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CRICKET: Oxford face tough start to defence
8:52am Thursday 10th January 2008
Champions Oxford will open the defence of their Sommers Home Counties Premier League crown against Slough, whom they pipped last season in the closest title race in the competition's history Jason Harrison's side finished level with the Berkshire club on 385 points last September, and with eight wins each.
But Oxford were crowned champions by virtue of having suffered only one defeat, compared with Slough's three.
The last two winners of the title will meet at Roman Way on Saturday, May 10.
Banbury, who finished fifth last season, start off with a trip to promoted Tring Park, last year's Division 2 West champions.
The second week of fixtures on May 17 see Oxford visit Reading, while Banbury entertain Falkland.
Oxford are at home to Banbury in the big Oxfordshire derby in week three on May 24, with the return at White Post Road on July 26.
In Division 2 West, Kidlington open up with a trip to Wokingham, while Thame Town are at home to Thatcham Town, last season's Thames Valley League champions. In week two, Kidlington entertain Finchampstead, while Thame Town visit Gerrards Cross.
Kidlington are at home to Thame in an Oxfordshire derby on May 24, with the return at Church Meadow on July 26 - the same dates as Oxford face Banbury.
OPENING DAY FIXTURES.
(Sat, May 10).
Div 1: Falkland v Reading, Henley v Welwyn Garden City, Oxford v Slough, Radlett v High Wycombe, Tring Park v Banbury.
Div 2 West: Burnham v Basingstoke & North Hants, Farnham Royal v Buckingham Tn, Finchampstead v Gerrards Cross, Thame Tn v Thatcham Tn, Wokingham v Kidlington.
Kidlington will face Thame Town in an Oxfordshire derby in the ECB Cockspur Cup first round at Stratfield Brake on Sunday, May 4.
The prize for the winners is a trip to Reading in round two on Sunday, May 18.
Oxford have a bye into the second round where they will be at home to the winners of North Maidenhead and Abingdon Vale.
Banbury also go straight into round two, but must travel to face Hinckley Town or Derbyshire side Elvaston.
Challow & Childrey entertain Beaconsfield in round one, while Henley have a bye through to the second round where they will visit Sunbury.
Editor's choice
The Mole and Chicken, Easington, near Thame
One of the pictures on this page gives a good impression of the delights to be enjoyed at the Mole and Chicken on one of those sunny days that now seem as far as can be from our present situation.
Early taste of Christmas wine
Next week is The Oxford Times Wine Club Christmas Tasting and, with just four weeks to go until Christmas Day, it is an excellent opportunity to sample a specially-selected range of wines for the festive season.
Dylan Moran: New Theatre, Oxford
‘I was the first person to discover that if you infected a person with Marmite, he would stand up and bark at the moon.” “Everybody under the age of 35 has the intelligence of raspberry jam.” “Children can hear vegetables hiding.”
Sleeping Beauty, Chipping Norton Theatre
There’s nothing King Couer-de-Loup likes more than a good battle: “We’ll march on King Florizel’s wet and wicked army,” he proclaims. His Queen is not so sure, however. She would rather her husband stayed around: there’s the christening of their daughter Princess Aurora to arrange for a start. And he certainly can’t go out and fight looking like that: “Your chain mail’s got a ladder in it,” she wails.
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