Category: Sports News

EVERY year since the tragic death of 15 year-old Jack O’Donnell from Thame, several football matches have been organised to raise funds for a Sports Foundation set up in his memory.

Tim Field and Jamie Surman arranged the seventh match of the Jack O’Donnell Foundation Charity football matches on Sunday, April 7, at Thame United Football Club. The game finished up 3-2 to Reds Athletic with Lorien Gordon, Tom Sykes and Julian Reed scoring.

The Gatecrasher’s replied with a Dave Porter goal and a Phil Coulson penalty after Parminder Bains handballed. In total,

LEAGUE game: 6/04/13 – Thame United 1, Cheltenham Saracens 3- MATCH REPORT: Cheltenham Saracens completed the double on Thame United last Saturday at the ASM Stadium, when they beat their lacklustre hosts 3-1. In a frustrating game, United conceded two early goals and although they had the bulk of possession, particularly in the second half, were unable to penetrate the well organised but physical Cheltenham defence.

Thame were without Alex Stewart, who is likely to be out for the rest of the season with a fractured elbow, whist central defender Nik Rhodes started the game on the bench.

The home team started brightly but went behind against the run of play in the 12th minute when Joe Donaghue knocked a 10-yard shot passed keeper Lee Farrow. The visitors increased their lead three minutes later when Elliot Kennedy hit a speculative shot from the edge of the box which flew over Farrow?s head and under the crossbar. The visitors dominated play for a while, but United came back towards the end of the half and Connor Hayes was unlucky to see his long range effort hit the crossbar. United eventually scored in the 45th minute, when Matt Willet hit a diagonal cross which was brilliantly met by Luke Ricketts with a first time low shot into the far corner.

The visitors were awarded a penalty three minutes into the second half when Mitchell Meredith was judged to have fouled in the penalty area. Jack Oldham buried the spot kick, giving Farrow no chance. The injured Phil Pykett was replaced by midfielder Richard Jewell and Matt Hall moved to left back. The remainder of the game saw united pressurising the visitor?s goal. A Hayes free kick brought a good save from the keeper.

With about 15 minutes remaining, Thame striker Niall Hodgkins was carried from the pitch on a stretcher with a suspected fractured ankle after a particularly brutal tackle. United continued the onslaught, with only the occasional Saracens attack, but failed to further trouble the visiting keeper.

Thame United: Farrow, Willet, Pykett (Jewell), Hercules, Meredith, Hayes, Connelly, Hall, Hodgkins (Dell), Gray (Rhodes), Ricketts.

SOURCE: Contributed by Bob Dixon

TEAM Thame were back in action recently at the Aqua Vale in Aylesbury for the first weekend of the Oxon & North Bucks (ONB) swimming County Championships 2013. Previous County events were the distance and the 400m events but this was the first weekend of the main championships with 50m, 100m and 200m events as well as relays, and Team Thame delivered some great performances.

The boys had some great swims in the 50m Freestyle on Saturday, March 9. Hallam Cozier as the second reserve finalist, had a great swim and delivered a PB of 34.20 seconds. Marus Birmingham did a 1.5 sec PB with 31.09 secs, and was racing Kymir Ibrgymov all the way to the finish where Kym came first in the heat with 30.66 secs, a one sec PB just pipping Marcus. Kym made the final for the 12 year old boys at his first ever counties.

Then came Ben Williams who confirmed his sub-30sec performance in the relays in February and stormed to the finish in 29.62 secs, a one second PB. The 14 year-old boys were represented by Nacho Mendi with a heat time of 27.27 secs which not only took him to the final but also to the position of fastest in the club, beating Jamie Goetz?s PB of 27.50 seconds. Jamie followed in the 17 year-old and over’s heat achieving a time of 27.56 seconds, only 0.06 slower than his PB after missing training due to illness.

The girls then came centre stage for the 50m Butterfly. Hannah Hawken delivered a time of 33.58 secs. The boys 100M IM followed and Marcus Birmingham delivered a 4 second PB with 1.19.37 and was first reserve finalist in 9th for the 12 year old boys. Nacho also delivered a 4 sec PB with 1.10.56.

Then came the girls 4 x 100 relay where the Thame Team came sixth in 5.02.59 seconds, 11 secs under their entry time. A great success and all got finalist medals. The team was Lydia Devitt (back 1.12.71), Rebecca Smith (breast 1.28.87), Grace Gilmore (fly 1.16.06), Hannah Hawken (free 1.04.57). The next event was the 200m IM and Grace was back in action delivering a three second PB in a time of 2.41.62 secs.

The boys then came back for the 200m Freestyle with Marcus Birmingham delivering a nine second PB with a time of 2.28.08 secs. Then it was the third session with the finals from the earlier events. Both Nacho and Kym made the finals for the boys 50m Freestyle and both P?d again ? Nacho after some significant streamlining (he shaved his legs!). Their times were; Kymir sixth place in 30.35 and Nacho fifth place in 27.05, all great swims. So, after a long day, everyone headed home to rest and prepare for the next day of hard competition.

Sunday started off with Ella Simms in the 100m Freestyle and a 3.5 second PB in 1.10.08 secs. Then came Imogen Newell with a PB and a time of 1.11.20 secs and Florence Savage with a PB of 1.07.25 secs. Grave and Hannah were back in action again and didn?t disappoint. Grace delivered a two second PB with 1.04.97 secs and Hannah a three second PB and an ASA South East regional Qualifying time of 1.03.35 secs and to add to that she was first reserve for the final.

Grace was back in action for the 50m backstroke with a one second PB of 34.20 secs and then Lydia Devitt with a PB in 34.36 secs but Lydia went on to deliver a three second PN in the 200m Backstroke with a time of 2.38.19 3 secs.

So, why is JO the Golden Girl? Well she?s a Double County Champion ? ok she was swimming for Bucks Disability SC but she?s a Thame SC Group 1 & Masters swimmer and came home with two first place trophies! Well Done Jo!

Team Thame were back in action on March 16 and 17, at the Aqua Vale in Aylesbury for the second weekend of the Oxon & North Bucks (ONB) County Championships 2013. Previous County events were the distance and 400m events and the first weekend of the main championships, this was the second weekend with more 50m, 100m and 200m events as well as relays and Team Thame delivered some great performances.

Grace Gilmore opened the weekend with a PB in the 100m Backstroke in a time of 1:15.91 secs. Then came Georgia Cahill with a heats time of 1:08.41 secs which got her to the finals with a sixthth Place finalists medal and a time of 1:08.17secs. Then Nacho Mendi opened the boys account for the weekend in the 100m Breaststroke with a heats time of 1:22.61 secs getting him to the finals with a time of 1:19.99 secs.

Then came the girls 50m Freestyle with two Thame SC swimmers achieving ASA SER Regional Times and reaching the finals and several PBs for the girls:

CHINNOR Rugby Club’s Easter Rugby Camp in Thame, planned for next week, has been cancelled.

Honorary Club Secretary, Carol Bradbrook Taylor, said: “Clearly the cold weather has resulted in a reduced number of confirmations for the Easter Rugby Camp. As a result we have had to cancel the camp planned for next week.”

A very disappointing result for Chinnor 1st XV on Saturday (30/03) in front of the largest home crowd this season. They played a very fired up Henley Hawks who are keenly seeking promotion to National Division 1. Despite losing 9 ? 41 on home turf, Chinnor remain 7th in the league. Sam Angell scored all of Chinnor?s 9 points from 3 successful penalty kicks.

Next week?s fixtures are:

Saturday 6th April 2013
1st XV
Southend vs Chinnor
KO: 15:00 | SSE National League 2 South

2nd XV
Thurrock vs Chinnor
KO: 14:30 | Division 2N

3rd XV
Chinnor III vs Bracknell III
KO: 15:00 | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1

4th XV
Bicester III vs Chinnor IV
KO: 15:00 | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 3 North

On Sunday Chinnor U14s play Marlow kicking off at 10.00

OXFORDSHIRE Senior Cup – Semi Final: Thame United 0, Oxford City 5 – Played: 3/04/13: IN their 130 year history, Thame United have won the Oxfordshire Senior Cup several times, the most recent being in 2002. They met Oxford City at the ASM Stadium on Wednesday evening in the semi final of this season?s competition and conceded five goals to a team which plays its football three leagues higher than Thame.

Any thoughts of a giant killing were dispelled after the first few minutes when it became apparent that City were by far the stronger side. Despite this, Thame can be proud of their gutsy performance as heads did not drop, and they continued to fight to the final whistle.

City?s first goal came on eight minutes when Nick Stanley volleyed home from 10 yards. It was 0-2 in the 21st minute when the talented Felipoe Barcelos lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Lee Farrow?s head. It was not all one-way-traffic but United attacks were closed down quickly and their efforts on goal were either too close to the on-form goalkeeper or wide of the target. It was 2-0 at the break.

Three minutes after the restart Barcelos struck again when he hit a wayward Thame clearance into the corner of the goal from 15-yards to make it 0-3. Mark Bell scored the final two goals with well placed 15-yard shots, the first on 72 minutes, and the second in the 84th minute. The United players should not be disheartened by the result. They gave it all they had and their supporters cannot ask for more, but in the end it was a case of amateurs being outclassed by professionals.

Thame United: Farrow, Wittett, Pyket, Hercules, Rhodes, Hayes (Gray), Connelly, Meredith (Jewell), Hodgkins (Johnson), Hall, Ricketts

SOURCE: Contributed by Bob Dixon

FOUR of Chinnor RFU’s young players have progressed from Oxfordshire?s County Team to South West trials. They are Leo Fielding, George Blewitt, Jack Horwood and Will Millett.

George, Jack and Will have played for Chinnor through the youth section, and Leo joined the 1st XV when he started at Oxford Brookes University.

Will Millett was the only young player from Oxfordshire to get into the South West under 20s team, and to then go on to the England trials for the under 20s counties team.

Over the weekend, during the first session of the festival for the selection for the England team to go to Georgia, he sadly found himself with a really bad dead leg and was unable to participate further in the weekend.

Everyone at Chinnor RFC is hopeful that next year Will can go all the way.

PHOTO: Will Millett – Original courtesy of Bicester Advertiser

AFTER a good win on Saturday (30/03) at Slimbridge, Thame United were defeated 2-1 by League leaders, Marlow at the ASM stadium on Easter Monday. The game was played in a strong easterly wind which assisted their opponents in the first half, and Thame after the break.

This was always going to be a tough match for United as, although they drew the away fixture, the visitors have not been defeated since August.

The opening exchanges were fairly even as the teams settled but then Marlow started to gain the upper hand. They looked the more dangerous, and soon home keeper, Lee Farrow, was called upon to make the first of a number of fine saves. It was Thame however who opened the scoring in the 30th minute. Jake Dell ran down the right and, finding his was blocked, passed back to Matt Willet who hit a high diagonal ball into the box. After some header bagatelle the ball fell to the unmarked Luke Ricketts who reacted quickly and hit a glorious 15 yard-shot high into the roof of the net.

Marlow equalised 2 minutes later. Farrow came to meet a high ball but could only punch it towards Richard Witt who met the ball with a 10-yard header, which was then deflected pass Phil Pykett on the line by the head of Michael Bartley. Despite Thame manager Mark West?s protests that the Bartley was off-side, a goal was awarded. The home side were forced to defend for the remainder of the half.

Assisted by the wind, United had more possession after the break but their chances were few. The visitors’ second goal came on 63 minutes when Ian Davies met a low ball from the left by-line and placed it beyond Farrow?s reach from five yards. Thame was determined to regain parity and Matt Hall forced a good save from an excellent free kick. A Rickets corner was deflected onto the far post by the visiting keeper who then gratefully collected the rebound. United?s best chance came with a few minutes remaining when Hall made an impressive run at goal but, unable to get a shot away, he passed to substitute James Way whose strong shot hit the side netting. In the final minute Farrow came up to join the attack for a free kick but the ball was headed over.

Thame United: Farrow, Willett (Meredith), Pykett, Hercules, Rhodes, Hayes, Dell (Way), Hall, Stewart (Hodgkins), Johnson, Ricketts.

United are at home to Cheltenham Saracens next Saturday 6th April (KO 3.00).

SOURCE: Contributed by Bob Dixon

CORRECTION: The comments below attributed to Cllr Mike Dyer to the town council’s Policy & Resources Committee, were in fact made in his report to the Culture, Leisure and Recreation Committee, and do NOT represent the views of the town council as a whole.

THAME Town Council?s representative on the Management Board of the Thame Football Partnership, Cllr Mike Dyer, has told the council that he ?remains quietly optimistic? that the Partnership?s cash flow problems, broadly caused by the effects of bad weather throughout the winter, would be resolved.

He told fellow members of the council?s Policy and Resources committee recently that the Partnership had identified savings of

A Thame Councillor has today sought to clarify the words he used, in what appeared to be criticism of the way the local Football Partnership had been run.

Cllr Mike Dyer (pictured) told Thamenews.net today: ?On reading your piece published yesterday about my report to Thame Town Council about the current situation of the Thame Football Parntership, I do feel that the impression was given that I was being critical of the Football Partnership whereas I am actually very supportive of it.

?Overall, my view is that club has excelled in its provision of football but that managing the facility has proven to be more challenging.

?Thame has a fantastic new facility at Meadow View Park and a lot of people, many of them volunteers, are working extremely hard to make it a success and something that we as a community can be rightly proud of.?