Following the fortnight festive break, hostilities recommenced last Thursday in the Oxford Mail-sponsored county leagues with a ‘Villains’-themed Tabletop.

Five of Oxfordshire’s finest convened at the Windrush Club (Witney), including the Plough (Wolvercote), current Premiership champions and sports quiz winners at the end of 2015.

Twelve more sides congregated at the Green Road Club (Kidlington) headed up by the Plough’s two biggest rivals, the Royal Blenheim (Oxford City) and the Ploughman’s Bunch! (also Wolvercote). As it transpired, these three Goliaths bossed proceedings.

Whilst the ‘real’ Ben Stokes was flailing the South African bowlers to all parts of Cape Town, his doppelganger, the skipper of the Blenheim, and assorted team-mates were performing similar heroics.

Dominating throughout allied to a strong finish, they posted a score of 104, three clear of the Bunch!, with the Royal Sun (Begbroke) the best of the rest, on 97. The hosts ended up tied on 96 along with the rejuvenated Blue Boar Bees (Chipping Norton).

Never ones to count their chickens, Ben, Doc, the Vicar et al would have waited for results from Witney before cracking open the celebratory champagne. How wise they were!

Despite omitting Nancy from the starting seven for the second successive tournament, and bemoaning the fact that they were made to travel despite three of their number residing in Kidlington, the Plough were just too strong.

They won every round bar one: the ‘pictures’ surprisingly being shaded by the North Oxford Conservative Club (Summertown); and their eventual tally of 107 left them three ahead of the Blenheim.

Heralding the return to league action this week, it is expected all three Premier Division contenders will emerge victorious.

The Plough entertains the Eight Bells (Long Crendon), whilst the Con Club have the unenviable task of taking on the frontrunners in the elite section, the Royal Blenheim.

The Black Swan (East Oxford) welcome the Bunch! and although their seventh place overall five days ago will provide Captain Conway and his charges with some optimism, the task before them is definitely uphill.

Match of the night could be provided over in Bletchingdon where leaders in the North, the Nomads, face off against second-placed and surprise package of the campaign to date, the Chequers (Chipping Norton). Never an outfit for scoring big, the Chequers are notorious for edging tight thrillers and if they can keep apace with their opponents early doors, they could be top of the table come 11pm.

Meanwhile, the Windrush Club will look to consolidate their hold on the West by seeing off the Bell (Lower Heyford) and the Green Road the same in the East as they visit the Gardener’s Arms (North Parade).

JAMES CARR'S QUESTIONS

1. Which children’s TV character would utter the catchphrase, ‘Drat, drat, and double drat!’? 

2. Which Walt Disney film features a character described as the ‘Mistress of All Evil’?

3. Which 1938 novel presents the story of Pinkie Brown, a chilling, utterly evil 17-year-old gang leader who marries the plodding Rose in order to ensure her silence about his crimes?

4. What was the name of the Notting Hill street on which John Christie lived and where he committed eight murders between 1943 and 1953? 

ANSWERS: 1 Dick Dastard, 2 Sleeping Beauty, 3 Brighton Rock, 4 Rillington Place