A THAME man who caught the running bug after taking part in the Thame 10K, has now set his sights on the Oxford Half Marathon, to raise funds the hospice that cared for his late mother who died shortly afterwards.
Dan Cross, 35, told Thame.Net: “I’m doing the event on behalf of Sobell House Hospice who recently provided end-of-life care for my mum who had – like me – lived in Thame all her life. Obviously I am keen to raise as much money for them as possible.
“I only started running at the start of this year. I caught the competitive bug after doing the Thame 10k back in June, and unfortunately mum passed away shortly afterwards. I was eager to give something back to Sobell House after all they have provided for our family, and doing the Oxford Half Marathon on their behalf seemed like a logical thing to enter… at the time!
“I have been following a 10-week training plan and hope to finish the race in under 1hr 40mins.
HISTORY was made at Church Meadow on Saturday (02/09) when the final league day of the cricket season saw Thame Town Cricket Club beat local rivals, Aston Rowant by 19 runs, and win promotion to the Home Counties Premier League, Division One, for the first time !
Thame Town Cricket Club’s first XI after winning promotion on Saturday
TTCC’s second team secured a top-half finish in Division Four, but the thirds narrowly missed out on promotion from Division Nine. Here are the full match reports:
AFTER winning the toss and batting, Thame struggled to build any momentum. Callum Russell held the innings together with an excellent 62, but his dismissal sparked a late flurry of wickets to leave Thame tottering on the brink at 139-9. Enter another Russell, brother Andy, who in combination with Will Rooney (12) played intelligently to pick away at an increasingly-frustrated visiting attack. Andy finished with 26 not out as Thame’s final pair added 45 crucial runs, Thame finishing on 184-9, with Rowant’s bowling points guaranteeing them this year’s title.
When Thame bowled, despite another excellent spell with the new ball from Mike Higgs, dismissing Jewell and McDougall, Rowant moved comfortably to 75-2. However, Thame again showed their spirit to take 4 quick wickets to swing the game back at 79-6. Only a win would do for them and the tension was evident. Higgs returned to remove the dangerous Condon (55), but a partnership of 40 between Morrick and Bethell put the game back in the balance.
Hassam Mushtaq, as so often, provided the breakthrough, dismissing Bethell to reduce Rowant to 145-8. Morrick was then superbly run out by skipper Beard and, fittingly, it was overseas star Gamindu Kanishka – finishing as the top run scorer in the league – who dismissed the final Rowant batsman to spark jubilant scenes at Church Meadow.
Rowant were all out for 165, meaning Thame joins them in the Home Counties Premier League Division One next season, for the first time in the club’s history.
Neilson ton in vain as seconds are defeated
THAME second XI faced local rivals Dinton. Losing the toss and batting, James Neilson (104) anchored Thame’s innings with an excellent, mature knock. Apart from Neilson, however, only Matt Furness (23) and Alaistair Thomas (21*) contributed much to the total. Thame nevertheless reached 223, which they felt they could defend. In response, however, Thame struggled to dismiss Dinton’s top order, with Ur Rehman (52) and Lloyd (52) edging Dinton towards their target. The introduction of Matt Ridgway (5-64) threatened to swing the game, but big hitting from Shahid (38*) helped Dinton home on the final ball of the game.
Despite this loss, Thame second XI finished fifth, a top-half finish in just their first season in Cherwell League Division Four.
Third XI fall short at the last hurdle
THAME thirds went into their final league game with the possibility of promotion to Division Eight of the Cherwell League but, in the end, it was not to be. Asked to bat on a difficult wicket by visitors Oxford Downs thirds, they lost wickets regularly, with only Justin Avery (52) really coping with the conditions, albeit well supported by James McStay (25*) and Guy Holmes (22). When Oxford Downs batted, now chasing Thame’s 163, they looked in control throughout, despite giving a number of chances, with four batsmen making 30 or more, as they cruised to 163 for 4 in just 29 overs.
Oxford Downs can now look forward to Division Eight cricket next year, leaving Thame thirds to lick their wounds before planning an even more determined campaign in 2018.
With the league season now over, Thame now turns its full attention to fundraising to raise the last tranche of money needed to start building their new clubhouse. Thame residents can help the club over the line by making a donation at:
CHINNOR’S last visit to Clifton back in March resulted in an unexpected victory for the home side; an outcome which Chinnor were determined not to be repeated. So, on a glorious day on Saturday, September 2, Chinnor went straight into the attack, driving forward from a five metre lineout and spinning out second phase possession for winger Phil Chesters to score in the corner for an unconverted try.
Clifton responded well but were tackled just short of the try line and were then awarded a penalty which was converted by fly half, Leversley.
Jonny Bentley’s astute kicking maintained Chinnor’s presence deep in the Clifton’s half, but unforced handling errors prevented Chinnor from scoring. The forwards’ pressure and drive took Ben Manning up to the try line where he was judged to be held up giving Chinnor a slender 3 – 5 point lead at half time.
Chinnor began the second half with both of their locks side-lined with injury. They played an expansive game allowing centre Nawaqaliva to penetrate the Clifton defence. The supporting pack drove forward switching the direction of play allowing skipper Danny Barnes to power himself over in the corner for an unconverted try. Minutes later, full back Kieran Goss counter-attacked with a 40 metre sprint down the right flank linking up with Barnes and Bentley who carried the ball up to the Clifton 22 metre line. The ball was then whipped out to the left wing for Phil Chesters to score his second try. Bentley converted to give Chinnor a convincing 3 – 17 lead.
Props Bingham and Price put in some impressive drives but Chinnor lost their dominance in the line out and lacked the possession required for further tries. Clifton’s Leversley made an outside break and took play up to Chinnor’s line where their skipper, No 8, Andy Chesters drove over for their first try converted by Leversley. This gave Clifton the confidence to attack with scrum half Spencer taking a quick penalty and exploiting gaps in Chinnor’s defence. He linked with his forwards who put lock, Harper, over for a try converted by Leversley and bringing the scores level at 17 each.
Clifton deprived Chinnor of possession and a deft grubber kick by Spencer put the ball bouncing into Chinnor’s 22 metre area where Clifton collected the ball to put full back Roberts over for their third try in 13 minutes. Leversley converted for a 24 – 17 lead.
With six minutes to go, Chinnor threw everything into attack with another Nawaqaliva break fuelling a forward drive towards Clifton’s try line where No 8, Alex Bradley, was dispossessed. Chinnor’s determination and swift handling eventually allowed Nawaqaliva to squeeze through Clifton’s defence for a last minute, bonus point try which Bentley converted to draw the game CLIFTON 24 – CHINNOR 24
Next week Chinnor face Henley at home in what promises to be an exciting encounter between the two local rivals at ‘fortress Chinnor’.
SADLY for Thame Town Cricket Club, the joy of winning all three games in the league was tempered by the very sad loss of one of their regular scorers, Liz Chubb, to a heart-attack last week.
The late Elizabeth Chubb
Thame’s three wins last Saturday dedicated to the late Liz Chubb
AFTER winning all three of their important games last Saturday, August 26, Thame’s players dedicated those wins to the popular figure of Liz Chubb, who died last Wednesday, August 23, in Margate Hospital, from what is understood to have been a heart attack. Liz had been a regular scorer for the club in recent years and her sense of humour and love of the game will be sorely missed. All three matches were preceded by a minute’s silence and all three teams wore black armbands during their matches.
Firsts dismantle lowly Reading to set up title-decider with Aston Rowant
AFTER winning the toss, Thame firsts elected to field. Mike Higgs was the star, as he took the first four Reading wickets to fall in a fine 10 over spell (4 for 27). Gamindu Kanishka and Hassam Mushtaq both took two wickets apiece as Reading were shot out for just 100. The Thame reply was emphatic as openers Callum Russell and Will Sutcliffe put on 80, before Sutcliffe was the only wicket to fall, for 45. Russell remained unbeaten on 42, as Thame cruised home with 25 overs to spare. They host already-promoted Aston Rowant this Saturday, September 2, the final day of the season, for a top-of-the-table clash, knowing that a win will guarantee Thame promotion into Division One of Home Counties Premier League.
Seconds defeat promotion-chasing Brackley
ASKED to bat first, Thame seconds got off to a rocky start, with only skipper Matt Furness (25) getting runs in the top order. However, a partnership of almost 100 runs between Justin Avery (53) and Alastair Thomas (46) helped to shift the momentum. Youngsters Ben Buckland (27) and Evan Davies (17) then built on this momentum with some impressive boundaries, helping Thame to reach 203 from their allotted overs. In response, Brackley’s batsmen were never behind the required run rate. However, Pete Tervet’s dismissal of three of the top order (3-39), kept Thame’s hopes of winning intact. Just as it looked as if Brackley were going to edge it, their dangerous opening-batsman Eric Carpenter (95) was dismissed by Buckland, with the help of sharp wicket-keeping from Dave Saunders. After this, tight bowling from Alastair Thomas (4-38) broke through Brackley’s tail end, as they fell 19 runs short of Thame’s total. Thame 2nd XI climb to fifth in the table and will seek to ensure a top-half finish in their final game at Dinton this Saturday.
Thirds move to third spot with fifth consecutive win
LOSING the toss, Thame thirds batted first and Banbury fifths made early inroads, with the hosts soon in trouble at 29-4. However, a brilliant century from man-of-the-match Guy Holmes (109*), swung the game back to Thame. His fifth-wicket partnership of 144 runs with skipper Vim Desai (44), allowed for a tactical declaration at 191-6. In reply, Banbury looked up for the chase but were soon pegged back by tight bowling from Ian McStay. The dangerous Ahmed (61) then set the pace before falling to Vim Desai (4-21). Thame then made quick work of the Dinton tail, thanks to the bowling of Neil Smith (2-12), Will Bruce-Morgan (1-24) and Lewis Ludlam (1-1), supported by sharp keeping and stumpings from Paddy Harris, finally running out winners by 94 runs. A victory in the final league game against Oxford Downs this Saturday will guarantee second spot and promotion.
This coming Saturday, August 3, is huge for the club – both the firsts and thirds need to win to secure promotion and both are at home – the firsts at Church Meadow and the thirrds at Lord Williams’s Upper School.
THE target date for the start of the work on Thame Town Cricket Club’s new club house and facilities, has had to be pushed back from September 2017.
An artist’s impression of the new clubhouse and facilities for Thame Cricket Club
Thame Town Council, which is supporting the project and is loaning some of the funds, has today issued an explanation for the delay. The council’s statement reads:
“Back in October 2015, Thame Town Council agreed to work with, and support, Thame Town Cricket Club in realising their exciting vision of a new Cricket Club Clubhouse / Pavilion at Church Meadow, delivering both the future needs of the cricket club and a wider community facility.
“Detailed plans have been created and revised full planning permission was granted in May 2017. A significant amount of funding has been secured, in line with professionally estimated overall project costings.
“The first part of the tendering process has just been completed, and as sometimes is the case in such situations, the tenders received are in excess of the budget estimates being worked to. There are various reasons, including the high-quality standard of build required in such a sensitive Conservation Area; ground investigations that have revealed a need for significantly more sophisticated foundation requirements and a general increase in construction costs since 2015.
“The Steering / Working Group have considered various possible next steps in detail, and have agreed to re-open discussions with the tenderers to ‘value engineer’ the costs to an acceptable figure. During the tendering process, Thame Town Cricket Club secured additional funding, and is concentrating on attracting further finance to apply to the project.
“There will be a delay whilst these steps are completed, and as a result the target start on site for this exciting project has moved back from September 2017.”
MORE INFORMATION on the Thame Cricket Club’s project HERE
ONLY two more weeks of the league left to play and Thame Town Cricket Club are in with a shout of promotion for both the First team and the Thirds.
Meanwhile, the Seconds are safe in mid-table in Cherwell Division Four. Match reports from last weekend:
Firsts produce another nail-biting victory to keep promotion hopes alive
AFTER losing the toss at home to Chesham, Thame openers Will Sutcliffe and Callum Russell (pictured) got the hosts off to a blistering start, plundering 48 runs off the first 7 overs. The loss of Sutcliffe for 21 halted the Thame charge, but runs continued to flow as Kanishka (45)helped Russell (78)swell the total to 150-1 with 16 overs left. From this platform however, Thame proceeded to collapse, losing their last 9 wickets for just 50 runs, finishing 200 all out.
Callum Russell
On a good wicket, Thame needed a good start and it was Will Rooney who delivered again, striking twice to leave Chesham wobbling at 10-2. Chesham then rebuilt steadily to move the score to 100-4 at drinks, with the game finely balanced. At 150-5 they looked to have the chase under control. However, tight spells from Beard (2-17) and Kanishka (2-28) brought Thame back into contention. Rooney returned to pick up the key wicket of Tom Free (34), in the penultimate over, to leave Chesham 196-8, requiring 5 runs to win off the last. In a bold move, Kanishka switched from seam to spin for the last over, and drama ensued. The first ball was pulled hard out to Rooney who spilled a difficult chance. With the batsman attempting two, Rooney’s throw dismissed the well-set France for 20. The next ball was a dot and then Chesham’s number 11 was bowled swiping across the line, sparking jubilant scenes at Church Meadow. Thame thus rise to second in the table, with their promotion fate now in their own hands. They travel to bottom of the league Reading this Saturday, hoping to set up a title-decider at home to Aston Rowant on the final day of the season, September 2.
Second XI lose to Horspath in game they should have won
LOSING the toss and being put in to bat, Thame 2nds got off to a rocky start. Horspath 3rds quickly made use of what looked to be an unreliable pitch, with only skipper Matt Furness (35) managing to get many early runs. Richard Carr (44) and Matt Ridgway (48) nevertheless helped to shift the momentum of the game, helping Thame to reach what looked to be a good score of 168 on a difficult batting track. However, with the track flattening out as the day went on and loose bowling from Thame, Jones (34) and Coltman (25) helped steer Horspath towards Thame’s total, which they reached with just 3 balls to go. Sam Lachlan was the pick of the Thame bowlers, with figures of 3-35. Despite the loss, Thame 2nd XI earned 10 points, meaning that they remain in Division 4, with two games to spare.
Four straight wins for thrids after surviving pitch scare
THAME thirds travelled to Islip to face Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts (OBNCC), and were greeted by a minefield of a pitch. Choosing to bowl first, James McStay ripped through most of the top order with a sharp spell of 4-13. Ian McStay (3-12) and John Phippen (2-9)also claimed wickets, with Ed Mather finishing the innings off with his 4th ball. OBNCC could only manage 48, which on this pitch was not a bad score. The chase started badly, as Thame lost 3 early wickets, giving OBNCC a glimmer of hope.
Oli Sutcliffe (13) and Guy Holmes (10) then did the hard work , but with wickets falling John Phippen was left to hit the winning runs with Thame 49-7. The win means Thame secured a shoot-out for promotion between themselves, Tiddington, Challow & Childrey and Oxford Downs in the last 2 games. They welcome Banbury fifths this Saturday.
CHINNOR Ladies FC have been drawn at home in the first round of the SSE Womens FA Cup, against New London Lionesses.
Image courtesy of @OxfordshireFA
The game itself will be played on September 3, with a 2pm kick off at the Chinnor Community Stadium, against the London side, on what will be Chinnor’s first game of the new season.
Chinnor have strengthened and recruited over the summer, with the emphasis still on development, and having been beaten 5-2 last season by Newbury, the local women’s team aim to go one step further.
Team Manager, Gemma Clarke remarked: ‘”We’re all excited for the new season; the whole squad is positive and ready to go. We’ve had players return to the squad after family commitments, and we’ve managed to recruit players from further afield who understand the whole ethos of the team and the club. That said, we’re always on the look out.
“We’re honoured to be involved in the FA Cup and its a fantastic opportunity with it being a home fixture this season, for the whole club and area to get behind us, regardless of the result.”
Chinnor Ladies were busy in the community on Monday, August 21st, as Katie Wales, one of the team’s coaches, was guest coach at the Oxfordshire FA’s first CPD event of the new season, delivering counter attacking coaching, alongside Mark Haining, Oxfordshire FA’s Coach Developer Officer.
Chinnor Ladies were invited by the County FA to take part in the session, which was aimed at increasing female participation in the sport. Katie is the first female to deliver coaching in such a session for the Oxfordshire FA, and everyone associated to the team is extremely proud.
LAST Wednesday, August 16, saw Chinnor Ladies FC kick off the inaugural ‘Charity Takes All’ Tournament, an 11-aside, three week long, pre-season competition, designed to help develop players, but also raise money for great causes.
Along side Chinnor Ladies FC, Oxford City Nomads (charity to be chosen), Aylesbury Ladies (playing for Florence Nightingale) and Flackwell Heath (playing for MS Unit at the Chilterns Hospital) played one another, to pick up points, with the eventual winner taking all entry fees to donate to their nominated charity. Chinnor, playing for the charity, Mind, picked up a 1-0 win against Aylesbury & Flackwell Heath, but lost 2-0 in their final game against a strong Oxford City.
Katie Wales, Coaching Officer for Chinnor FC, commented: “We’ve been looking at different ways to start pre-season and give the ladies a good run out, but helping the development of the players, involve other clubs in the same boat, and raise some money for charities in the area. Wednesday’s event was pulled together over the last fortnight, but we’ve seen around 60 players turn up and play some decent football.”
The tournament returns on August 23, with the final week being played on August 30. The winning charity stands to win £420.
RAQUETS Fitness Centre in Thame is gearing up for its next big event, the Open Doubles over the weekend September 2 – 3.
Coach Simon Martin said: “We have a £300 prize fund, a beer festival starting on the Friday night and Live Music on the Saturday evening.
“You don’t need to enter with a partner. Anyone without a partner will be matched up in the week before,” he explained. “And if you haven’t played doubles before but want to give it a try – we will happily teach you the rules and the tactics on the weekend.”
THAME Town Cricket Club are celebrating after three wins and a draw from their four matches last weekend, August 5-6.
Gami Kanishka
Thame first XI put in a commanding performance in the final timed game of the season to demolish Shipton-under-Wychwood last Saturday. Despite the threat of Shipton’s overseas fast bowler Sanklecha, Thame’s batsmen rose to the challenge superbly. The seamer finished wicketless as the top order rallied around Thame’s own overseas star, Gamindu Kanishka (pictured). With great support from the other batsmen, on a difficult wicket, Kanishka stole the show with a sensational 122 not out, from just 117 balls, allowing Thame to declare on 252-4 inside 46 overs.
Taking 10 Shipton wickets in 44 overs was not going to be easy against batsmen intent on defence but Thame’s spinners showed excellent patience in chipping away at the Shipton top order. Mike Higgs in particular was faultless in producing figures of 5-24 from 18 overs, but with 25 minutes of play remaining Thame still required 4 Shipton wickets to take a well-deserved victory. It was left to Andy Russell (3-6 from 9 overs) to spark jubilant scenes as he had the final batsman held at short leg by Adam Phippen with 10 minutes remaining. Shipton were finally dismissed for just 58.
Thame still sit fourth in the HCPL, within touching distance of promotion with four games remaining.
Firsts finish second in T20 group after beating rivals Aston Rowant
TMAE welcomed Aston Rowant to Church Meadow on Tuesday, August 1, in the last game of the group stages. Batting first, Captain Will Sutcliffe led the way with an unbeaten 72, supported by Callum Russell (29) and Gamindu Kanishka (26), as Thame posted 149.
Adam Phippen and Will Rooney claimed 2 wickets each and Jeffcock, Kanishka and Higgs (1-7 off 4) all picked up one apiece. Tight bowling along with 2 run outs, meant Rowant ended up on 130 after their 20 overs. This means that Thame now travel to Wormsley on September 16th for Finals Day, to compete for the Wilf Bennett Cup.
Second XI dig in at Shipton-under-Wychwood
WINNING the toss and electing to bat, Shipton got off to a strong start, with runs coming from Swann (38) and Nelson (45). However, the introduction of Alastair Thomas (2-42) and Chris Penny (3-60) tightened things up for Thame. Quick run scoring in the final overs did nevertheless push Shipton’s total up to 198. In response, Thame faced an uphill battle, with only 42 overs to reach the target. Despite runs from skipper Matt Furness (38) and Daniel Patey (52), Thame ended on 160 for 8, forcing a draw. Thame welcome local rivals Tiddington to Church Meadow this Saturday, August 13.
Thame thirds keep pushing for promotion
Thame thirds beat second-placed Challow & Childrey thirds, in Wantage, in a rain-affected match, by 65 runs. Thame were asked to bat first and were bowled out for a competitive score of 166. Andy Jinman once again led with the bat, making 61, with good support from Oli Sutcliffe (29) and Ian Chappell (22), as well as useful runs from James McStay (14) and Ian McStay (12). In reply, Challow were put under pressure by opening bowlers Ian McStay (3 wickets) and Pete Tervet (2). The run rate rarely climbed above 2 runs per over and Will Bruce-Morgan then chipped in with 3 wickets in a controlled seven-over spell. C&C were eventually bowled out for 101 in 32 overs and Thame claimed 25 points to remain in the promotion hunt. They are now just 15 points behind second-placed Challow with 4 games still to play and entertain Stokenchurch seconds this Saturday.
If you would like to help Dan reach his £400 target, and even exceed it, you can donate by visiting his JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/the-running-dan
