hocking donned Farrow?s yellow jersey. Thame regained the lead however when 8 minutes later Ant Dawson netted from close range, following a corner. On 72 minutes Weyman equalized again for the visitors following a good run on the right when he struck a 10 yard shot which gave stand-in goalkeeper Hocking no chance. With 15 minutes remaining a long pass from Jack found substitute Ben Connelly who laid on an inch perfect pass from the right for midfielder Greg Boult to score from 10 yards. The outcome was still uncertain, and Hocking was tested, but, with 9 minutes remaining the talented Jack hit one of his superb trademark, left footed, 30-yard thunderbolts and Thame were 4-2 ahead. In the 86th minute another perfect pass from Connelly found Dawson who finished confidently from 12 yards. At times it was touch and go but eventually it was Thame who deservedly took the points.

Thame United: Farrow (Kitson), Smith, Hocking, Higgs (Ansell), Eason, Boult, Saulsbury, Rhodes, (Connelly), Jack, Dawson, Moore.

Thame United visit Hereford based Pegasus Juniors next Saturday (3rd March). This will be another vital match as currently there are only 3 points separating the teams albeit Pegasus has played fewer games. Thame?s next home game is on 10th March when Bicester Town are the visitors.

Witney United 1, Thame United 1; THAME United travelled to the Marriotts Stadium on Saturday (17/02) to face a Witney United side who had beaten league leaders, North Leigh, in their previous fixture and in October had defeated Thame 7-0.
However, despite a 90th minute equaliser from Adam Rhodes for Thame, Witney will have been pleased to take anything out of this game given the outstanding performance from a Thame side battling against relegation.

Thame attacked Witney from the first minute when a cross from Darren Moore was met by the head of Anthony Dawson, only for the Witney keeper, Paul Tassell, to make the first of many good saves on a busy afternoon. This was followed seven minutes later when the impressive Nathan Jack hit a 25-yard shot that Tassell did well to save. With the Thame side continually pressurising the Witney players, especially through Kitson and Boult in midfield, and attacking quickly down either flank, chances were created at regular intervals, with Rhodes, Kitson, Hocking and Jack all going close to opening the scoring for Thame. Indeed, it was not until the 21st minute that Witney had their first serious attack with striker Lee Keyes unable to connect with a cross from the left. This proved the catalyst for Witney?s best spell of the game, albeit their only shot on target was a 25 yard free kick in the 40th minute that goalkeeper Lee Farrow expertly turned around the post.

The first twenty minutes of the second half saw both sides attacking, albeit with the Thame strikers looking more dangerous and testing Tassell on a number of occasions. However, the opening goal of the game came on 70 minutes when left back Chris Watkins was adjudged to have fouled former Thame striker, Mark Simms. The resultant penalty was calmly dispatched beyond Farrow by Keyes. Thame then stepped up the pressure in search of an equaliser as the Witney players struggled to cope physically with the high tempo of the game. Both Dawson and Kitson went close for Thame, before in the 84th minute Jack hit a powerful cross along the six yard line which eluded three on-rushing Thame players. This looked to be the last serious chance for Thame until deep in to injury time when a cross from the right and ensuing goal mouth scramble was ended by Adam Rhodes slamming the ball high in to the roof of the net. This sent the traveling support, players and management in to raptures and gave Thame a well deserved point.

Team:
Farrow, Smith (Ansell), Watkins, Higgs, Hocking, Kitson, Boult, Moore, Jack, Dawson, Rhodes

Sub (not used): West, Meredith.

Photo: Thame United’s new Manager, Mark Weston

Thame face a ?home? tie against AFC Wallingford in the First Round of the Supplementary Cup on Tuesday (20th, 7:45pm kick off), before an important six pointer against bottom of the table Harrow Hill in the league on Saturday (24th, 3:00pm) at the Hithercroft Stadium, Wallingford.

THE recently formed Thame Football Partnership ia looking for independent members from the local community to form part of its Management Board.
The Partnership, which is a link-up between Thame United FC, Thame Boys and Girls FC and other footballing interests in Thame, was set up with the objective of creating a sustainable, community football club on a single site in the town that would bring together all football in Thame and the surrounding area in a new facility. This facility would act as a home for Thame United and also the 350+ children involved with Thame Boys and Girls FC from under-7 level onwards.

Announcing the move Tim Green, Chairman of Thame Boys and Girls FC, said: “With the guidance of our advisors Sports Solutions GB and support from the Football Association and Thame Town Council, we are making very real progress on our plans for creating a community football club in Thame. As part of this process we are currently reviewing constitutional arrangements for the Partnership and one of the key elements is the establishment of a Management Board that in the short term will be the driver for the development of the new facility and in the long term will oversee the running of the organisation. Through the local press, we are seeking expressions of interest for the role of independent member of the Management Board.”

Commenting on the Management Board, Jake Collinge, Chairman of Thame United FC said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to be involved in the development and running of a community football club that has at its heart the principles of sustainability, openness and opportunity for all.”

The role will involve approximately one evening meeting per month although slightly more frequently during the set-up period.

If you think you have the attributes to make a significant contribution to the Management Board of the Thame Football Partnership, or wish to find out more information, contact Nigel Hargreaves (Nigel.Hargreaves@TheFA.com) by March 2, 2007.

LEAGUE MATCH 13/02/07 – REPORT: Abingdon Town 3, Thame United 1
Officials from both clubs were surprised that this game went ahead. The pitch was heavily waterlogged. Both goalmouths had the consistency of treacle whilst the rest of the pitch was a quagmire. Surprisingly however, despite heavy rain falling for the first hour, this turned out to be an entertaining match.

Thame?s defence was strengthened by the return of Robbie Eason and Greg Boult, whilst Adam Rhodes returned to midfield. Despite the result this was an encouraging performance from the young Thame side. The first 15 minutes was fairly even with chances at both ends. Thame then started to pressurize the home goal with Darren Moore, Adam Rhodes, Ant Dawson, and Nathan Jack all forcing good saves from the Abingdon goalkeeper Jonathan Beames 10 minutes before halftime Dawson hit the post with the Beames beaten. The visitor?s pressure was rewarded in the 44th minute when Jack made a great run on the right before cutting in and beating Beames from 20 yards. Thame went in for half time deservedly in the lead.

Abingdon came out fired up after the break and the pressure was on Thame. The equalizer came in the 55th minute when Daryl Hutt headed in from a corner. Four minutes later the ball was played into the path of onrushing substitute Andy Hough whose strong shot found the back of the Thame net. Thame fought back and both Jack and Dawson forced outstanding saves from the on-form Beames. On 78 minutes the contest was effectively ended when Hutt raced onto a through ball, and hit a shot which took a deflection before rolling into the net to make it 3-1. The final few minutes saw heavy pressure of the Abingdon goal but they held out the take the points.

Thame United: Farrow, Boult, Graves (Watkins), Hocking, Eason, Kitson, Connolly, Rhodes, Jack, Moore (Gough)

Thame travel to Witney Town next Saturday(17th) but are at ?home? to AFC Wallingford in a Cup game on Tuesday 20th February. (KO 7.45)

TUESDAY (06/02) was the first round of the Superleague in Windsor, with three members from Chinnor Kung fu and kickboxing Club entered.
On his debut, Tom Way managed to open the scoring before his more experienced opponent took the lead and held on to the end; a good start for Tom.

Duncan Eliott, who runs the Chinnor Club, reported: “Phil Keavy was as back to near his best as I have seen him, winning his first fight well, scoring points
from side kick and body punches.
“In between his novice section, Phil had a intermediate
bout which gave him more experience on the day. Then, resuming his catergory, Phil continued his form and was even with his opponent until he suffered a kick to the groin – something that can take the fight out of you! But Phil did well to continue, only losing 6-4 and a quarter-final place finish.

“Ben Beames, in only his second event, blasted through
his first fight 5-0; very impressive and a big
improvement on his first event.
“Not realising he had got to the semi-final, whilst I
was coaching the other fighters, Ben left the mat, only
to be recalled to fight for 3rd place. He nearly got
disqualified for a late return but was unlucky to
finish 4th as a sidekick went unnoticed by the referees, leaving the score 6-4.

“A good effort by the Lionhearts team and we will look
to build on the good results.”