In quite possibly the game of the night, those wily old foxes representing the Seacourt Bridge (Botley), pitted against Premiership outfit, the Ploughman’s Bunch! (Wolvercote), narrowly failed in their bid to open their account for the season.

In what has been described as ‘a game of two halves’, the Bunch! dominated proceedings up to the interval, establishing a 12-point lead. Perhaps fortified by the half-time offering of cheese and red onion sandwiches, having dispensed with the diet of shelled peas they have been curiously munching in their past few outings, the Seacourt regrouped and steadily eroded the deficit.

With the momentum now in their favour, they took the contest to the last pair of questions.

However, when your luck’s out, and frankly theirs has been all campaign, the heartaches continually pile on, and so it proved here as the Bunch! held their collective ragged nerve to edge home, 74-72.

In Section One, the league leaders Green Road Club (Kidlington), tightened their grip on the title with a commanding victory over the Gardener’s Arms (North Parade), who had been lying second prior to hostilities.

This 78-59 triumph emphasises their superiority in this division.

Capitalising on the Gardener’s misfortunes, the Bletchingdon Nomads moved into the runners-up slot after overpowering a disappointing Black Swan (East Oxford), 74-52.

‘As always a very hospitable night with the boys from the Black Swan’, remarked Nomad’s skipper ‘Big Carl’ graciously, but niceties aside, one win from 11 is scant return for a team with the talents Captain Conway has at his disposal.

After falling agonisingly short seven days earlier against the mighty Plough (Wolvercote), the White Hart (Eynsham) demonstrated their excellent run of form in thwarting the challenge of the Royal Sun (Begbroke), 71-66.

Renowned for throwing away early advantages, the White Hart decided on the opposite approach and it worked!

Trailing by seven at the break, they rallied to record an eye-catching success and in the process establish a novel tactical strategy.

Elsewhere, the Plough were rewarded for their trip to Chipping Norton by overwhelming their hosts, the Blue Boar, 83-69. In the absence of Vince, Howie took up the captaincy reins and by all accounts, principally his own, did a marvellous job.

Despite having three of their regulars absent, the North Oxford Conservative Club (Summertown), expertly led by ‘Lozza’, and with Uncle Rupert on the questions, defeated the plucky Bell (Lower Heyford), 66-59.

There is a break in league action this Thursday as the teams battle it out in a 1990s themed Tabletop.

If you would like to enter a team for the Winter Leagues commencing in October, email me at quinnd@hotmail.co.uk or visit the website atoxfordshirequizleague.co.uk

JAMES CARR'S QUESTIONS

1. Who was fourth on the list of leading goalscorers for the 2014/2015 Premiers League campaign behind Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane and Diego Costa? 

2. In which 1994 action comedy film did Cameron Diaz make her big screen debut?

3. Renaissance depictions of the Crucifixion typically depict Jesus surrounded by weeping women. Who is the only disciple ever shown with this group? 

4. Ichthyology is the study of what? 

Answers: 1. Charlie Austin, 2. The Mask, 3. John, 4. Fish.