IN PURSUIT of their third consecutive Premiership crown in the Oxfordshire Winter Quiz Leagues, the Plough (Wolvercote) opened their account in fine style last Thursday night against their stablemate and title rival, the Ploughman’s Bunch!

The Bunch! edged affairs going into the interval, 47-44. However, fortified by a decent spread, then ably assisted by ‘great picks’ by shipper Vince, the Plough wore down their gallant opponents to win 80-67.

The one other Premier Division combatant, the Royal Blenheim (Oxford City), were in excellent shape as they entertained Seacourt Bridge (Botley). Easing their way to a 78-59 victory, they take on a Bunch! outfit in two days’ time who will be desperate to avoid back-to-back defeats.

The most entertaining game of the evening appears to have been at the Windrush Club (Witney). In a high-scoring encounter, by the break, the home side had built up a healthy 11-point lead over their opposition, the White Hart (Eynsham).

They then managed to squander their entire advantage to the extent that they needed a correct answer off the final question to scrape a draw. They duly obliged, honours ending even, 68-68.

Hospitality was in short supply over at the Bletchingdon Sports and Social Club where hosts, the Nomads, took on the Bell (Lower Heyford).

It was plain-sailing for the home team as they steamrollered their visitors, 72-51.

There was also a distinct lack of neighbourly love going around in Kidlington as the Green Road Club defeated the Royal Sun (Begbroke). In a contest that was a lot closer than it looked on paper, the Green Road triumphed 69-59 and so continued an unbeaten run in league matches stretching back to mid-May.

With undoubtedly the shock result of this opening series of fixtures, the Sun Inn (Hook Norton) opened their account at the first time of asking with a 73-64 success over champions in the North for the past two runnings, the Blue Boar Bees (Chipping Norton).

This was the highest total outside of the top division and repeat performances could threaten the established order.

Whilst one ‘Chippy’ representative perished, another came good, albeit in a very tight affair where both teams struggled with the subject matters!

Still, it’s great to get off the mark and the Chequers achieved this as they just got the better of the Woodman (North Leigh), 49-44.

In the one remaining tie, the Black Swan (East Oxford) thwarted the challenge of a slightly out of sorts North Oxford Conservative Club (Summertown). With ‘Burkey’ consigned to the bench, Frank the Kerryman was reassigned to the playing ranks along with a welcome reappearance by the one known only as the Driver. Suitably enriched, Captain Conway’s charges were always in command, thoroughly deserving the 62-54 scoreline.

JAMES CARR'S QUESTIONS
1. Which 1967 film had the tagline This is Benjamin. He’s a little worried about his future?
2. Who was the first athlete to clear eight feet in the high jump?
3. Which is the third largest city by population in Sweden?
4. How is The Battle of the Plains of Abraham better known?

ANSWERS: 1. The Graduate, 2. Javier Sotomayor, 3. Malmo, 4. Battle of Quebec.