Monday, February 28, 2011

Football: Thompson's treble earns semi-final slot

A hat-trick from David Thompson, right, ensured Stowupland Falcons are the first team through to the semi-finals of the Norfolk & Suffolk Veterans League Cup.
Two of the other quarter-finals were postponed, while there was also still an outstanding third round tie to be completed.
Thompson's treble, together with a goal from Neil Cole, earned Falcons a 4-2 win over Division Three North title-chasers Scole United and secured a last four tie against either Woodbridge Town or Brantham Athletic.
Falcons have so far seen off the challenges of The Brickies (walkover), FC Fore Hamlet (2-0), Chilton (3-1) and Scole to reach this stage.

Football: Pair in search of long-awaited wins

Two local teams face Tuesday evening action this week. 
Stowmarket Town will be hoping for better weather conditions to get last week's postponed home Ridgeons League match against Team Bury at Greens Meadow played this time, 7.45pm, while Haughley United face a tough trip to Suffolk Senior Cup semi-finalists Framlingham Town in the Kingsley Healthcare Suffolk & Ipswich League, 7.45pm.
It's as you were for Stow, who need to rediscover their League Cup form to get their Ridgeons League First Division promotion hopes back on track.
They beat Team Bury 5-0 five weeks ago in the knockout competition but then Town have lost all four league games they’ve played.
With Framlingham between cup dates, Saturday's scheduled semi-final at Whitton United was postponed and they will try again this week, Haughley will be hoping their minds are elsewhere.
Despite being winless at the foot of the table, Haughley have only lost two games by more than two goals all season and were unlucky not to snatch a point from Saturday's home game with title-chasing Ipswich Athletic.

Paper Talk: Stowmarket sport in the local media (In Touch With …)

There is lots of sports news in the March edition of In Touch With… Stowmarket magazine.
As well as a packed two-page section, which includes a report on the success of the Stowmarket Sport website, there is much more scattered throughout the 28 glossy pages.
There are reports and news from Stowmarket Football Referees, Salvation Army FC, Stowmarket Volleyball Club, Stowmarket Rugby Club and Tennis Club as well as the Mid Suffolk Gymnastics Club, a request for players from Stowmarket Town Youth FC and details of local bowling success at Potters.
Elsewhere in the magazine is an advert for Combs Ford headteacher Russell Clark's Children with Leukaemia London Marathon run and a report and picture of the Stowmarket Squash Club Championship final between Steve Maitland and Justin Bryant.
A report from Old Newton Sports & Social Club, a list of Stowmarket branch Ramblers Association walks and news from Stowmarket Bridge Club completes an impressive package.

Football: League honour for Old Newton's Bloom

Lee Bloom helped the Kingsley Healthcare Suffolk & Ipswich League representative side to a 3-0 victory over the Essex & Suffolk Border League.
The Old Newton player was in a squad of 15 with goals coming from Tom Childs (2), of Ransomes, and Andy Crump, Felixstowe United.
On the transfer front, Rio Bowen-Wade has moved from Haughley United to East Bergholt United.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Football: Today's Sunday League results

Sunday, February 27

Premier Division: Unicorn v Ipswich Thistle, late result.
MB3: Cherrytree 3 Wetherden 08 3.
RM4: FC Adhara 1 Riverside 5.

Division 3: AFC Hardwick v Buxhall Utd, postponed.

League Cup, quarter-finals: Stowupland Falcons 4 Scole Utd 2.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Football: Luck still against Haughley

Haughley United 1 Ipswich Athletic 2
A change of manager has not brought a change of luck for SIL Senior Division bottom side Haughley.
Phil Fairbrother took charge for the first time this afternoon and got first-hand experience of what has been troubling Haughley for much of the season - a severe case of bad luck.
After weathering an early storm, Haughley more than matched their high-flying opponents and the only difference was that loose balls fell kindly for Athletic and bounced awkwardly for the hosts.
Haughley should have scored inside the first minute. Nathan Smith's shot was well saved by Carl Taber and the ball fell to Aaron Robinson ten yards out with the goal at his mercy but it bobbled as he hit it and flew high and wide.
Spurred on by that let off, Athletic laid siege to the home goal for ten minutes and only solid defending kept them out with Stowmarket Town striker Dean Tournay-Godfrey coming closest, curling a 30-yard effort narrowly wide of Arron Mayhew's goal.
New Haughley signing Tony Mayhew was tripped as he ran clear on goal after 25 minutes, while at the other Tournay-Godfrey went close with an acrobatic effort as the game evened out.
Smith burst past three challenges to create an opening for three waiting teammates after 34 minutes but Taber did well to block his cross.
Just as it looked as if the teams would go in at half-time deadlocked, the visitors took the lead. Tournay-Godfrey's deep cross was punched away by Mayhew, under pressure from two attackers but the loose ball fell kindly for Sam Bartholomew to send a looping effort past the despairing lunges of two defenders on the line.
Taber closed down Smith well a minute into the second half when an equaliser beckoned and Mark Theobald beat the keeper after 50 minutes but his shot was narrowly wide.
Rob Firman then sent a long-range effort narrowly wide with Taber scrambling.
But it was Ipswich who found the net again. Alan Ford's corner looked to be going straight out of play but James Nickless sliced the ball high into the air and into his own net off the far post in bizarre fashion.
Tournay-Godfrey went close with three long-distance shots, while Robinson set up Theobald at the other end with a glancing shot just wide as the steady drizzle changed to a bitterly-cold downpour.
A fine move between Tournay-Godfrey, Aaron Wintrup and Caleb Ebanks saw the tall No 9 clean through but home captain Ally Mayhew was equal to the task, blocking superbly at the foot of a post.
Substitute Jason Woods teed up a goal for Haughley in the last minute but his pass across the face of goal just evaded the lunges of Smith and Robinson.
Reward finally came in the final minute of stoppage time when Woods forced the ball in from close range but it was too late to make a difference.
Haughley United: Arron Mayhew, Nickless (Lewis 84), T Mayhew, Ally Mayhew, Taplin, Firman, Hawes (McLuckie 30), Robinson, Smith, Theobald, Garnham (Woods 54). Substitutes (not used): Nibloe, Castle.
Booking: Firman (foul, 40).
Goal: Woods 90+3.
Ipswich Athletic: Taber, Loparvlo, Bartholomew (Selby 86), Wintrup, Marjoram, Mills, Jackson, Flurry, Ebanks, Tournay-Godfrey, Ford. Substitute (not used): Rowell.
Bookings: Bartholomew (foul, 22), Loparvlo (foul, 23), Tournay-Godfrey (foul, 56).
Goals: Bartholomew 45, Nickless (og) 60.

Rugby: Stowmarket go joint top

Stowmarket went joint top of Greene King IPA Eastern Counties One this afternoon with a 52-0 win over Harwich & Dovercourt at Chilton Fields.
While Stow were gaining a bonus point for the number of tries they scored, leaders West Norfolk were struggling to a 17-11 victory over Ely and now share top spot with 57 points, keeping pole position by virtue of a superior points difference.
Cantabrigian trail them by seven points and the March 12 meeting between the top two at Stow could well decide the league title and who gets promotion.

Football: Today's local results

Nathan Smith battles for the ball during
Haughley's 2-1 defeat by Ipswich Athletic
this afternoon.
Saturday, February 26

First Division: Stowmarket Tn v Fakenham Tn, postponed.

Senior Division: Coplestonians v Old Newton Utd, postponed; Haughley Utd 1 Ipswich Ath 2.
Division 1: Leiston St Margarets v Stowupland Falcons, postponed.
Intermediate A: Old Newton Utd Res v Coplestonians Res, postponed.
Intermediate B: Mendlesham Res v Haughley Utd Res
, postponed; Stowupland Falcons Res 0 Thurston Res 3.
Division 2: Bramford Rd OB v Salvation Army, postponed.
Division 4: Salvation Army Res v Sizewell Assocs, postponed.
Division 5: Old Newton Utd A v St Clements Hosp Res, postponed; Trimley Red Devils Res v Cedars Park, postponed.
Division 6: Cedars Park Res v FC Adhara, postponed.

Football: Tributes paid to Salvation Army stalwart Verz

Tributes are being paid to Salvation Army FC player Mark Versey, who died this morning.
The 38-year-old died of a suspected heart attack at his parents' home after returning from his work for Ambassadors In Sport in South Africa and London, where he was based.
'Verz' joined the club in only its second season and went on to make more than 200 appearances, scoring 26 goals.
He had roles as treasurer and reserve team manager and re-signed playing forms in December.
A Salvation Army FC spokesman said: "Mark Versey was a true gentleman. He was competitive, combative and loyal without ever being an unfair or dirty player. 
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Michelle, his sister, his Mum and Dad, his nephews Nathan and Edward and brother-in-law Jonathan."
Both the clubs' teams will wear white armbands for next week's matches against Sporting 87 FC.

Football: Matches off

More heavy overnight rain has seen several games fall victim to the weather, including all but two of those involving Stowmarket teams.
Today's Ridgeons League game at Greens Meadow between Stowmarket Town and Fakenham Town is off, as is Old Newton United's SIL Senior Division trip to Coplestonians.
Cedars Park's hopes of going top of SIL 5 were dashed when their match at Trimley Red Devils Reserves was postponed.
Old Newton Reserves were due to play Coplestonians in Intermediate A, while the A team were at home to St Clements Hospital Reserves in Division Five, but those games were the first of the day to be called off.
In Intermediate B, Haughley United Reserves' trip to Mendlesham is off, as are the Division Four match between Salvation Army Reserves and Sizewell Associates and Cedars Park Reserves' home match with FC Adhara.
By lunchtime, Stowupland Falcons (at Leiston St Margarets) and Salvation Army (at Bramford Road OB) were also left sidelined. 
As it stands at 12.30pm, the only Stowmarket area teams still in action today are: Haughley United (v Ipswich Athletic) and Stowupland Falcons Reserves (v Thurston Reserves).

Athletics: Capital date for headteacher

A Combs Ford teacher is preparing for the race of his life.
Russell Clark, headteacher at the primary school, has spent months training for the London Marathon and will be raising money for Children with Leukaemia when he takes to the streets of the capital on April 17.
He is running as part of the Mr Men and Little Miss team and is aiming to raise £4,000 with £2,300 already raised by his school.
To make a donation to support Mr Clark, go to www.virginmoneygiving.com/russellclark
Mr Clark was pictured on the front of the Stowmarket edition of yesterday's Bury Free Press.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Paper Talk: Stowmarket sport in the local media (Bury Free Press)

There are two Stowmarket pictures and half-a-dozen reports on the sports pages of today’s Bury Free Press.
Dean Gournay-Godfrey is pictured in action for Stowmarket Town during the 3-0 defeat at home to Thetford Town with a report taken from Stowmarket Sport.
Town u10 player Liam Swann gets a mention in Walsham-le-Willows’ report of their 6-1 win and in table tennis, there is a report from Thurston Vulcans on their 7-3 defeat against Stowmarket Jaguars.
There is a picture and details of Stowmarket Swimming Club’s “magnificent team effort” at the Sudbury Masters Valentine Open Sprints Meet as well as reports from Stowmarket Golf Club and Stowmarket RUFC’s win over Cantabrigian.
  • Some sports reports are on the Bury Free Press website, or you can buy the paper for 70p at outlets throughout the area.

Athletics: Shirley takes animal welfare in her stride

A Stowmarket Striders runner is taking to the lanes of Buxhall next month to do her bit for the animal world.
Shirley Brame is running in the Joe Cox Half Marathon on March 27 to raise funds for the RSPCA Centre at Martlesham, which is under threat.
In a report in today's East Anglian Daily Times. Mrs Brame said she had previously done the run for Cancer Research and the British Heart Foundation and wasn't going to do it this year but changed her mind when she read about the plight of the animal welfare centre.
To sponsor Mrs Brame visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ giving/ and search for 'Shirley Brame'.
For more information on how you can help the RSPCA centre, contact Kate Grimwood, 01449 614057 or 07745 771129, or email katebranchadmin@talktalk.net

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Football: Hectic weekend of local games


There is a busy weekend of local football action coming up.
Stowmarket Town will be keen to get back into action after their midweek postponement and Fakenham Town are the scheduled visitors to Greens Meadow, 3pm.
All 11 SIL teams have matches on Saturday, while Sunday's big game is at Stowupland, where the table-topping Falcons welcome Scole United in the Norfolk & Suffolk Veterans League Cup quarter-final.

Weekend fixtures
Saturday, February 26
Ridgeons League (3pm)
First Division: Stowmarket Tn v Fakenham Tn, postponed.

Kingsley Healthcare Suffolk & Ipswich League (2.30pm)
Senior Division: Coplestonians v Old Newton Utd, postponed; Haughley Utd v Ipswich Ath.
Division 1: Leiston St Margarets v Stowupland Falcons, postponed.
Intermediate A: Old Newton Utd Res v Coplestonians Res, postponed.
Intermediate B: Mendlesham Res v Haughley Utd Res
, postponed; Stowupland Falcons Res v Thurston Res.
Division 2: Bramford Rd OB v Salvation Army, postponed.
Division 4: Salvation Army Res v Sizewell Assocs, postponed.
Division 5: Old Newton Utd A v St Clements Hosp Res, postponed; Trimley Red Devils Res v Cedars Park, postponed.
Division 6: Cedars Park Res v FC Adhara, postponed.

Sunday, February 27
Flare Recruitment Ipswich Sunday League (10.30am)
Premier Division: Unicorn v Ipswich Thistle.

MB3: Cherrytree v Wetherden 08.
RM4: FC Adhara v Riverside.

Frames Conservatories Direct Bury Sunday League (10.30am)
Division 3: AFC Hardwick v Buxhall Utd.

Norfolk & Suffolk Veterans League (2pm)
League Cup, quarter-finals: Stowupland Falcons v Scole Utd.

Kick boxing: Scorpions win senior and junior trophies

Stowmarket Scorpion Academy kickboxers Lauren Mitchell (junior) and Will Ribbons (senior) returned with a trophy from an interclub show at Swaffham.
They were both named fighter of the day.

Also in action were: Owen Jackson and Harvey Cooke (juniors) and Jo Cobbold, Mel Walmsley, Cheryl Ratcliffe, Sarah Downs, Kieron Holder, Josh Trent, Jim Buxton, Aaron Grunberg, Paul Sadler, Chris Sparkes, James Cooke, Jordan Sweeney and Nathan Prentice (seniors).
Stowmarket Scorpions will be hosting the next interclub competition.
Scorpion Fight Night 14 is being held at The Riverside Club, Stowmarket, on Friday, April 29.
The first fight is at 8pm and doors open at 6.30pm.
Tickets for the BIKMA, WKMA, UFKKA sanctioned event go on sale on Monday, March 21.
They are £12/£15/£20 and available from Mark Trent, 07708 644162.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Golf: Voysey and George are weekend winners

Daniel Voysey and Clive A George came out top at last weekend’s February Stableford round at Stowmarket Golf Club.
Voysey scored 36 points in Saturday’s Division One rankings to repeat his January success, with George scoring 37 to win Sunday’s equivalent.
Jonny Daniel just missed out on Saturday, losing out on countback to Voysey.
Ian Harvey won Saturday’s Division Two (25) with Roger Peck (38) successful on Sunday.

Cricket: Stowupland set to play in memory of county soldier

Pte James Grigg. Picture from
http://james-grigg.gonetoosoon.org/
Stowupland Cricket Club will be paying tribute to a Suffolk cricketer who was killed in Afghanistan last year.
According to a report in the East Anglian Daily Times, a new Twenty20 league competition is being in memory of Private James Grigg, in association with Greene King.
Pte Grigg was killed while serving with 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment last March.
The new tournament will be held over three weeks from June 18, with nine Suffolk Premier League teams split into three revolving groups of three, with the top four teams overall advancing to finals day on July 9 at Stradbroke Cricket Club, where Pte Grigg was a player.
All money raised will go towards the James Grigg Youth Cricket Trust.
Battisford, Walsham-le-Willows and Worlingworth will host the three group rounds and the other sides taking part are Brantham, Earl Stonham, Easton, Lakenheath, Stradbroke and Stowupland.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Football: Heavy defeat for Town Reserves

Stowmarket Town Reserves slumped to a 5-0 defeat at Lowestoft Town in their Ridgeons League Reserve North fixture this evening.

Darts: Suffolk just miss out on long trip

Suffolk made a lengthy journey to Dorset for match six in the 2010/11 British Inter-Counties Championships sponsored by Rileys.
The Ladies B team were unlucky to lose their match 4-2, playing well but struggling to hit their doubles.
The winning ladies were Sue Thompson (3-1, 13.85 average) and lady of the match Leanne Topper (3-0, 15.99).
The Men’s B team played what may well have been their best game of the season against very tough opposition and well deserved their 7-5 victory. Winners were man of the match Dan Tatum (3-0, 27.33), Wayne Hammond (3-1, 26.34), Curtis Hammond (3-2, 23.14), Andy Noy (3-1, 20.77), Nicky Wright (3-1, 25.00), Ian Randles (3-2, 23.21) and Phil Reeve (3-2, 24.56).
With the points all square overnight, the Ladies A team hoped to steer Suffolk towards a much-needed win overall but a very strong Dorset team had other ideas. Despite battling hard, Nicky Doidge was the only winner (3-1, 15.84).
In the final match, the Men’s A couldn’t have pushed any harder, but despite a great 7-5 victory, Suffolk lost 19-17 overall.
Team spokesman Nicky Doidge said: “There really were some great games, the best of which had to be man of the match Dave Ballard-Flatt who won his game 3-1 with a massive 36.07 average.”
Suffolk’s other winners were Andrew Gilding (3-1, 27.40), David Mayhew (3-1, 26.69), Daniel Willimott (3-1, 30.34), Carl Wilkins (3-2, 29.69), Phil Westwood (3-1, 24.55) and Kevin Harris (3-1, 25.71).
Suffolk’s next match is at home to Nottinghamshire on March 5/6 at Stowmarket’s Riverside Snooker & Social Club.
Admission is by programme costing £3 at the door and covers both days – all supporters are welcome.
The action starts at noon on Saturday and 11am on Sunday.

Football: Stowmarket Town match off

Tonight's Ridgeons League First Division match between Stowmarket Town and Team Bury has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Town will be hoping for drier conditions for the rest of the week ahead of Saturday's scheduled home game with Fakenham Town.

Golf: Cordle’s vintage round

Eddie Cordle put in a vintage performance to finish first in the Heester Trophy at Stowmarket Golf Club.
He scored 35 points in the stableford competition for men aged 55-plus.
Jamie Ruegg finished a point adrift on countback from Roger Taylor.

Darts: Latest results

Stowmarket & District Darts League
Needham 4, Finningham 6; Stonham 10 Bells 1, Huntsman 9; Old Newton SSC B 6, Stowupland Sports 4; Queens Head 3, Kings Arms 7; Pickerel 2, Old Newton SSC A 8; Royal William 5, Walnut Tree 5.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Football: Stowmarket Town have hat-trick of wins in sight

Stowmarket Town have a golden opportunity to get their Ridgeons League First Division promotion hopes back on track tomorrow.
Team Bury are the visitors to Greens Meadow, 7.45pm, just four weeks after they crashed 5-0 there to Town in the League Cup.
Town also have a 3-0 away win over the Bury St Edmunds side in the First Division Cup to their name and will be keen to complete a winning hat-trick.
But, since that nap-hand, Town have lost all four league games they’ve played, slumping from first to fifth in the table and need to overcome the loss of 21-goal top scorer Wayne Proctor if they are to start to climb back.
Proctor is suffering the after-effects of whiplash after a car crash.
Since the record-busting 13-0 win at Cornard, Town have scored just five goals in six games and three of them came in the 4-3 defeat at Long Melford.
But, Lee Drummond is back and, with fellow 10-goal striker Marc Wake also in the team, the potential for a swift return to prolific scoring action is there.
Team Bury bounced back from that League Cup defeat with a 3-0 win over high-flying Ipswich Wanderers but have since lost their last three league games, conceding 11 goals in the process.

Town Reserves are also in action with a tough trip to Ridgeons Reserve North title favourites Lowestoft Town.

Football: Chilton old boys go goal crazy

Norfolk & Suffolk Veterans League Division Three South side Chilton went goal crazy at Elmswell yesterday to move top of the table.
Colin Waggott led the way with a hat-trick and both Matt Platt and Darren Pleasence hit doubles. Steve Gooding, Gordon Holloway and Paul Rowland completed the 10-1 scoreline.
Neil Cole and Neil Gregory grabbed a brace apiece as Stowupland Falcons extended their lead at the top of the First Division with a 4-2 win at bottom club Griffin.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Football: New manager for Haughley

SIL Senior Division side Haughley United have appointed Phil Fairbrother as their new manager.
The former Framlingham and Melton boss takes over from temporary managers Dave Anderson and Shaun Taplin, who had been in charge since Adam Riggey left the club last month.
A Haughley spokesman said: "We are extremely lucky to have someone of Phil's experience join the club and look forward to a bright future."

Football: Tom Tom joy for Cedars Park

Centre-back Tom Jacobs struck twice and a "25-yard wonder goal" from Tom Coe helped Cedars Park to a 3-2 SIL Division Five win at St Clements Hospital Reserves.
With AFC Crowley Reserves drawing and Westerfield United A and Felixstowe Harpers rained off, it allowed the Lions to climb into second place.
Next Saturday sees four of the top five in opposition. Leaders Westerfield are without a game but Cedars Park travel to fifth-placed Trimley Red Devils, while Harpers and Crowley meet in Felixstowe.

Football: Sunday League results

Sunday, February 20

Premier Division: Unicorn 1 Underwoods 0.
Division MB3: Wetherden 08 0 Kesgrave SC 2.
Division RM4: AFC Claydon 2 Riverside 0.
Division RM5: Stowmarket All Stars 1 Ravenswood Dragons 4.

Cup: Cock Inn 5 Stow Excelsior 2.
Division 3: Great Barton v Buxhall Utd, postponed.

Division 1: The Griffin 2 Stowupland Falcons 4.
Division 3S: Elmswell 1 Chilton Vets 10 (ten).

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Football: Rickwood raises Old Newton hopes

Adam Rickwood's 78th-minute goal gave Old Newton United hope of salvaging a point from their SIL Senior Division match at home to Framlingham Town today.
That pulled it back to 2-1 but the visitors struck twice more to complete a comfortable 4-1 victory.
Full report on the Green'Un wesbite, here

Football: More misery for Stowmarket Town

A heavy pitch left Stowmarket in a mud-dle.

Stowmarket Town 0 Thetford Town 3
Hopes of an end to Stowmarket's losing run were quashed after only four minutes of this afternoon's Ridgeons League First Division match at Greens Meadow.
That was how long it took Matt Blake to latch on to a loose ball and fire it past home keeper Kevin Bugg.
Town never recovered from that set-back on a heavy surface and had Bugg to thank for keeping down the score with a string of fine saves.
The match survived an earlier inspection after heavy rain and Thetford made the most of the opportunity with some fine flowing moves to tear apart the home ranks with ease.
By contrast, Stow's passes continually fell short and the final ball was lacking with the forwards struggling to create any worthwhile opportunities.
Dean Pleasence came close
Dean Pleasence had Stow's best chance of a first-half goal when he beat the offside trap and rounded goalkeeper Ian Fancett but his shot from a tight angle hit the near post.
Bugg then pulled off a pair of superb one-on-one saves on the edge of the penalty area but needed a fine saving tackle from James Horsfall to save him when Dave Richards went clean through on his goal.
Bugg then blocked from Blake at close range before home captain James Graham sent a half chance whistling wide of the Thetford goal just before the break.
The second half had only been going for a minute when play was held up while one of the assistant referees was replaced. He suffered an Achilles injury and a 15-minute interval was taken while his replacement was found and kitted up.
Pleasence sent another effort over the bar before Thetford doubled their advantage when Simon Mann burst through the middle to fire home.
Liam Bolton's 15-yard effort took a wicked deflection to wrong-foot Bugg but bounced narrowly wide and after 59 minutes Dan Jones' 30-yard drive took an even bigger deflection to loop over Bugg and on to the top of the bar.
Stowmarket failed to find a way past the Thetford defence
That escape was short-lived though with Bugg parrying an effort from Jones but unable to keep out the follow-up shot in a scramble that saw Blake claiming his second goal.
Stow came close to pulling a goal back two minutes later when Pleasence's free-kick hit a defender and bounced onto a post. The rebound fell between two defenders but they combined to clear off the line via a fortunate deflection.
Substitute Ben Licence then won a tackle in his own half, outpaced two defenders and pulled the ball back for Marc Wake but Fancett blocked superbly at point-blank range to preserve his clean sheet.
Bugg did well to deny Matt Dixon and the last chance of the match fell to Graham but his 18-yard free-kick beat the wall but not Fancett.
Stowmarket: Bugg, McConnell (Hall 68), Luxford, D Smith, Birch, Horsfall, Drummond (Licence 64), Graham, Wake, Tournay-Godfrey, Pleasence. 
Substitutes (not used): C Smith, Simpson.
Booked: Tournay-Godfrey (dissent 41), Horsfall (foul 56)
Thetford: Fancett, Joseph, Bailey, Richards, Howard, Bolton, Jones (Haynes 90+3), O'Donnell, Blake (Tavares 80), Dixon, Mann (Clayton 85).
Substitutes, not used: Carter.
Goals: Blake (2) 4, 64; Mann 56.
Booked: Joseph (foul 75).

    Rugby: Fine win for Stowmarket

    Getting down to business. Stowmarket versus Cantabrigian this afternoon.
    Stowmarket RUFC gained a fine 31-19 victory over Greene King IPA Eastern Counties One leaders Cantabrigian at Chilton Fields this afternoon.
    The hosts, wearing flourescent green shirts to avoid a colour clash, were gifted an early try and built from that platform.
    West Norfolk beat Southwold 17-8 to move to the top of the table, just a point ahead of Stow with Cantabrigian now two adrift from a game more.

    Football: Today's local results

    Action from Stowmarket's 3-0 home
    defeat by Thetford Town this
    afternoon.
    Saturday, February 19

    First Division: Stowmarket Town 0 Thetford Town 3.
    Reserve Division North: Gorleston Reserves 6 Stowmarket Town Res 1.

    Senior Division:  Old Newton Utd 1 Framlingham Town 4; Westerfield Utd v Haughley Utd, postponed.
    Division 1: Stowupland Falcons 0 Thurston 7.
    Intermediate Division A: Framlingham Town Res 1 Old Newton Utd Res 1.
    Intermediate Division B: Thurston Res 2 Stowupland Falcons Res 1; Wickham Mkt Res v Haughley Utd Res, abandoned half-time, 1-1, pitch unfit. 
    Division 4: Salvation Army Res 2 Bramford Road OB Res 3.
    Division 5: Dennington Utd 0 Old Newton Utd A 6; St Clements Hospital Res 2 Cedars Park 3.
    Division 6: Cedars Park Res 7 Sizewell Assocs Res 2.

    Football: Only one local game washed out

    Heavy rain has bitten into today's Ridgeons and Kingsley Healthcare Suffolk & Ipswich League programmes.
    Several games have been postponed due to waterlogged pitches but, so far, only Haughley United's SIL Senior Division trip to Westerfield involves a Stowmarket area team.
    An hour before the scheduled kick-off times, the rest of the games  are still listed as being on.

    Friday, February 18, 2011

    Rugby: Crucial test for Stowmarket

    Stowmarket RUFC face a tough test of their 100 per cent home record tomorrow when Cantabrigian are the visitors to Chilton Fields, 2.15pm.
    Stow have won all eight of their home Greene King IPA Eastern Counties One games so far this season but have since 'lost' two of those due to the withdrawals of Fakenham and Haverhill.
    The Suffolk club's results are still to be expunged from the league table but, when they are, it will see third-placed Cantabrigian overtake both Stow and present leaders West Norfolk into top spot.
    Cantabrigian have played Haverhill only once this season and will lose five points, compared to the ten being taken from their title rivals Stowmarket and nine from West Norfolk.
    It makes it all the more important that Stow bounce back from last week's 21-0 defeat at West Norfolk and repeat their success over Cantabrigian in the reverse fixture when they returned from Cambridge with a 21-20 success.

    Paper Talk: Stowmarket sport in the local media (Bury Free Press)

    Stowmarket Town manager Steve Jay has held clear-the-air talks with his players according to today’s edition of the Bury Free Press.
    There is a report on the 4-3 defeat at Long Melford as well as an interview with the manager.
    There is a brief report on Stowmarket RUFC’s defeat at West Norfolk, plus a report and pictures from Stowmarket Swimming Club’s winter league fixtures at Bungay and Thetford.
    Mark Royal talks about his delight at maintaining his place as one of the world’s top four bowls players and there are results and tables from local darts and football leagues.
    • Some sports reports are on the Bury Free Press website, or you can buy the paper for 70p at outlets throughout the area.

    Swimming: Profitable trips for Stowmarket teams

    
    Jess Long: A busy time at Thetford saw her in seven races.
    Split locations for the Winter League second leg failed to upset Stowmarket Swimming Club as they returned with a first and second place.
    The A team gained 12 personal best times on their way to victory in Bungay, while the B team chalked up 15 when they finished second at Thetford.
    The A team started their gala in style with Chloe Long coming home second in the 11u 50m backstroke inside her previous best by a second (38.47). Alex Harrison repeated the feat, inside his PB by a second (39.88).
    It was a similar story over at the B team gala with Cally Pickering finishing the 11u 50m backstroke in second place with a one-second PB (39.99). This was followed by Thomas Jordan Pierce gaining third, also inside his previous best.
    This form continued with the next three swimmers all setting new best times Harriet Smith knocked nearly two seconds from her time in 12/13 100m breast down to 1.33.92, Calvin Coe beat his time by three seconds 12/13/ 100 breast – 1.26.02, and Jess knocked three seconds off her 100 free in the 14/15 age group (1.14.71).
    Alex Harrison: Chalked up
    two personal best times.
    This form carried through with Tamsin Fisher, Ryan Clay, and Roma, Elysia Golding, Mikey Fisher, and Jess Beatty all swimming their fastest races. With Calvin and Jess Long turning in some excellent times – in Jess’ case a five-second PB in the 12/13 100m Fly 1.23.69.
    It was the same in Bungay where Robert Lancaster gained two PBs in the 12/13 Breast (1.18.21) and 12/13 100m fly (1.16.00), Chloe Long matched her sister with a two-second PB in the 13/13 100m fly (1.31.93), Toby Upson shaved a second off 14/15 100m free (58.81) as did Hannah Champion 11u 50m free (34.25), Alex Harrison 11u 50m free (33.38). Ella Delves also had a good start knocking nearly three seconds off her best at the 100m Fly (1.13.84).
    In the relays, the A team managed two first places and two seconds from four races. The B team came away with two second places, narrowly missing first by a fraction of a second.
    The second half saw three PBs from the A team, two from Ellena Skoulding also getting a first and second position in the 12/13 100 back ((1.15.53),and 100 free (1.08.56), and a PB from Liam also in the 12/13 100 back (1.13.02)
    B team PBs came from Ryan Clay, nudging inside his 100 Fly time, and Jess Long, knocking an impressive four seconds off her 100m Back (1.20.23)
    The final relays saw the A team winning three of the four and only coming second in the other. The B team staged an impressive comeback to win the boys’ senior 50m free relay with Sean Harrison setting an excellent example by stepping up the pace to bring the team home in first.

    Many swimmers swam in multiple races and special mention goes to Harriet Smith and Jess Long who both competed in seven races.

    Athletics: Olympic effort for Stowmarket's Jordan

    Stowmarket Striders runner Tamara Jordan notched up an impressive scalp on her way to victory in the third leg of the Suffolk Winter League Cross Country meeting at Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds.
    She finished ahead of former Olympic Games marathon runner Sally Eastall. Eastall ran for her former club St Edmunds Pacers, where the 48-year-old 1990 Olympian is an honorary member, and came home ninth.
    But Jordan will have been more pleased to beat Jo Coates., who had finished ahead of her to win the Haughley Park leg of the event.
    Jordan finished in 34mins 06secs, 17 seconds ahead of the St Edmunds pacers runner.
    The fourth leg of the series is at Ditchingham, near Bungay, on Sunday.

    Thursday, February 17, 2011

    Football: Tricky task for Stowmarket Town

    There is no easy way back to winning ways for Stowmarket Town on Saturday.
    Thetford Town are the visitors to Greens Meadow, 3pm, on the back of a five-match unbeaten league record. Indeed since holding Stow to a 2-2 draw in November, Thetford have lost only one of eight games.
    In contrast, Stowmarket have hit a dip in form to slip out of the promotion places with three defeats in a row and just one win in five games in 2011.
    Town have boosted their strike force with the signing of Craig Simpson from SIL Premier Division side Stanton, where he had struck ten goals in ten games.
    In midweek, Thetford crashed 5-1 at King's Lynn Town in the Norfolk Senior Cup.

    This weekend's local fixtures

    Saturday, February 19
    First Division: Stowmarket Town v Thetford Town.
    Reserve Division North: Gorleston Reserves v Stowmarket Town Res.

    Senior Division:  Old Newton Utd v Framlingham Town; Westerfield Utd v Haughley Utd, postponed.
    Division 1: Stowupland Falcons v Thurston.
    Intermediate Division A: Framlingham Town Res v Old Newton Utd Res
    Intermediate Division B: Thurston Res v Stowupland Falcons Res; Wickham Mkt Res v Haughley Utd Res. 
    Division 4: Salvation Army Res v Bramford Road OB Res.
    Division 5: Dennington Utd v Old Newton Utd A; St Clements Hospital Res v Cedars Park
    Division 6: Cedars Park Res v Sizewell Assocs Res.

    Sunday, February 20
    Premier Division: Unicorn v Underwoods.
    Division MB3: Wetherden 08 v Kesgrave SC.
    Division RM4: AFC Claydon v Riverside.
    Division RM5: Stowmarket All Stars v Ravenswood Dragons.

    Cup: Cock Inn v Stow Excelsior.
    Division 3: Great Barton v Buxhall Utd.

    Division 1: The Griffin v Stowupland Falcons.
    Division 3S: Elmswell v Chilton Vets.