Category: Sports News

HAVING defeated Oxford City Nomads 3-2 in September, Thame United completed the double at Court Place Farm Stadium on Saturday (23/11) when they beat them 1-2. Like the September match, it was a close game which either side could have won. United fielded the same starting eleven as last week and ex Thame keeper, Milan Barisic, was in goal for Nomads. The win strengthens Thame’s seventh league place.

The opening exchanges were fairly even but in the eighth minute Phil Pykett played a long ball to Lewis Cordice which put him through of goal. Barisic came out to meet the threat and dived at Cordice’s feet. The challenge looked fair but the referee saw something amiss and a penalty was awarded. Niall Hodgkins took the spot kick, which Barisic got a hand to but Hodgkins followed up to knock the ball home. The game ebbed and flowed but United had better chances and Cordice was unlucky to see his shot hit the crossbar. Nomads equalised on 27 minutes when Adam Morris hit a 25-yard free kick into the bottom left corner of Thame’s goal. Both teams had further chances but it was 1-1 at the break.

The game continued much the same after the break with some entertaining end to end football. The breakthrough came with 15 minutes of normal time remaining, with a quality goal rarely seen at this level. Defender Ian Pykett collected the ball on Thame’s right, near the halfway line, and ran at goal, dribbling past at least three defenders before, just inside the penalty area, he hit a low ball to Luke Ricketts who calmly fired it in near the left post. It was a quite brilliant run by Pykett who had an excellent game. United were on the back foot for the final few minutes and Nomads had a penalty appeal turned down, but helped by some good goalkeeping by Lee Farrow, United held out to claim their victory.

Thame United: Farrow, I Pykett, P Pykett, Hercules, Rhodes, lynch, Connelly, Jesson, Hodgkins Cordice (Collins), Ricketts.

The reserve team is at home to Chalfont Wasps at the ASM Stadium next Saturday (30th), whilst the first team visit Headington Amateur’s in the League Cup. The next first team home fixture is on Saturday 7th December when Abingdon Town are the visitors.

SOURCE: Contributed by Bob Dixon

(1) ADNL Division four  November 20, 2013 – Match report (contributed) – WEDNESDAY’S match saw the Thame Hurricanes pitted against top of the division Hares, who were looking to consolidate their position of having suffered no defeats during the first half of the netball season.

Hurricanes got off to a tepid start, but warmed as the quarter got underway. Hares were very strong in defence against Hurricanes’ Shooters, Helen and Lucy who were blocked at every opportunity. Thame’s Coach (Shelley) requested more shouts for passing options, and urged her team to watch for the long passes across the shooting circle. The score at the end of Quarter One was 4 – 7 to Hares.

Hurricanes managed to get the first and second goals at the start of the second quarter which boosted their play even more, unsettling Hares by this show of strong passes and accurate play. Lynn and Jesse worked hard in mid court but were struggling to get to the Centre passes amidst a strong opposition defence. Half Time saw the score at 7 – 13 to Hares.

Carol came on for the Third Quarter to GA, and Lucy switched back to WA. There were some excellent passes into and across Hurricanes’ shooting area to enable Carol and Helen more opportunities to score and escape Hares’ tough defenders – although Helen did find herself on the floor on a couple of occasions, taking her defender with her at one point. Hurricanes’ defence stepped up a gear and Lyn and Nic made some excellent interceptions enabling them to get the ball back down the court. Tor worked really hard in mid court with some great movement and passing. At the end of Quarter Three the score was 11 – 22 to Hares.

Hares’ shooters seemed to lose their shooting eye this quarter, or was it the incredible defending by Hurricanes that put them off their game a little? They scored their fewest goals this quarter and Hurricanes had some excellent direct play into the circle and the coach was very happy.

Final Quarter score: 15 -25 to Hares.

Team: GK L Hopwood, GD N Renyard, WD T Bloxham, WA L Palmer/L Storey, GA C Storey, GS H Turner

(2)  Thame Cyclones V Southcott – ADNL division five – 5 – November 20, 2013

 THE match started well with some determined play from Cyclones with the score Seven each at the end of the first quarter. Southcott made some changes to their team positions and managed to take the lead by three goals at the end of the third quarter. Cyclones fought hard in the last quarter with some solid midcourt play from Penny (GD) Sam (WD) Amy (C) and Katy (WA).

However Southcott took advantage of their turnovers and with some outstanding shots from their GS, were able to maintain their lead with the final score Cyclones 23 – Southcott 25.  Joint players of the match were Katy (WA) and Sam (WD).

Photos by Liam Wing

PEOPLE who work with groups or individuals aged 60 plus are being offered a free training session to help them promote physical activity and raise awareness of the importance of keeping fit in later life.

The training, which is free to residents of South Oxfordshire, will highlight physical activity guidelines for those working with older people, highlight the importance of fitness, strength and balance, and raise awareness of the Physical Fitness MOT to engage older people in programmes and activities.

The session takes place on Saturday 30 November at Thame Leisure Centre, Oxford Road, Thame, between 9.30am and 3.30pm. Those wishing to take part should contact Hendriette Thorn, Participation Co-ordinator for South Oxfordshire, via hendriette.thorn@southandvale.gov.uk or by calling 01491 823175. 

This Active Ageing training is being provided by Later Life Training, in conjunction with Glasgow Caledonian University and the British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health. The course is being offered for free in South Oxfordshire thanks to funding from Go Active.

Cllr Bill Service, Cabinet Member for Leisure at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “Engaging with people to keep fit and healthy in later life is becoming increasingly important. This training will really benefit those who work with those aged 60 plus and ultimately the people they work with.”

For more information about Later Life Training please see http://www.laterlifetraining.co.uk

THAME United collected three  points at Flackwell Heath on Saturday (16/11) when they defeated their hosts 2-0. This was a good result for United as going into the game ’the Heathens’ were two league places above them. The result lifted Thame two places to seventh position in the league. It was however a very close game with ball possession and chances 50/50. The main difference between the teams was that Thame took their chances, whilst Flackwell squandered their’s.

Thame started brightly and went ahead in the 12th minute when they were awarded a free kick about 35-yards from goal, which Shannon Jesson took and hit a goal bound shot. The keeper stopped it but then spilled the ball allowing Niall Hodgkins to react quickly and fire home from close range. United were playing well and were quicker and more creative than their opponents. The second goal came on 18 minutes when Ollie Lynch played a through ball to Lewis Cordice, who ran at goal and hit a well placed, but not hard, shot past the keeper. Thame continued to have more possession for a while but, towards the end of the half, the home side came back and missed a good chance to pull a goal back.

Flackwell came out fired up after the break and immediately put Thame ‘on the back foot’. There was some heroic defending and goalkeeping by United, including a clearance off the line by Ian Pykett. It seemed however that every time a defender cleared the ball, it came back as the home side built another attack. Thame had the occasional break-away and Cordice was unlucky to see a shot go just wide. The pressure on Thame’s goal increased and the home side hit a goalpost. The final minutes were frantic and Lee Farrow made several good, and at least one outstanding save. Seconds before the final whistle the home side missed yet another good chance, but it was not their day and United held out to keep a clean sheet.

Thame United: Farrow, I Pykett, P Pykett, Hercules, Rhodes, lynch, Connelly (Johnston), Jesson, Hodgkins (Collins), Cordice (Hurley), Ricketts.

The next first team home fixture for Thame United is on Saturday, December 7, when Abingdon Town will be the visitors.

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THAME United progressed to the third round of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup at the ASM Stadium on Tuesday evening (12/11) when they defeated AFC Hinksey 2-1. Hinksey are currently top of Hellenic Division One East, having only lost two league games this season. They are a decent side and it was a close run thing as the game was drawn until the final minute of stoppage time. But with seconds to play, United scored a spectacular goal to clinch their victory.

Thame started brightly and within two minutes Nik Rhodes deflected a corner towards goal but, unluckily, the ball hit the Hinksey keeper. United looked more dangerous and created several chances but, as the half progressed the visitors grew in confidence and just before the break, Lee Farrow was forced to make an outstanding save. The game was goalless at half time.

Hinksey scored two minutes after the restart. Thame conceded a free kick which was only partly cleared and the ball fell to Kieran Davis who hit a strong 20-yard shot which went in off the underside of the crossbar. The visitors went down to 10 men a few minutes later when Davis made a dangerous tackle and was, perhaps harshly, dismissed from the pitch. United’s equaliser was scored on 76 minutes. Thame won a series of corners and the third was knocked out to Ollie Lynch who hit a well placed 20-yard shot through the crowded penalty area low into the left corner.

Thame were in control as they laid siege to the visitors’ goal in search of the winner. Several chances were created with Luke Ricketts and Shannon Jesson both forcing good saves from the keeper. As the game entered injury time, half an hour of extra time seemed likely, but in the 93rd minute defender Ellis Hercules surprised everyone by hitting a 35-yard thunderbolt into the top left corner. It was a quite remarkable strike, by a player who rarely strays far into the opponents half during open play. The final whistle blew 10 seconds after the game restarted.

The third round is scheduled for mid December. The draw has not yet been made.

Thame United: Farrow, I Pykett, P Pykett, Hercules, Rhodes, lynch, Connelly, Jesson, Hodgkins, Collins, Ricketts.

United play at Flackwell Heath next Saturday (16th) whilst the reserve team face Finchampstead Reserves at the ASM Stadium. The next first team home fixture is on Saturday 7th December when Abingdon Town are the visitors.

CHINNOR RFC battled hard in the first half against a lively Cambridge side on Saturday (09/11), but then ran away with the match to win 40-17.

With injuries still problematic, Chinnor were still unsure of their final 15 on the morning of the match and were forced to bring Matt Goode into the starting team after his recent surgery.

Cambridge began the scoring with a penalty goal from full-back Jim Wigglesworth. They then managed to control the ball and attack the Chinnor line for lengthy periods. Chinnor, with a well-organised defence, managed to resist the visitors’ attacks. Chinnor kicked long from a penalty and then chasers managed to overturn the ball and after a series of rucks, Hirskj-Douglas went over for Chinnor’s first try on the 19th minute. Millet’s conversion put the home side ahead 7-3.

Cambridge came straight back when tight head prop, Callum Miller, nipped through a hole in the Chinnor defence and, with a surprising turn of speed, dotted down under the posts. Wigglesworth converted and just six minutes later, on the 30th minute, scored himself and converted to put Cambridge ahead 17-7.

Millett’s penalty goal on the 35th minute saw the home side go in at half-time 10-17 down.

Chinnor clearly had drunk a most restorative cup of tea at half time and came out all guns blazing. Two penalty goals from Millett on the 41st and 43rd minutes, brought Chinnor to just one point behind at 16-17. Chinnor upped the pace and looked to score more. After a series of penalties, the referee Mr Kirby sent Cambridge’s James Stokes to the sin bin. Marston, in off his wing, danced through the defence for Chinnor’s second try on the 54th minute. Millett’s conversion increased the Chinnor lead to 23-17.

With Cambridge visibly wilting, Matthew Goode then decided to get in on the action scoring two powerful tries in the 57th and 62nd minutes. Millett converted both to increase the home lead to 37-17.

The Cambridge scrum, dominant in the first half, progressively deteriorated and was penalised for standing up. From the resultant penalty, Millett put Chinnor 40-17 ahead, just as the final whistle sounded.

This was very much a game of two halves. Cambridge, with powerful scrumming, were lively and dangerous throughout the first half. Only the most resolute and organised defence from Chinnor stopped them scoring more. Cambridge controlled the ball and Chinnor lived off poor scraps.

Everything changed in the second half. Chinnor, when they had the ball, kept it and worked field position well with a smarter kicking game than in the first half. They clearly had more energy and Hirskj-Douglas caused all sorts of trouble with his tackling and ball carrying, and deserved his Man of the Match award. Fielding cut some incisive lines and Jones frequently acted as an extra back row player. Millett’s kicking kept Chinnor in the match until Marston, lively and always looking for work, and Goode’s double, confirmed Chinnor’s undoubted second-half superiority.

Teams

Chinnor: Matt Mountford, Leo Fielding, Matthew Goode, Will Millett, Joe Marston, James Cathcart, Frank Jones, Joe Winpenny, Alan Cawston, Nathaniel Titchard-Jones, Andrew Smith, Tom Mowbray, Liam Gilbert (c), Nick Harrison, Oscar Hirskyj-Douglas

Replacements: Sam Ludgate, Tom Whelan, Adam Hastings, George Blewitt, Macsen Williams

Cambridge: Jim Wigglesworth, Patrick Tapley, Albert Portsmouth, James Ayrton, Michael Gillick, Jack Green, Ross Kevan (c), Jamal Ford-Robinson, James Palmer, Calum Miller, Gareth McComb, Robert Conquest, William Fell, Jethro Rawling, Daniel Hemingway

Replacements: Ean Griffiths, Thomas Jones, Fraser Hall, James Stokes, Dan Brotherton

Scorers

Chinnor
Tries (time): Hirskj-Douglas (19); Marston (54); Goode (56,62)
Conversions (time): MIllett (20, 54, 57, 63)
Penalty Goals (time): Millett (35, 43,49, 80)

Cambridge
Tries: (time) MIller (24); Wigglesworth (30)
Conversions: (time) Wigglesworth (25,31)
Penalty Goals (time): Wigglesworth (3)

BINFIELD are one of the bogey teams that Thame United has failed to beat since the teams first met in the 2007/8 season. This changed on Saturday (09/11) when Thame narrowly defeated them 2-1 in a close fought contest at the ASM Stadium.

It was a fast, entertaining, game which was played on the coldest afternoon of the season so far. United scored both of their goals in the first half, and at half time, a comfortable win was anticipated, but the visitors had other ideas, and almost forced a draw.

Thame started brightly but, once the visitors settled, play was fairly even. There was drama after 20 minutes when the visiting keeper picked up a deliberate back pass and Thame were awarded an indirect free kick in their opponent’s box. Lewis Cordice touched the ball to Niall Hodgkins whose shot was blocked by the wall, but the ball fell to Shannon Jesson who’s first- time shot brought an excellent save from the visiting keeper. Thame took the lead in the 32nd minute. Jesson played a ball to Cordice near the half way line, putting him clear of defenders and allowing him to run along the right wing before cutting in and crossing to Luke Ricketts who met the ball with a strong shot giving the keeper no chance.

Thame’s second goal came 10 minutes later and was similar to the first. This time Ben Connelly played a through ball which Cordice collected and again ran on the right before crossing to Rickets who again buried the ball in the opponents net.

Thame dominated the first few minutes after the break and Ricketts was unlucky to miss his hat-trick when he volleyed a half chance over the bar. The visitors brought on substitutes and the game swung their way, causing Thame to defend for long periods. Binfield’s goal came with 10 minutes remaining when a slick passing move allowed Seb Bowerman to beat Lee Farrow from 10-yards. The final few minutes were nail biting but, helped by some great goalkeeping by Farrow, United held out to claim their first victory.

Thame United: Farrow, I Pykett, P Pykett, Hercules, Rhodes, lynch, Connelly Jesson, Hodgkins (Collins) Cordice (Johnson), Ricketts.

After Tuesday’s cup game against AFC Hinksey, United have a series of away matches. The next home fixture is on Saturday 7th December when Abingdon Town are the visitors.

SOURCE: Contributed by Bob Dixon

CHINNOR Rugby Club, based in Thame, has big plans for the future and has taken a step closer to achieving several of its major goals.

Thame Town Council’s Planning committee has looked at the club’s plans for the erection of a two storey front extension, a two storey side extension, a first floor viewing terrace extension to the existing clubhouse building,  internal alterations and the erection of a spectator grandstand.

Town Councillors agreed to recommend approval of the plans which will now go forward to the South Oxfordshire District Council’s Planning committee for approval. You can see the full planning application HERE