RAQUETS Fitness Centre in Thame, is preparing to host the Oxfordshire Closed Graded Squash Tournament, which will take place on April 17-19. 2015.
The A grade entry is open to anyone who lives in Oxfordshire, was born in Oxfordshire or is a member of an Oxfordshire squash club. All other grades are open to everyone from anywhere and of any standard as they are graded.
Racquets’ Squash coach, Sue Martin-Downhill, explained: “There’ll be grades from County (A grade) down to E grade – or lower depending on the entry. We’ll also split into ladies or mens if there are enough ladies. Ladies who wish to play in the mens grades should enter the mens grade.
“So if you play squash and know the rules, then please don’t hesitate to join us for a fun but competitive weekend of squash.”
A Thame couple who are organising a 24 hour charity football match later in the month, are looking for people to take part and help with the event.
Donna and Michael Webb have a very personal reason for wanting to raise funds for the Special Care Baby Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. In March 2013 their daughter Sophie was delivered at the JR by emergency Cesarean section, following a placental abruption and needed the care of the Unit to overcome her traumatic birth. Donna and Sophie spent six days in hospital before they were able to go home. Sophie is now a very lively and healthy little girl and her parents have decided to show their appreciation for the care she received by organising the football match.
The event is taking place from 11am on Saturday, April 25, until 11am on Sunday, April 26, at Lord Williams Lower School sports hall in Thame. The format will be a six-a-side match with rolling substitutions as players get tired and need a rest. Funds will be raised by players getting sponsorship and there will also be a raffle.
Donna and Michael are keen to get more players and are also looking for help on the day with refereeing, providing refreshments and being responsible for first aid.
If you are interested in playing or helping out in any way, please get in touch with Donna and Michael at donnahunt19@hotmail.co.uk
Silent View Windows, The Cottage Bakery and Zen Hair Design are kindly covering the costs of the event.
MISSED chances and some poor defending ultimately cost United on Tuesday, March 31, as they lost to FA Vase semi-finalists Highworth Town.
Image courtesy of Highworth Town FC
It could, and perhaps should, have been very different if United had taken their early chances. After only 20 seconds of the match, a good move down the Thame left saw Adam Morris cross to an unmarked Andy Gledhill whose header from six yards went narrowly wide. Two minutes later and a first time 20-yard effort from Ben Gray went wide with, on nine minutes, Gray again placing his effort wide.
After 16 minutes, Gledhill’s low cross along the edge of the six yard box looked to be heading to Gray at the far post, but the home keeper somehow managed to push the ball away before Gray connected.
United were made to pay five minutes later. A shot from Callum Parsons came back off the bar, before Dan Drewett headed over. However, the referee – who had a thoroughly undistinguished match – seemed to see an offence after the header had been made and awarded a spot kick, that Bohane scored comfortably.
The remainder of the half was fairly even, albeit United could have equalised on 36 minutes when, after good inter-play on the edge of the Highworth box, Dan West was put through but his effort was scuffed and Kevin Tate cleared.
Highworth had the benefit of the wind in the second half and extended their lead on 51 minutes. Parsons was given time and space in the Thame box to turn and fire beyond Matt Tapping. United then enjoyed a spell of possession without really creating any opportunities, with the lead extended further on 69 minutes when Liam Edmonson headed a corner home despite the presence of a Thame player on the goal line.
United continued to press and almost scored a consolation on 86 minutes when a close range header was well saved by the home keeper.
Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division – Highworth Town 3 Thame United 0
CHARLIE Lay of Barley Hill Primary School, Thame, showed just how attention in lessons produces quality results when he won the squash B grade in Racquets March, One-Day tournament last Saturday (28/3).
Racquets squash coaches, Will John (left) and Sue Martin-Downhill (right) with the junior squash players
Charlie has been playing squash for three months, learning alongside some of his school mates and others from Dinton, Cuddington and John Hampden schools. Racquets coach Sue Martin-Downhill said: “‘Charlie shows a great understanding of the game and uses skill with the racket to beat his opponents.”
The runner-up in the same grade was James Carr, also from Barley Hill Primary School. Sue said: “We find it amazing that James has learnt so much, as his concentration often seems to waver during lessons. He played exceptionally well. The games in this grade were highly competitive but as all the entrants have become good mates, the spirit of the games was brilliant.
“Due to an improvement in standard by many of our players this year, the A grade included 12 players. Previous winner, Luca Babb from Henley, sent his friend Art Lawton in his stead as school studies had taken priority, and Art produced the goods for Henley once again. Art won the grade in a thrilling final against Racquets academy player, Nick Baker. ”
Sue continued: “We were very pleased with Nick’s form this weekend. His game play has become much stronger after playing more box league games and joining in these tournaments.”
Another previous winner, Ollie Ralphs, was unable to play as he is on crutches following a football accident but it is hoped that will be able to take part in future tournaments.
DESPITE outscoring visitors Bishop Stortford by seven tries to six, Chinnor lost by just one point on Saturday, going down 45-46.
Chinnor had the best of the first half scoring four tries to go in 26-14 ahead at the break. Chinnor showed power in the pack with skipper To’oala going over for a pair but also pace and power from the backs. Martey and Hayes also scored for Chinnor in a dominant first half with Whiteley and Hankin going over for Stortford.
The second half saw a fight back from visitors, Bishops Stortford. They began with a converted penalty try on 44 minutes to reduce the deficit to 26-21. Stortford continued to attack and were rewarded with tries from Hankin, Neville and Coleman in a golden 10 minute period to go 40-26 ahead. Chinnor then began their own fightback with tries from Hayes, Oliver and Tyas but the two Stortford penalty goals at the end of the match were enough to see them through by the solitary point.
Chinnor scorers:
Tries: Alfie To’oala (3, 23 Min), Robbie Martey (12 Min) Jack Hayes (32, 65 Min) Darren Oliver (74 Min) James Tyas (79 Min)
WITH Kidlington unbeaten in the league since Christmas, and United with seven players missing and suffering their worst form of the season, few would have predicted the result at Yarnton Lane.
Luke Ricketts, who scored Thame’s only goal against Kidlington on Saturday
The absenteeism meant changes to the starting line-up, with Jon Coverely coming in at centre back following a month on the sidelines through injury, Shannon Jesson moving to left back, and Andy Gledhill playing off centre forward Ben Gray. Playing with a strong wind in their favour in the first half, United enjoyed plenty of possession although chances were limited. The first real opportunity came on 20 minutes when Gledhill turned his marker on the edge of the box, but his effort on goal was blocked. Dan West then saw a shot go over the bar, whilst the nearest Kidlington came to a goal was on 28 minutes when shot across the face of the goal saw keeper Matt Tapping lose his footing and the ball went wide of goal.
The only goal of the match arrived two minutes before the break. Kidlington were unable to clear their lines and the ball fell to Luke Ricketts on the wide left, whose first time half-volley flew in to the far corner of the net giving the home keeper no chance. It was a much deserved half-time lead with united anticipating defending for much of the second half given the weather conditions.
Whilst that proved to be the case, Tapping was rarely troubled and, indeed, the best chance of the half fell to West on 61 minutes when, after another goalmouth scramble, his first time effort from 8 yards was blocked. For their part, Kidlington pressed, and their best opportunities came from deep crosses in to the box, but whether finding the head or feet of the home strikers, the efforts went wide.
As it was United held on for three points to complete the double over a Kidlington side who, before the match, were sitting third in the table.
Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division – 28 March 2015 – Kidlington 0 Thame United 1
IN very blustery and wet conditions Chinnor managed to win the toss and elected to play with the wind, in the first half their Oxfordshire Cup final match with Witney on Sunday.
Captain Sam Nicholls (right) and pack leader Matthew Wilkinson, receive the trophy from Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green
Immediately from kick off Witney failed to kick the ball 10 m, and so the restart came from a scrum. Immediately Pill picked the ball from the back of the scrum and ran blind taking contact before off loading to Mendi, an ever present danger on the wing. Mendi broke through two tackles and was looking to get to the try line before being hauled down. Aslett came across in support and took the off load and went over scoring Chinnor’s first try inside the first few minutes. With the strong, windy conditions Nicholls missed the extras but Chinnor were on the board and confidence was strong .
From the restart Chinnor pinned Witney back into their half and pressed quickly, and with solid tackling. Aslett and Scorey controlled territory in the midfield with Nicholls and Church always hungry for turnover ball. The Chinnor forwards worked tirelessly in what became a war of attrition during the first half, and pressed Witney back with every tackle. Meredith and Kent were strong in the tackles and covered a high number of metres in support of the back line. The boys showed fantastic commitment and effort in preventing Witney any space and this pressure eventually told with turnover ball, which Chinnor pounced on and a series of forwards plays around the corner led to Burkett crashing through tackles to score. This time Nicholls added the two taking the score to 12-0.
The half ended with Chinnor resisting wave after wave of attack from Witney and some outstanding tackling and jackling from Meredith, Kent and Constable, who had already won three scrums against the head from hooker, keeeping the pressure up. Sadly for Meredith he was no longer able to take any further part of the game with an ankle injury and so gave way to Jasper Green coming in on the flank.
Turning around, Chinnor expected Witney to play with the wind and use kicks to move territory. This never materialised thanks to the relentless work from Chinnor’s forwards. Burkett, Bird, Rumble and Wilkinson were immense in carrying the ball and taking on a powerful Witney pack up front. Church controlled the game intelligently and moved the pack around the corner taking territory again and again. Green linked very well between the forwards and backs and created several breaks.
With tiredness coming into effect, tackles started to slip and Chinnor took advantage by spinning the ball to the right with Sewter making a telling burst from Scorey’s break, before an inside pass to Nicholls left the fly half with a 20 m dash for the line which he followed with an excellent conversion into the wind.
Shortly afterwards, Nicholls took a heavy knock which resulted in a substitution bringing on Wise to full back and Davies stepping into number 10. Davies played very well and took responsibility for carrying the ball time and again with the forwards continuing to drive at the line. Tiredness was really taking its toll on both teams and some poor handling and a kick through, allowed Witney space in the Chinnor 22 m. A series of penalties against Chinnor eventually resulted in an overlap and Witney scored a well executed try moving the score to 19-5.
The last 10 minutes of the game were scrappy and intense, with both teams gaining and losing territory. Chinnor dug deep with all 15 boys showing some amazing dedication and belief in their tackling. With pressure really telling, the referee blew up and the game was won!
Well done to Chinnor under 15’s for a brilliant performance in such difficult conditions and a very well done to Witney for some great determination and strong forwards play in what was an attritional game. The Cup belongs to Chinnor for 2015 and the boys will take a well earned break for Easter!
We give our thanks to Jasper Green who was sadly playing his last game for Chinnor before heading to USA. We wish him well and thank him for the years of great rugby he has given Chinnor and look forward to seeing him flourish in The States.
SOURCE: Contributed by Salim Sajid – Chinnor Under 15’s Coach
THAME Football Partnership (TFP) has signed an agreement with Aylesbury United FC (AUFC) for AUFC to play their home, first team fixtures for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons at the ASM Stadium at Meadow View Park, in Thame.
Aylesbury United currently play in the Southern League Central Division and this has necessitated some enhancements to the ASM Stadium to acquire Ground Grading D, which have been completed and approved by the FA this week.
TFP Chairman, Neal Garnett, commented: “We are delighted to announce this agreement. In the past Thame United have played at Aylesbury United’s Buckingham Road ground, and we are pleased to be able to reciprocate.
“Commercially, this initiative is very significant for TFP. It will assist our continued investment at Meadow View Park and improve our facilities for both our Senior and Junior sections.”
Initial capital projects include improving irrigation on the site’s external pitches and the installation of dug-outs and pitch barriers for a second, full size pitch.
RACQUETS Fitness Centre in Thame’s new professional coach, Will Johns, and regular coach, Roger Ridler, will be providing coaching in technique, instruction on game play and fitness training, as part of its Easter Squash Camp for youngsters.
The Squash Camp is aimed at both beginners and experienced players alike, aged eight and above. Those aged 11 and above will spend time in the gym too.
The dates of the Squash Camp are – First week of Easter Holidays: Monday 30th March – Thursday 2nd April, and second week of Easter holidays: Tuesday 7th – Friday 10th April.
Go to the website for more information and to sign up for the Easter Squash Camp.
RACQUETS Fitness Centre, Thame, is now taking entries for the Oxfordshire Closed Graded squash Tournament 2015.
The A grade of the Tournament is closed to Oxfordshire players who live in Oxfordshire, play squash at an Oxfordshire squash club or were born in Oxfordshire. The other grades are open to ALL players from anywhere.
The Oxfordshire Closed Graded squash Tournament 2015 takes place on April 17 – 19, and full details and entry form can be found on the Racquets’ website: LINK HERE
The A grade entry is open to anyone who lives in Oxfordshire, was born in Oxfordshire or is a member of an Oxfordshire squash club. All other grades are open to everyone from anywhere and of any standard as they are graded.
