Category: Sports News

THAME’S largest mass participation sporting event, the Thame CPM 10km Road Race, will this year take place on Sunday, June 30, 2013.

The organisers are emphasising that there will be NO ENTRIES ON RACE DAY and that the race will be limited to 1000 entries to maintain a safe and enjoyable day for everyone. They expect entries to fill up fast so are encouraging people to register as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

This popular event has been run since 1985 and has grown to be one of the key sporting fixtures in Thame with 1000 runners pounding a course through the town centre to Towersey and back along the Phoenix Trail. Thame Runners organise the race and allocate any surplus funds to local charities. Last year approximately

LEAGUE GAME – Home – 23/04/13 – Thame united 2, Reading Town 0 – MATCH REPORT (Contributed) – WITH several key players injured, Thame United were forced to field a weakened side on Tuesday evening, at the ASM stadium, for their fixture with lowly Reading Town.

The situation was made worse when Ben Gray withdrew after being injured during the warm up, leaving United without a recognised striker. Despite this, Thame went on to win the game 2-0.

Both goals were scored in the first half, the first after 11 minutes play and the second three minutes later. The first came after a fairly even start, when Mitchell Meredith received the ball and hit a 25-yard shot cross from the left which surprised the keeper and found the top right hand corner of the goal. A minute later Jake Dell was unlucky when his shot hit the side netting. The second goal was created by a well placed diagonal cross from Ian Pykett which was met near the far post with a strong, first time shot from Matt Hall.

Possession was 50/50 but the visitors were unable to create any real chances as United were quick to close them down. About 10 minutes before the break there was almost a repeat of the second goal when Pykett hit another cross which Hall met, this time with a strong diving header, but the keeper made an excellent save.

The second half was uneventful with neither keeper really troubled. United?s best chance fell to Nik Rhodes who had joined the attack to meet an Ellis Hercules free kick and, as the ball ran loose, he hit a strong goal bound shot which was just blocked.

Thame United: Farrow, I Pykett, P Pykett, Hercules, Rhodes, Mitchell, Connelly, Dell, Jewell, Johnson (Stallwood), Hall (Way).

United play their last home game of the season next Saturday (27th) when second placed Wantage Town are the visitors.

A thrilling Cup victory crowned Chinnor RFU Seconds’ annus mirabilis on Saturday, ending their unbeaten season’s run by overcoming OURFC Greyhounds 27-9.

The Club’s Honorary Secretary, Carol Bradbrook-Taylor, was obviously delighted, saing: “What a result for the Chinnor Seconds! We asked for 25 out of 25 and you did us proud. The club salutes each and every one of you.

“In total the boys scored 1013 points with only 319 against – what an outstanding record!”

MATCH REPORT

Oxfordshire Final’s day finally arrived and Chinnor seconds arrived at Iffley Road for their game against Oxford University Greyhounds, who last competed for this cup in 1979. Greyhounds have had a good season to date, and were sporting a number of blues in the side with Chinnor?s acceptance. The pressure was on!

Chinnor seconds had been unbeaten in the 24 games they had played so far this season, and were determined to win to keep and produce a clean sheet. There wasn?t much more that could really have them fired up for this one, until you add the indomitable team spirit that has become such a trade mark for the seconds. It had to be worth 10 points in any game.

Chinnor had the dream start with Trevor (The General) Powell going over for a try, converted by Sam Angel within two minutes, exactly the same start that they had against Henley last year. The following 38 minutes produced nothing but penalties infuriating the Chinnor supporters with Chinnor not getting the rub of the green.

Greyhounds were successful with two penalties and Chinnor had to work hard with their defence. During this period it appeared that every time that Chinnor got the ball they were penalised. But the boys proved their worth as always with a defence so good that Greyhounds had no choice but to kick their points instead of going for the tries.

The rugby played was good rugby but it was sadly felt that the Referee took the shine off it by being over generous with his issue of yellow cards.

The first half finished seven points to six in Chinnor?s favour. The second half started with the Chinnor forwards dominating the scrums and the pick and drives stamping their dominance on the pitch. They were duly rewarded with a great try by Tristan Corpe and converted by Sam Angel, increasing their lead to 14 points to six.

This was followed five minutes later by the ?ever green? Simon Matthews who scored Chinnor?s third try giving a good lead of 19 points to six.

Greyhounds had no answer for the forwards and were having less and less ball to play with. The Referee was still happy to share out the yellow cards to both sides, but fortunately Chinnor was still able to enjoy great rugby played by both teams.

Greyhounds added another penalty to their score and Harry Hillier replied with a try, making it Chinnor?s fourth. Sam Angell followed shortly with a successful penalty with the last kick of the game, and the final score was 27 points to nine, giving Chinnor four cup wins in a row.

This was a game in which 40 players gave their all and provided the spectators with good rugby from both sides – a credit to both clubs. Well done both teams!

As so often is the case, trying to single out anyone for Man Of the Match was tough, Max Williams, Nick Harrison, Trevor Powell or Tristan Corpe and many others would have fit the bill. But finally it was decided that Man of the Match was to go to Ed Vickers.

SOURCE: Contributed
PHOTO: Paul Murphy, President of the RFU looks on delightedly as Ed Vickers shows off the Cup

OXFORDSHIRE Under 20’s rugby team, which included players from Chinnor RFC, based in Thame, overcame Oxford University u20 on Saturday, 28-15 to secure a place at the ‘Twickers’ final.

The Chinnor contingent of the successful Oxon u20s, Will Millett, Leo Fielding, George Blewitt, Jake Buckland and Jack Horwood, will now be playing in the final at Twickenham on May 5.

SO near yet so far. It was heartbreak for Chinnor Colts on Sunday, but heads were held high after a committed and skilful performance in the LV National Plate final on Sunday.

No one ever wants to lose, and defeats in finals are always bitterly disappointing. But if you can walk off the pitch having given 200%, to the hearty applause of the opposition and the admiration and thanks of the organisers for playing a full part in a wonderful game of rugby, if you can accept your runners up medal with good grace and sportsmanship and if you can make everyone involved with you as a team ? fellow players, coaches, parents, the Club ? extremely proud of you then defeat is just that little bit easier to take. And so it was Chinnor Colts on Sunday.

In truth this game could have gone either way. We edged it in terms of possession and largely dominated territorially, but our opponents were more clinical than us and ran in six tries to our four, three of them scored by their outstanding Fijian left wing. His strength with the ball in hand was just too much to handle and it’s hard to begrudge him his winners medal. Some of our lads said it was like trying to tackle someone covered in Vaseline!

For the second week running I am able to report that we started strongly. An early penalty flew narrowly wide but Dan R gathered the ball straight from the resultant twenty-two drop out and went on a mazy run before touching down in the corner on the opposite side of the pitch. George bagged this kick, a much harder one than the earlier penalty, to move us into an early 7-0 lead.

We continued to have the lion’s share of possession and territory, and it was a while before Colchester got into our twenty-two, but when they did so it was to devastating effect, and a taste of what was to come when they crashed through for their first try. George restored our five point advantage on the scoreboard when he slotted the penalty following offside at the ruck but Colchester then went ahead for the first time when their fullback broke clear on half-way and scored under the posts to give a simple conversion chance. Another try before the break gave Colchester a 10?19 half-time lead, but you could sense from the lads’ attitude that they knew they were not out of this and that if they could keep playing as they had been and maintain belief in themselves then they could win this one.

We came out for the second half firing on all cylinders and enjoyed a 15 minute purple patch, scoring 13 points without reply, that had Colchester reeling. First Ieuan got over for a score in the corner after great work by the forwards at the breakdown, then George slotted three more after we forced another penalty as our forwards bullied the Colchester defence, and then Dan got his second in the corner to move us into a 23-19 lead. But Colchester then struck back with three tries, two from their impressive numbert 11 who constantly cut in off his wing to create havoc in our defence, to move them into an unassailable lead. But we kept going right to the end.

Even after the referee had called last play on our line-out we pushed hard to close the gap on the scoreboard, and after securing possession from the line-out, as we did pretty well all afternoon, the ball eventually found its way to Guy, via a simple pass from Dad R, to touch down in the corner. It would have been nice if George had bagged the conversion to reduce the margin of defeat to four points, but it sailed narrowly past the posts from out wide on the right.

So many positives to take from this game. The attitude and commitment were spot on, and our line-out play and scrummaging faultless. Hats off to Rory, Cam L and Dan HR in the front row for a really tenacious performance. Our counter-rucking was impressive and we were solid at the breakdown. Even our restarts, an area we haven’t been so strong in at times this season, worked well, with George hanging the ball high on the wind to allow the forwards to put real pressure on the receiver.

Finally, congratulations to Colchester, and thanks for a great game. Either team would have been worthy winners but they pipped us and we have no complaints about that. The match was played in a great spirit and all of the lads were a credit to their respective clubs. Thanks also to Hitchin RFC for putting on a great occasion ? it must have been one of the best prepared pitches we have ever played on.

SOURCE: Contributed By Mark Carter

GOOD LUCK to all those from Thame who will be running in the London Marathon on Sunday, including Paul Martell, of Thame Runners, who hopes he will be recovered enough from a sickness virus by then, to take part.

“I’m still feeling decidedly groggy,” explained Paul. “This will be my ninth London Marathon. I am running for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, as a friend and colleague of mine was diagnosed with MND in 2011.

THIS weekend is a Big one, as on Saturday, the 1st Team are away to Taunton Titans, Away, with a 3pm kick off. The snowed off Aaway match against Shelford is now to be played on Saturday, May 4, extending the season by a week.

Big Weekend two – This Sunday, April 21, sees the mighty, mighty Chinnor 2s defend the Oxfordshire Cup.
They play Oxford University Greyhounds (their seconds) at the University?s ground at Iffley Road in Oxford;
Admission is

LEAGUE GAME: Tuesday, 16/04/13 – Thame United 5, Kidlington 0 – Match report (Contributed): DESPITE their growing injury list, which was added to last night, Thame United trounced Kidlington 5-0 at the ASM Stadium. Thame?s emphatic win ended the visitors’ run of five games without defeat.

The first goal came after four minutes play and was the softest goal seen at the stadium this season. A cross from the left bounced in front of the visiting goalkeeper who should have collected it comfortably but he fumbled it allowing Ben Connelly to react quickly and get his head to the ball. Although the keeper then blocked the header, the linesman signalled that the ball had crossed the line.

United continued to press and sadly Luke Ricketts sustained an injury when he challenged for a 50/50 ball; he was taken to hospital with a suspected dislocated shoulder. Thame?s second goal came five minutes before the break when Matt Johnson played a sweet ball to Ben Gray, just inside their opponents half, allowing Gray to run at goal and confidently slot the ball past the oncoming keeper.

Shortly after the restart Thame keeper, Lee Farrow, was forced to make an excellent save, diving low to his left. Thame?s third goal came on 54 minutes when Matt Willet hit a diagonal cross to Johnson in enough space to hit a well placed 15-yard shot into the right corner. It was 4-0 five minutes later when Connelly buried a good ball from the left by-line from 10-yards.

United?s final goal came three minutes later when Gray played a ball from the right to Richard Jewell whose first time 15-yard shot gave the keeper no chance. The remainder of the game was an anticlimax as kidlington struggled unsuccessfully to get a consolation goal.

Thame United: Farrow, Willett, Rhodes, Hercules, Mitchell, Connelly (B Johnson), Jewell, Gray, M Johnson (Stallwood), Ricketts (Way)

NATIONAL 2 South – Saturday, April 13, 2013 – Score: Chinnor 33 Clifton 12. CHINNOR was glad to get back to its winning ways on Saturday, scoring five tries in a 33-12 victory over Bristol side, Clifton.

The game started in the best possible way for Chinnor. Right from the kick-off, Chinnor?s young fly half, Will Millett, sidestepped the Clifton defence and took the ball a full 75 metres before delicately chipping for touch. Chinnor stole the resulting five metre lineout ball and a few passes later, Stoop crashed over for a try in the first minute. Millett?s conversion put the home side 7-0 up with just two minutes on the clock.

Clifton came back from this early upset well and kept Chinnor pinned in their own 22 for the next 15 minutes. This Clifton pressure eventually led to their opening score when Barnes glided over for a try which he duly converted to square the match at 7-7 with 19 minutes played.

Four minutes later, some smart and rapid handling saw Harrison slip the ball to Gray who sped over for Chinnor?s second try. The 29th minute saw the highlight of the match. From a solid scrum on their own 10m line, Chinnor attacked the narrow blindside at pace using dummy and miss passes to set Gray thundering down the tramlines. A neat inside pass allowed the supporting No 8, Gilbert, an easy canter to the line. Millett?s conversion put the home side 19-7 ahead, a score they defended until half time.

Chinnor?s bonus point try was scored just five minutes into the second half in unusual circumstances. Awarded a penalty a metre or so inside the Clifton half and wide out to the right, Millet, for Chinnor, opted to kick for goal in wet and gusting conditions. Although accurate, the ball dropped short in front of the Clifton posts where an unfortunate defender knocked the ball on. From the resulting scrum, Chinnor piled on the power and the referee, Mr Vertigan penalised the Bristol side severely by awarding a penalty try and Millet had an easy kick for goal to increase the Chinnor lead to 26-7.

Clifton came right back and Pomphrey went over for Clifton?s second try to decrease the deficit to 26-12 in the 51st minute. They continued to test the Chinnor defence until Jones? long clearing kick finally relieved the pressure. Chinnor then set up their own series of attacks leading to Fielding going over for Chinnor?s fifth try of the day. Jones? conversion was the last scoring action of the match to record a 33-12 victory to the boys from Oxfordshire.

Clifton were a competitive outfit and never stopped trying but were ultimately undone by Chinnor?s pace and a wobbly scrum as they tired.

Chinnor showed, in patches, some of the good form that has made their entry at this level perhaps more comfortable than they expected. Gilbert’s try in the 29th minute was a thing of joy. There were notable contributions from Berry and Harrison with Stoop having a good all-round purposeful game despite couple of uncharacteristic dropped balls.

Scorers:
Chinnor: Stoop T; Gray T; Gilbert T: Penalty T; Fielding T; Millett 3C, Jones C
Clifton: Barnes T, C; Pomphrey T

Chinnor team:
Colver (Mountford 51), Fielding (Corpe 66), Goode, Stoop, Gray, Millett, Jones, Winpenny (Whelan 66), Tattersall (Holyland 66), Berry, Hughes (Vickers 26), Smith, Mowbray, Harrison, Gilbert
Replacements: Whelan, Holyland, Vickers, Corpe, Mountford

PHOTO: Man of the Match, Andy Berry
SOURCE: Contributed by Bill O’Donnell

AS its Thame membership continues to grow, High Wycombe Cycling Club has thrown up yet another talented, rising star in local girl, Karla Boddy. After just two years of road racing, Karla has been grabbed by pro team, MG Maxifuel http://www.mg-maxifuel.com/ where she supports the team’s two star girls, Helen Barns (British Olympic team) and Charline Joiner, Scotish Commonwealth Games team sprint Silver Medalist.

Karla is the latest rider from HWCC to join a distinguished list of members and associated members who have gone on to great things in the world of cycling, including Tour de France stage winner, David Miller, Commonwealth and Olympic racer, Stuart Dangerfield and the current holder of the Best British Amateur All-rounder Cup, Adam Topham.

Since she joined HWCC, Karla has been instrumental in organising club runs, helping to put together the clubs?s own race team, organising training camps in Spain and encouraging the growing number of juniors in the club. Although she will be racing now for MG Maxifuel, Karla insists that she will be maintaining her connections with HWCC, not least with its own race team that gives her such support at elite events, with things such as travel, organising food and drink during her races and generally taking the pressure of the peripherals so that she can give the racing 100%.

Despite a challenging training programme of 10 ? 15 hours a week of short and hard, long and steady sessions and intervals, either out on the road or on rollers indoors, Karla likes to keep a life-work-racing balance, spending time with her partner, fello HWCC racer, Adam Brittain, and their adored Pug, Gary.

Like most cyclists, Karla?s cycling experience had not been without spills as well as thrills. In February, 2010, she was out of the saddle for almost four months with the classic cyclist?s injury, a broken collar bone, after touching the bike in front?s back wheel during a ride and colliding with a wall. Since then she?s gone on to experience the high of the podium place, taking five during the Rasna na Mban, Women?s Tour of Ireland in September 2012, which included three stage wins and an overall placing of fifth.

Last weekend, Karla helped Pro team mate, Hannah Barnes to second place in the City of Perth Women?s Grand Prix in Scotland. You can read Hannah?s blog here describing the race, conjuring up the atmosphere and strategy of the team and the important contribution Karla made to her success.

The roads around Thame are very popular for road races (pot holes allowing!) and on Saturday, Karla and the MG Maxifuel girls will be in action racing in the Antelope Open 50km 3-up Team Time Trial, starting on the A4 at Chalgrove, against 40 other teams, including two men?s teams from HWCC and its girls team. The route will take the riders through Milton Common, Chalgrove, Stadhampton and Tetsworth for two laps.

Karla?s male counterparts in a second MG Maxifuel team in the race, will include ex Tour de France stage winner, and recent Paris Roubaix winner, Magnus Baxstead. If you can?t make that as a supporter (standing about in the rain is only for the very dedicated spectator, and the forecast is not good!), you’ll be able to see Karla in action during ITV4?s Tour Series of city centre criteriums to be televised during May/June.

For the future, Karla and Adam have no plans to start a family, happy that Gary the pug is the love of their lives. ?I?ll just keep on doing what I?m doing, to become the best rider that I can. The sacrifice of no annual holiday leave etc is worth it to me, to be part of such a dynamic team and a wonderful sport,? concluded Karla.

Oh! and I want one of those coffee machines in Karla’s kitchen – and I’m warming to pugs!