Bucking the trend last Thursday night when the majority of travelling teams prevailed, the Seacourt Bridge welcomed their old rivals, the Green Road Club (Kidlington), to Botley and, in the highest scoring encounter of this round of matches, defeated them 75-66.

With three victories from four starts they lie second in the West Division table, having taken several notable scalps. Next up is a visit to Wolvercote to tackle the mighty Ploughman’s Bunch! but these wily old foxes will not be fazed by the prospect and a close tussle is anticipated.

Occupying top spot in the West, courtesy of their heavier weight of scoring, is the Windrush Club (Witney). They gained their third success of the campaign in a hard-fought, 72-67, battle with the luckless Woodman (North Leigh). The Windrush are more than capable of sustaining their pre-eminence until the end of the season but consistency has always been their undoing.

The same can be said of the mercurial White Hart (Eynsham). So often they flatter only to deceive but their 67-63 triumph over the hitherto unbeaten Royal Sun (Begbroke) was impressive. However, they need to back up such performances seven days later.

Defending their crown in the North, the Blue Boar Bees (Chipping Norton) visited Premiership pacesetter’s the Plough (Wolvercote) with both protagonists looking to maintain their 100 per cent winning records. With one round to go, the visitors were up by four but a major capitulation saw them perish, 69-59, leaving them the unenviable trek back to ‘Chippy’, the atmosphere laden with a plethora of ‘if only’s’.

The Black Swan (East Oxford) arrived at the King’s Arms (Wheatley) unlike the questions! A hasty call to the question setter fixed the problem and from the ensuing tense game, Cap’n Conway’s charges emerged victorious, 66-60, a precursor to tucking into a delicious lasagne before scuttling back to base to celebrate into the wee small hours.

The Gardener’s Arms (North Parade) enjoyed their trip to the Chequers (Chipping Norton). They will doubtless pester me to schedule them repeat visits in light of a delightful evening topped off with a 68-59 dismissal of their hosts.

Likewise, the Black’s Head (Bletchingdon) had a fruitful journey, theirs to the Royal Blenheim (Oxford City) where they mastered the ‘B’ side 69-56, whilst joy on the road also for the Eight Bells (Long Crendon) who battered the North Oxford Conservative Club (Summertown), 78-58, and the Bunch! who demolished the Oakley Army (Chandos Arms), 82-54.

Finally, the Royal Blenheim ‘A’ spent the night in a pub curiously titled ‘The Gate Hangs High’ (Hook Norton), the temporary accommodation of the team from the Sun (also Hook Norton). The ‘home’ outfit were clearly unsettled in their new surroundings, surrendering 56-82 to, on this occasion at least, their superior opposition.

 A full fixture list and details of the league can be found.oxfordshirequizleague.co.uk

James Carr’s questions

Which African country was formerly known as Bechuanaland Protectorate?
Who has chaired the BBC radio comedy show Just a Minute since its first transmission in 1967?
Who resigned as Speaker of the House Of Commons in 2009?
Popular in soft drinks, how is the root of the Arctium plant better known?

ANSWERS: Botswana; Nicholas Parsons; Michael Martin; Burdock