The earlier Signalling problems have now been resolved, and our normal advertised service will run commencing around 1300 hours. Passengers are advised to check times before they travel on www.chilternrailways.co.uk.
The signalling problem was due to a power failure that has now been fixed.
THAME United were outclassed at Hungerford on Saturday, The home team being better organized, passing the ball crisply and generally more purposeful than their younger opponents.
The ball had not crossed the halfway line into Hungerford?s half when, after two minutes a Thame clearance fell to Bradley Ward who hit a powerful shot from 25 yards which took a deflection before finding the back of the Thame net.
Twelve minutes later a cross from a short corner fell to the feet of defender, Nick McCrae, amazingly unmarked six yards from goal and able to shoot home for Hungerford?s second. The game was effectively over as a contest in the 17th minute when Ward hit a beautiful volley from the edge of the area to make it 3-0.
Thame pulled a goal back five minutes before half time when a ball from Sion Kitson found Nathan Jack who beat his man, sprinted to the by line and hit a low cross which Paul Reading tapped in at the far post.
The home team continued to control the game in the second half with the talented Shaun Terry scoring a hat trick with goals in the 48th, 61st and 63rd minute. Thame went close to a second when Sam Cowan forced a good save from the home goalkeeper and in the final minute Sion kitson has a good chance when he followed up on a parried Nathan Jack shot, but sadly Thame were unable to reduce the deficit.
This was only player/manager?s Mark West?s second game in control after his return to the club, and there were times when improvements could be seen in the way the team functioned. It is becoming clear however that he will have to make some changes in order to raise the club clear of the relegation zone.
Thame United: Farrow, Higgs, Watkins, Graves, Hocking, Kitson, Connelly, West (Cairns), Jack, Reading (Bell), Dawson.
Thame United entertain Hounslow Borough next Saturday, February at Hithercroft Stadium (Wallingford). Thame beat Hounslow away 2-3 in early September
Bob Dixon
Beaconsfield RFC were Chinnor Minis first opponents since Christmas and were welcomed with brilliant sunshine to play three matches against the Under 12 squad. The squad seemed to forget about their traditional slow start and a great offload by Ross Bunsell led to Dominic Bradbrook Taylor scoring promptly in the first match, followed by three more tries in the first half from Ross, Ollie Wingfield and Lewis ?Mini? Aitken.
Immediately after the break there was a period of sustained pressure from the Beaconsfield boys which led to two tries in quick succession. Chinnor pulled themselves back together though and Ollie added one more try to his total, leaving the final score at 25-10.
A quick change of personnel and the second match was underway and again Dominic BT was quick to score the first try. The match was much more competitive though and there were no more points scored in the first half. Nic Barker and Adam Isherwood scored immediately after the break and the final score of the match went to Ben Robinson (made by a great charge down from Dom.)
The final match was tough on the small Beaconsfield squad and tiredness made the game somewhat frustrating for them. There was plenty of niggling in the scrum from both sides but Ollie Wingfield scored again early on followed by the now infamous wedge try from prop Guy Carter. There was a superb hat trick from Ross Bunsell and Rob Gascoyne broke through for a try as did Hamish Chalmers. The Beaconsfield spirit should be praised however as they hung on to the bitter end and managed to score twice before the final whistle. Final score 35-10.
Chinnor Under 10s appeared sluggish from the whistle, perhaps because they had not come up against genuine opposition since before the holidays. Beaconsfield slipped a try past within the first minute of the game, throwing down the gauntlet to which Chinnor responded enthusiastically. Matthew Smith then powered through the opposition to score a try from a Chinnor penalty. Thomas Strathdee had a spectacular run, ending just short of the line, and Liam Evans and Charlie Krabbe showed real teamwork against a tough opposition. A high tackle by Beaconsfield gave Iestyn James the chance to capitalise on the ensuing penalty, touching down Chinnor?s second try. After a half-time talk about playing within the rules (following a certain amount of aggressive play from both sides), Ben Chapman and Matthew started the second half with a series of crunching tackles, and Charlie Proctor and Dominic Whaler got in a couple of nimble runs. Chinnor?s defense was hard pressed, but managed to hold Beaconsfield off from scoring again, ending in a hard fought 10 ? 5 victory.
Grey Alvey and the other forwards showed impressive power in the scrum from the beginning of the second match, giving Sam Edwards the chance to move the ball close enough to the line for Thomas Strathdee to take it over for the first try. Superb tackling and driving by Iestyn, Liam and Thomas resulted in Harry Lowe scoring a well-deserved second. James Millett took the opportunity for a superb sprint to open the second half of the match. Chinnor then gained possession from the scrum before being forced out close to Beaconsfield?s line. Iestyn captured the ball from the line out and scattered the opposition for the third try, bringing the match to a 15 ? 0 win.
The Beaconsfield coach was overheard telling his squad they had played against a ?cracking team? ? tell us something we don?t already know!
RACQUETS Fitness Centre, in Thame has organised kids half term squash coaching and tournaments for February 13, 14, and 15.
The cost will be
THE three new roads serving the Oxford Road, Thame development (formerly Rycotewood college), have been decided.
They are Union Way, Michaelis Road and College Close.
A 40mph speed limit along a stretch of the Thame by-pass is to be progressed during the next financial year.
The news was confirmed by Area Traffic Engineer for Oxfordshire County Council, Peter Ronald, at a recent meeting of the Thame Traffic Advisory Committee who have been asking for a speed reduction between the Chinnor Rugby Club roundabout and the Aylesbury Road roundabout, following a series of minor accidents and near-misses particularly involving traffic leaving Cromwell Avenue at peak times.
The proposal will now go to consultation with the emergency services who are not expected to object.
The current speed limit along this stretch is 50 mph.
Police have arrested Kevin Aldred, 39, a registered sex offender, who broke the terms of his licence and had been missing since Wednesday night (31/1).
He was been arrested around 6pm on Friday evening, (02/02) and taken to a police station in Oxfordshire.
Thames Valley Police would like to thank the media and members of the public for their assistance.
THE last Hoodwink gig ever will be an accustic night, featuring ‘Tamarind Sun’ – an Anglo-Mexican mix of heart melting melodies and gentle, ethereal acoustic pop, and Thame’s very own jolly, hairy, home-brew-swigging folk prodigy of the Radio 2 Young Folk Award Finalist fame, Wilbur.
Included in the line up on February 15th, are David Steele and Keith Jones, and Dave Bradley and Grant Wilson.
The action begins at The Barn at the Three Horseshoes, Toweresey at 9pm and will end around 11.30pm.
EMINENT musician, Robert Dean, is to conduct another of his popular choral workshops later this month.
By popular demand, Thame Choral Society is to host the event, for which Robert, the Artistic Director of the Philharmonia Chorus, will work on the Verdi Requim, a magnificent work that is very popular with amateur choirs.
Robert Dean is an eminent singer and conductor. After an international singing career he worked for Scottish Opera before becoming a freelance conductor, working with orchestras and choral groups all over the world. His workshop on Mozart’s Mass in C Minor in Thame last season was a great success and was attended by singers from Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.
The Verdi workshop is being held in St Mary’s Church in Thame on February 17, between 2pm – 6.30pm. The event is open to all and will cost
IMPRESS your Valentine with a magical, musical evening
when the Oxford Philomusica will perform music from the movies.
The Oxford Philomusica is the City?s professional symphony orchestra, resident at The University of Oxford. They are holding a special event on Valentine?s Day at the MINI Info Centre at the BMW Group Plant in Oxford. The concert is supported by BMW Group Plant Oxford and all proceeds go to the Children?s Hospital charity.
The evening will include music from the movies and a guest appearance by the Blackbird Leys Choir. Earlier this year, millions of viewers tuned into Channel 5 to catch them on the `Singing Estate?. Tickets are on sale for