RACQUETS Fitness Centre in Thame, has introduced ‘Silver circuits’ to its timetable, an over 50’s training period to help strengthen core, ease aches and pains and improve daily life.
If you’re keen to join Silver Circuits or would like to find out more, give the club a call: 01844 261754 or email Martin@Racquets-fitness-centre.com.
The club also has a Silver Membership for those available to train between 9 – 5 Monday – Friday, and all day Saturday & Sunday, for
RACQUETS Fitness Centre is once again running it Autumn Squash Camp for kids aged 6 – 13 years-old, on October 30-31, 2012. Call 01844 261754
FA Vase 1st Round Proper – Thame United 3, Fairford Town 2 – 13/10/12 – MATCH REPORT: Thame United progressed to the second round of the FA Vase at the ASM Stadium on Saturday, 13/10/12, when they defeated Fairford Town 3-2.
Thame?s opponents were relegated from the Hellenic Premier League last season but have improved significantly since then, mainly by signing a younger squad. It was a closer game than many anticipated with United having to work hard and come from behind to gain their win.
Thame?s largest crowd of the season of 213 spectators watched the match. Many were parents of Thame Boy?s under 6 squad who played before the match, lined up in to columns to welcome the teams onto the pitch, and entertained the crowd at half time with a penalty shoot-out.
Thame had the better of the opening exchanges and went ahead in the 12th minute when Nik Rhodes headed in a Luke Ricketts corner from close range. The game ebbed and flowed but as the half progressed Fairford grew in confidence, winning more of the ball and pressurising the home goal. Thame keeper, Lee Farrow was in good form, making some quality saves before he was eventually beaten by 17 year old Cameron McArtley in the 41st minute. It was 1-1 at the break.
The trend continued in the second half and Fairford went ahead in the 60th minute when the impressive Dan Dieuitt hit a well-placed 20-yard shot into the bottom left of the Thame goal. Realising they were in danger of losing; Thame upped their game and scored the equaliser when Dan West met a low ball from the right with a delightful deflection into the corner of the visitor?s goal. Two minutes later substitute Ben Gray met a high Ben Connelly cross from the right with a well executed far post header and United took the lead. With 8 minutes remaining Gray had a half chance to increase United?s lead but his shot struck the post. The visitors tried to come back but it was too late, and it is united who will feature in the draw for the next round.
Thame United: Farrow, P Pykett, Hall, Rhodes, Hercules, Hayes, Connelly, West, Hodgkins (Rogers), Barr (Gray), Rickets.
CHINNOR RUGBY CAMP October Half-Term – Monday 29th October ? Wednesday 31st October – TO be held at Chinnor Rugby Club, Kingsey Road, Thame OX9 3JL, on October 29 – 31, 2012: With 1st XV NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAYERS
AND QUALIFIED RFU LEVEL COACHES!
For children ages 5 ? 12 years-old 10am ? 3pm; ALL LEVELS WELCOME; The camp is a fun and safe environment aimed for either club players wanting to learn new skills or new players wanting an introduction to rugby.
Players need to be aged 5-12 yrs and will be grouped accordingly. Pack lunch, drinks, warm clothes and change of/wet weather clothes will be required.
For further information and to book contact James on tel: 07870199239 or alternatively email: jcathcart6@yahoo.co.uk
AS part of Thame’s legacy from the London Olympics and Paralympics, the first Thame Rotary Swimathon took place at the Thame Leisure Centre last Sunday, October 7.
Around 60 people of all ages swam in teams of six or so for one hour. Groups from Racquets, Lightfoots, Thame Swimming Club, Chinnor Cubs, Lord Williams? School, Help For Alex, Haddenham Ducklings and others were represented by enthusiastic swimmers. All participants received a medal and a certificate.
Among those taking part was Sue Downhill, of Racquets, Thame. She told ThameNews: “During the summer months we holidayed in England. The weather was terrible so we went swimming twice a day every day. During this holiday my eight-year old taught me how to breathe while swimming. Never got the hang of this before!
“So when the opportunity to do some lengths of a pool for charity came up I was there. My eight-year old, Zoe, loves swimming so she and a friend of hers, Jessica Hamstead, joined in too. We all enjoyed the hour thoroughly and really felt that we had achieved something as all six of us managed to keep the team order going throughout.
“We will certainly be looking to do it again next year and raise more money on behalf of the Rotary Club.”
Bob Livings, the President of the Rotary Club of Thame said: ?All teams had a fabulous time and helped raise around
AFTER an impressive first half performance by their opponents, Thame United were losing 0-2 at the break to Witney Town at the ASM Stadium on Tuesday evening (09/10), and a heavy defeat looked likely. Incredibly the home side fought back, and exceeded the expectations of their most optimistic fans, to score three goals after the restart. Witney are joint favourites to take the league title and United?s gutsy win was nothing short of miraculous.
Thame?s opponents opened the scoring after 2 minutes when striker Mark Janes converted a half chance with a strong 20-yard shot. Witney looked sharper and, although Niall Hodgkins and Dan West went close for Thame, the visitors controlled much of the first half. Their second goal came from a right cross which was headed home by the unmarked Adam Morris. The intensity of attacks on the Thame goal increased as the half progressed and goalkeeper, Lee Farrow was forced to make some remarkable saves. It was largely due to Farrow that the score was only 0-2 at the break, but a second half thrashing for Thame seemed probable.
Thame had other ideas and pulled a goal back 10 minutes after the restart. During a scramble in the Witney penalty area the referee bewildered spectators by awarding Thame an indirect free kick about 15-yards from goal. Referee McMillan said after the game that he had given it for a ?high foot? i.e. dangerous play. With all eleven visiting players between the goal and the ball it was knocked a few inches to Dan West who struck a thunderbolt around the wall, easily beating the goalkeeper. Encouraged by this United applied some pressure of their own and got the equaliser ten minutes later. Stuart Barr and the visitor?s keeper went for a high cross from the right near the far post but Barr managed to head the ball back across goal where Hodgkins beat his marker to knock it home. Witney countered but were not allowed to reassert their first half dominance. United?s winner came 4 minutes from time when they were awarded a free kick in the ?D?, just outside the penalty area. West struck another thunderbolt which the keeper got a fingertip to but could not stop. United could have increased their lead moments later, when a ?ball over the top? created a 1-on-1 with the Witney keeper for substitute Ben Gray but the keeper saved well. An agonising 5 minutes of additional time were played but United clung onto their lead to record a memorable victory.
Thame United: Farrow, P Pykett (Jewell), Hall, Hercules, N Rhodes, Rogers (Gray), Connelly, West, Hodgkins, Barr, Ricketts.
Next Saturday (13th) United meet Fairford Town in an FA Vase match. The FA have chosen the day as their Non-League Day and to mark the occasion Thame United will be having a Family Fun Day with free entry to the match for all under 16?s together with a barbeque, a bouncy castle, and a half time shoot out from Thame Boys Under 6?s. All are welcome.
SOURCE: Contributed
CHINNOR RFC surprised themselves with an exciting victory over previously undefeated Worthing on Saturday (06/10).
Matt Hoyland came in at hooker on his debut and Adam Hastings at blindside flanker. Leo Fielding took the right wing berth.
Chinnor got off to the perfect start when KIba Richards dropped the kick off. Chinnor loose forwards pounced to get the ball to Sam Stoop who danced through three tackles to dot down under the posts with just 18 seconds on the clock. Cathcart?s conversion gave Chinnor a 7-0 lead with just one minute gone and they never looked back.
Chinnor continued to play brightly but Worthing were the next to score when a series of pick and drives from a scrum saw No 8 Smith go over for a try on the 25th minute. McLean?s conversion squared the match at 7-7.
Matt Goode?s kick in midfield was charged down and the ball rebounded to full back Henry Colver. He ran hard for the line and slipped a pass to Tommy Gray who cut inside with a delightful sidestep to score under the posts. Cathcart?s conversion put the home side 14-7 ahead.
Worthing tried to get back into the game but met powerful resistance, particularly in the centres.
Chinnor turned over the ball in midfield and Jones? perceptive cross-field kick led to a Worthing line-out 10m from their line. Chinnor managed to disrupt their maul and whizzed the ball across the field for Fielding to stroll over for Chinnor?s third try on the 35th minute. Cathcart?s conversion saw Chinnor go in 21-7 at the break.
Worthing came out strongly for the second half and McLean crossed for their second try just one minute in. Converting his own score, McLean reduced the deficit to 21-14 still in favour of the Kingsey Road side.
Chinnor continued to strangle Worthing attempts to level with dogged defence from the back row and an impenetrable midfield. Joe Kava prevented a dangerous Worthing move with a timely interception. Pickett took the ball up strongly to allow Matt Goode a canter to the line for Chinnor?s bonus point try in the 47th minute of the match. Cathcart then improved the Chinnor lead to 28-14.
Worthing were not finished and came back with a try from Harry Sloan. McLean?s conversion reduced Chinnor?s lead to 28-19. A forward pass spotted by the referee, Mr Paul Kimber from Hampshire, prevented Worthing scoring a try after a penetrative run from lock Scott Barlow, who had a fine match for the visitors.
The match was sealed by Chinnor in spectacular style. From a series of rucks on the right hand side, an outrageous 30 metre miss pass found lock Tom Mowbray in space. Ignoring the pace men around him, Mowbray pinned his ears back and sprinted a full 40 metres to the line for Chinnor?s fifth try in the 55th minute. Cathcart?s last minute penalty goal saw Chinnor victorious by 36-21.
This was an inspiring and unpredicted victory over an undefeated side by a side who played attractive pressure rugby. Worthing suffered a first minute setback and struggled from then to get into the match. They seemed surprisingly lacklustre at times ? perhaps because a lot of their play was strangled by a competitive Chinnor side. Worthing disdained kickable penalties in favour of lineouts from which they rarely profited in trying to overcome stern resistance from the home side.
Chinnor played a sensible game. The back row were more than defensively capable with Hastings? tackle work rate notable. Stoop and Goode were immovable in midfield and the running of Gray, Colver and Fielding hard and direct.
Stoop?s defence, finely judged kicking and opening score made him man of the match ? only just overshadowing Gray?s fine contribution to the match.
THAME United gained another three points at the ASM Stadium on Saturday (06/10) when they defeated Oxford City Nomads 2-1. The score does not do United?s performance justice as they were by far the better side. Thame powerhouse, Stuart Barr, was on the bench as he was due to run a marathon the following day.
Thame controlled the opening exchanges, winning five corners and two free kicks in the first five minutes. They had a ?goal? disallowed for offside before going ahead in the 11th minute. A ball from midfield found Ben Connelly on the right wing who ran and hit a great cross which Luke Ricketts met with a well placed, six-yards header, just inside the left post. Minutes later Alex Stewart headed Thame?s sixth corner inches over the bar.
Thame were in control, and a Stewart free kick forced an excellent save from Nomad?s goalkeeper. Another shot from Stewart was saved before he eventually beat the keeper in the 39th minute. A good ball from the left wing found him at the edge of the area; he beat both of his markers before finishing with a low shot from 12-Yards. It was 2-0 at half time and a comfortable win seemed likely.
The second half was an anticlimax. Although United continued to have the bulk of possession and to create more chances, they were unable to increase their lead. The visitors’ goal came on 84 minutes when a high ball found substitute Louis Joyce unmarked on the right and he hit a strong 20-yard shot, giving Lee Farrow no chance.
Thame United: Farrow, Meredith, Hall, Hercules, Rhodes, Hayes, Connelly (Johnston), West, Stewart (Gray), Hodgkins (P Pykett), Ricketts.
Next Saturday (13th) United meet Fairford Town in an FA Vase match. The FA have chosen the day as their Non-League Day and to mark the occasion Thame United will be having a Family Fun Day with free entry to the match for all under 16?s together with a barbeque, an indoor bouncy castle, and pre-match entertainment from Thame Boys Under 6?s. All are welcome.
THAME United will be hosting a Family Fun Day at the ASM Stadium on Saturday, October 13, for their F A Vase, 1st Round Proper tie against Fairford Town FC.
Thame have progressed to this stage of the F A competition with exciting victories, both by the same 3-2 scoreline, against Clanfield and Buckingham Athletic. Victory over Fairford Town would see them reach the second Round Proper for the first time in a number of years.
The action will kick off from 1pm when Thame Boys Under 6?s will be providing some pre-match entertainment as well as a penalty shoot-out at half time against a mystery goalkeeper.
Within the stadium will be a Bouncy Castle to keep the youngsters occupied and, weather permitting, a BBQ.
Thame will also be running their match day Super draw for which tickets cost only
LEAGUE MATCH -2/10/12 Thame United 3, Newbury 1; MATCH REPORT: Thame United delivered their best performance so far this season at the ASM Stadium on Tuesday evening (02/10) when they defeated Newbury 3-1. This was no small feat as the visitors occupied third league place whilst United were, and still are, in the lower half of the table; they have however played three games less than Newbury. It was a highly entertaining game which saw some fast, good quality, end- to-end football.
United opened the scoring with 5 minutes played; Nik Rhodes hit a long ball into the area which struck the inside of the far post and bounced across goal where Luke Ricketts reacted quickly to knock it home pass the startled goalkeeper. The visitors countered and went close when a header hit the Thame post. A few minutes later home keeper Lee Farrow made an outstanding save from a free kick. As the half progressed United began to create more chances than their opponents. Dan West made a great 40-yard run, beating two players only to see his shot deflected into the hands of the grateful keeper. Alex Stewart forced a brilliant save when he met a Ricketts cross with a powerful glancing header. Just before half time Nik Rhodes met a corner and was unlucky to see his header hit the crossbar.
Second half possession was even but Thame continued to create more chances. They increased their lead in the 63rd minute, after a Mitchell Meredith free kick was headed out. Connor Hayes collected the ball and started a slick passing move, involving Nik Rhodes, which created the opportunity for Stuart Barr to thump the ball home from 6-Yards. It was the hardworking Barr who scored United?s third goal five minutes later, by meeting a great cross from Meredith with a quality header, giving the keeper no chance. With six minutes remaining visiting midfielder Ben Mc Cready scored direct from an amazing 35-yard free kick, finding the top right corner of the Thame goal. In the final minute Thame substitute, Niall Hodgkins forced a good save from the Newbury keeper.
Altogether it was an excellent performance from Thame which, if continued, will lead to a rapid rise in their league position.
Thame United: Farrow, Meredith, Hall, N Rhodes, Hercules, Hayes, Connelly, West, Stewart (Hodgkins), Barr (Gray), Ricketts.
United face local rivals Oxford City Nomads at the ASM Stadium next Saturday 6th October (Ko 3.00)
SOURCE: Contributed