The sole remaining 100 per cent winning record perished last week during round six of the current league campaign.

Premier section pacesetters and reigning champions, Far From The Madding Crowd ‘A’ (Oxford City), finally suffered their first setback in going down 67-73 to divisional rivals, the Bell (Grove), whose success has reignited their own title aspirations.

The Ploughman’s Bunch! (Wolvercote) also tasted defeat for the first time, their only blemish thus far being a draw, following a fruitless trek to Childrey where they were edged out 78-74 in a belter by hosts, the Hatchet. Benefiting from these lapses, the Plough (Wolvercote) have taken over front running duties, assisted also by an 87-61 dismantling of the Crown (Church Enstone).

Also bubbling up nicely is the battle for honours in the West. Having headed the table since the opening day, the Royal Sun (Begbroke), in succumbing 63-71 to fellow title challengers the Windrush Club (Witney), have – for now – relinquished top spot.

The new leaders are the Black’s Head (Bletchingdon) who continued their impressive run by crushing basement side, the Woodman (North Leigh), 77-53. Hot on their heels are the White Hart (Eynsham) who bounced back from a defeat seven days earlier to post a highly creditable 76-67 win against the hitherto in-form Green Road Club (Kidlington).

These are trying times indeed for the Bell (Lower Heyford). After taking up temporary residence last year at the Rock of Gibraltar and narrowly missing out on the title, it had been hoped that a move back to their old stomping ground might provide the extra ingredient needed to finish the job this time around. After a bright start such expectations appeared eminently possible, but a run of four defeats has reduced our friends to mid-table mediocrity.

Their conquerors on this latest occasion were the Sun Inn (Hook Norton), whose 67-59 triumph has enabled them to post back-to-back victories for the first time anybody can remember.

Taking control of this division is the Blue Boar (Chipping Norton) who eventually wore down near neighbours, the Chequers, 69-58.

The Green Dragon roars on. After overwhelming their nearest challengers, the King’s Arms (Wheatley), 74-61, the Haddenham side are now in complete command of the East. By contrast, the plucky Gatehanger’s Inn can not buy a win and a sixth straight defeat, this time by the Chandos Arms, 72-48, means the Ashendon outfit remains the only side yet to gain a single point.

However, they could take heart from the Gardener’s Arms (North Parade) who failed to notch up any successes during the summer season yet last Thursday earned their third of this current campaign, downing Far From The Madding Crowd ‘B’, 79-46. They now sit mid-table in the Oxford Division while above them are the Seacourt Bridge (Botley), who stay second after a hard fought 75-64 victory over the Eight Bells (Long Crendon), and the North Oxford Conservative Club, who retain top spot after beating the Black Swan (East Oxford), 74-59.