Category: Sports News

Southern League Division One West
Thame United 1 – Cinderford Town 4

THAME United took to the field in a confident manner following their last two successive victories having forced three corners in the first three minutes. Against the run of play, on 11 minutes, Mike Green won the ball after a Tony Joyce mistake and hit a fine shot into the corner of the Thame United goal. On 19 minutes, following a mistake by a Thame United defender Green, added a second goal for Cinderford Town. In the 35th minute, a great run by Thame United?s Luke Fisher resulted in John Mitchell shooting just wide. In the 42nd minute, Cinderford Town defender Rob Cruse hit his own post under pressure from Darren Moore with Cinderford Town keeper Steve Benbow well beaten.
The first half ended with Thame being 2-0 down but not out of the game. After 59 minutes Thame United?s Craig Caldwell-Smith brought a fine save from Benbow. From the resultant corner, the ball was cleared to Thame United?s player manager Tony Joyce whose cross cum shot eluded the Cinderford Town defence and the ball rolled into the net. After 65 minutes, Cinderford Town?s Andy Hoskins was allowed too much room and scored off the crossbar from the edge of the box. In the final 10 minutes, Thame pushed hard but unfortunately conceded another goal in the last minute, when a corner was headed in by Jody Bevan.

Star man:Mike Green(Cinderford Town)

Thame United:
Searl, Lane, Joyce, Rhodes, Hocking, Groves (Kitson 86), Moore (Boland 76), Freeman, Mitchell, Fisher, Caldwell-Smith (Stewart 71).

Cinderford Town:
Benbow, Cruse, Buttery, Lewis, Kitchen, Mayo (Ranford 86), Kear, Lutz, Bevan, Hoskins, Green.

Attendance:75

Report compiled by Gareth Evans

DESPITE a very wet and windy day, the spirit of mini rugby shone through at Chinnor RFC on Sunday.
With over one thousand children playing in eighty nine teams from ten different clubs around the country, this festival has been a landmark success for the Thame based rugby club.
Local teams from Banbury, Oxford Harlequins, Bicester, Wallingford, Aylesbury, Chipping Norton and Grove were joined at Chinnor by Cheltenham RFC and two teams all the way from Chester.
Each team played in four pool games leading to age-group finals at ‘A’ and ‘B’ level.The results of these finals were as follows:
Under 7 winners at A and B level were Wallingford
Runners up were Banbury and Oxford ‘Quins respectively.
Under 8 winners at A and B level were Banbury
Runners up at both levels were Wallingford
Under 9 winners at both A and B level were Wallingford, beating Cheltenham into runners up slot at both levels.
Under 10A winners were Wallingford, beating Cheltenham in the final
Under 10B winners were Banbury, beating Wallingford into second place
Under 11A winners were Cheltenham, beating Chinnor on count back, as the two teams drew the final.
Under 11B winners were Chester, beating Cheltenham into second place
Under 12 winners at A and B level were Wallingford, beating Bicester and Grove respectively.

On this very wet day with so many children, the festival officials had to tend to three relatively serious injuries which required hospital observation. The first two gained the attention of two ambulances. The third, more spectacularly, saw a visit from Oxfordshire’s Air Ambulance. (Ed. The boy concerned is now back at school.)
So far as the organisers are aware the three boys concerned have not suffered serious injury and have gone home to recover.
The chief festival organiser, Ivan Cammack, said of the event: “To see so many children clearly enjoying themselves in this well organised festival gives me a great sense of pride. I am extremely grateful to the many volunteers who have made this event successful, and who support mini rugby throughout the county”.

Thame United 2 – Sutton Coldfield Town 1
THIS match saw Thame united record their second successive win and their first home win of the Season.
As a result, Thame have deservedly lifted themselves from the bottom of the table. Defenders scored both of Thame?s goals from set pieces.

Sutton Coldfield created more chances in the first half but their finishing was ineffective. It was a subdued half in which defences dominated and neither goalkeeper was really tested.

The game needed a goal, and it got one when Thame United went ahead in the 48th minute. A Tony Joyce free kick from the right beat the Sutton Coldfield defence, bounced in front of goal, and the unmarked Nik Rhodes shot home from 5 yards. There then followed a spell of open attractive football with good chances at both ends. On 70 minutes Thame increased their lead when defender Gavin Lane met a corner with a spectacular, inch perfect, near post header.

Sutton Coldfield brought on Kyle Perry and played three up front. In the 83rd minute Perry missed a good chance with volley which was high, but redeemed himself three minutes later when he met a Sam Wilson cross with a diving header to pull a goal back for Sutton. The final few minutes were frantic, at both ends, but Thame held on to to their lead to the final whistle.

Thame United: Searl, Lane, Joyce, Hocking, Rhodes, Groves, Moore, Freeman, Mitchell (Spencer), Fisher, Caldwell-Smith.

Thame entertain 12th placed Cinderford Town next Saturday 12th November.

THE first home match of the season in the Aylesbury and District Badminton League was against local rival Mill Lane BC of Chinnor. Selected to play just 10 minutes before the start of the match, Ben Cooper was a late but inspirational change to the team.

Ben won his opening match with Geoff Gage (Award winner of Local Tastes) by 2 games to nil to give Thame BC the lead in the match. Mens Captain Gareth Allingham partnered by Andy Hilson, making his debut in the team, also won their opening match but had to fight harder as the Mill Lane pair took a deciding 3rd game. Ben then played with Gareth and was again a winner to take Thame BC into a 3-0 rubber lead and at least a draw in the overall event.
The next match saw Geoff paired up with Andy. This was the first time that they had played together and it showed as they lost the first game easily. However, the playing improved in the second game but still lost although the score reflected the improvement. The last 2 games were played as the original pairings. Playing against the Mill Lane second pair, Ben and Geoff both took off and quickly won the first game. Mill Lane showed some spirited defence in the second game but could not overcome Ben?s service and Geoff?s sometimes unique, shots and they ran out the winners. The last game on court saw Gareth and Andy slump to an easy loss in their opening rubber and although they improved in the second but they still lost.

This team is designed to give players an opportunity to play competitive league badminton under different playing conditions. It builds on the skills and techniques learnt on club nights.

Thame Badminton club is a mixed badminton club and continues to meet on most Wednesday evenings and is always looking to welcome new members of both sexes.

THE first home match of the season in the Aylesbury and District Badminton League was against local rival Mill Lane BC of Chinnor. Selected to play just 10 minutes before the start of the match, Ben Cooper was a late but inspirational change to the team.

Ben won his opening match with Geoff Gage (Award winner of Local Tastes) by 2 games to nil to give Thame BC the lead in the match. Mens Captain Gareth Allingham partnered by Andy Hilson, making his debut in the team, also won their opening match but had to fight harder as the Mill Lane pair took a deciding 3rd game. Ben then played with Gareth and was again a winner to take Thame BC into a 3-0 rubber lead and at least a draw in the overall event. The next match saw Geoff paired up with Andy. This was the first time that they had played together and it showed as they lost the first game easily. However, the playing improved in the second game but still lost although the score reflected the improvement. The last 2 games were played as the original pairings. Playing against the Mill Lane second pair, Ben and Geoff both took off and quickly won the first game. Mill Lane showed some spirited defence in the second game but could not overcome Ben?s service and Geoff?s sometimes unique, shots and they ran out the winners. The last game on court saw Gareth and Andy slump to an easy loss in their opening rubber and although they improved in the second but they still lost.

This team is designed to introduce players to competitive league badminton under different playing conditions. It builds on the skills and techniques learnt on club nights.

Thame Badminton club is a mixed badminton club and continues to meet on most Wednesday evenings and is always looking to welcome new members of both sexes.

Penryn 1st XV 8 vs. Chinnor 1st XV 15
SW League Division One
Saturday 29th October 2005

Chinnor 1st XV retain their position at the top of South West 1 after a narrow 15 ? 8 victory at Penryn. The Oxfordshire side have never won a league game in Cornwall but were determined to preserve their 100% league record this season.
It was never going to be an easy task made more difficult by having to play on a heavy pitch into a strong wind in the first half. Yet Chinnor dominated the early exchanges with a succession of driving mauls and incisive back running.
The Chinnor back row were controlling the game and both flankers Ed Rixon and Jon Brooks were held up only feet from the Penryn line. For all their pressure in this period Chinnor were only able to convert one penalty by Richard Williams.

Penryn equalised through a penalty by Sitck which gave the home side some momentum. They began to exert immense pressure on the Chinnor scrummage and set up their own driving mauls which generated their own dynamism. Chinnor were glad of the half time whistle and the chance to re-group.

Playing with the wind is not always as easy as it may seem and with Chinnor kicking badly from hand, it came as no surprise when Penryn scored when Chris Cole found himself at the bottom of a driving maul. Yet Chinnor have a new confidence this year and felt in control despite playing below par. They know they have the players to conjure up scores and a rock solid defence.

When Penryn moved away from their forwards and ran the ball into midfield they were hit with ferocity by Oxley and Tolich. From one double team tackle the ball fell and Williams hacked on then converted his own try.

Eric Brown then added a further score to give the away side some breathing space which brings his tally this season to 7 tries. This one was special as he broke through a maze of defenders and sped away from the posse of followers. Chinnor then hung on knowing they had recorded a good win from a bruising battle.

Scorers: Chinnor: Tries: E. Brown, R. Williams; Conversions: R. Williams (1); Penalties: R. Williams (2)
Penryn: Tries: C. Cole; Penalty: Stick (1)

Chinnor 22pts Clifton 19 pts

THIS top of the table clash was always going to be too close to call as it proved. In a fast, entertaining game, Chinnor just prevailed when with the last kick of the game, Clifton’s prolific goalkicker, John Barnes failed with a 45 metre attempt to level the scores.
Chinnor scored first when, after early Clifton pressure, they broke out of their half for the first time following a scrum in the middle of the field. Darren Oxley broke through the centre to
hand onto Rewi Tolich who found Matt Buckley up in support to score. A penalty three minutes later from Richard Williams put Chinnor eight points
ahead. Two penalties by John Barnes reduced the deficit. Richard Williams then kicked another penalty for the home side with Barnes having the last
say of the half with a drop goal. Another Williams penalty gave Chinnor a five-point cushion. A crunching tackle by young Ed Devine gained Chinnor a
turn-over which they used to good effect with the ball travelling through several hands before going out to Lloyd Hoogstander who had a clear run into
the corner. Another penalty from Barnes again kept Clifton in the game.
Then came a scintillating try from Thomas Lambert who took the final pass following a move that began in Clifton’s 22.
A Barnes’ conversion set up the final 10 minutes, culminating in the final penalty attempt.

ALTHOUGH the result indicated a comfortable win for Chinor, this was never the case.
They had to defend for long periods in the second half
against a team that refused to give-up. Heavy rain both during the warm-up and the game itself made for a slippery surface and a greasy ball which made
handling quite difficult. Playing into the wind, Chinnor were first on the score-sheet after 20 minutes when a well executed blind side move put Eric
Brown away. He still had much to do, but with a hand-off and an arching run, he made it into corner.He scored his second in similar circumstances some
minutes later only on this occasion he took the ball some 30 metres out but, with a powerful run, managed to reach the line.
Chippenham struck back with two penalties from fly-half James Gibson to give an interval score of
10pts to 6 in Chinnor’s favour.

Chinnor had the wind at their backs in the second half and increased their lead within a minute of the restart. A long kick down-field by fly-half Richard Williams reached Chippenham’s left-wing Champion who
threw a pass inside to no-one in particular which allowed Williams to gather the ball and score the simplest of tries. The conversion and a penalty from
Williams completed the scoring. Chippenham did come back strongly with their forwards keeping possession by picking up and driving forward but when they
spun it wide they did not pose that much danger. Chinnor could have, and should have used the wind to their advantage by kicking for territory. However it was an indication of their confidence that they tried to keep the ball in hand.

For Chinnor Eric Brown once again showed what an excellent finisher he is. He is now top try scorer in the league. Darren Oxley had another influential game in the centre with the team well lead by Paul Hennessy.

Chinnor 32pts Harlequins 7pts.

THE Chinnor pack paved the way for this convincing win at Kingsey Road on Saturday. In perfect playing conditions it was the Harlequins who set the early pace, ensconced as they were in the Chinnor 22 for at least the first quarter of the game. That they came away scoreless in this period was a result of a solid Chinnor defence and Andy Noyce, their fly-half, missing a very kickable penalty.

Pressure should mean points but unfortunately for
Quins this was not the case. When Chinnor did break out of their own half, it was not long before they scored via Paul Hennessy who forced his way over the line in the 27th minute.
With Ed Devine going over from a rolling maul, Jon Brooks scoring on the half-time whistle and Williams converting,
Chinnor were well in control.

With their forwards laying the foundation and the backs
spinning the ball wide, Eric Brown added two more tries and with Williams converting the second of these and a penalty, Chinnor were well and truly in the ascendancy. Baxter then scored a consolation try with Noyce
converting, to wrap up the game.

CHINNOR entered unchartered territory when they visited Down Grange to take on Basingstoke on Saturday, in their first league game of the season.
Basingstoke, who were relegated from National League Division 3 South last year, were quickly into their stride putting Chinnor onto the defensive for at least the first 20 minutes.
It came as no surprise when they went into the lead via a Humberstone penalty after Chinnor were caught off-side in front of their posts. With Lovegrove going over from a rolling maul minutes later, then
Gareth Jones scoring after a Buckland break through a porous Chinnor defence, Humberstone added the conversion and Chinnor found themselves 15 points a drift having had hardly any possession to mount attacks of their own.
The line-out was the main culprit with Basingstoke’s big second row calling the shots. Chinnor began to play with more composure and from a quickly taken penalty a speculative kick ahead by Joe Winpenny, saw the ball bounce kindly for the speedy Lloyd Hoogstander to gather and touch down. A Williams’conversion and then a penalty was awarded when Hoogstander was tackled without the ball, putting Chinnor within striking distance at half-time.It was a roll reversal in the second half with Chinnor taking the game to the opposition. Two Richard Williams’ penalties for holding on, and killing the ball in the ruck respectively, resulted in
Chinnor taking the lead and Mantle going into the sin-bin. Chinnor were now dominating. A driving maul saw Chinnor add to their lead when Joe Winpenny went over with Williams converting. Chinnor had now scored 23pts without reply. However the game turned again when an attempted kick to the corner by
Williams was charged down and although Chinnor got to the ball first, they were penalised for holding on and Humherstone put the home side back in contention. A Lambert try in the corner meant the game was all square with at least 15 minutes left on the clock. Basingstoke were penalised for throwing a punch at a line-outand Williams kicked a long penalty to put Chinnor in the lead once more which they held on to the final whistle.
This win was the result of the character that Chinnor
showed by not letting their heads drop after Basingstoke’s initial salvo. They regrouped well under the leadership of acting captain Paul Hennessy who was influential throughout. Richard Williams with his goal kicking and general play, Lloyd Hoogstander with his speed and enthusiam, Joe Winpenny and Mike Cook for their work-rate also had good games in this
solid Chinnor performance.
Basingstoke 23 Chinnor 26
Photo: Chinnor Captain Paul Hennessy with the ball and Morgan Thompson scrum half.