There were a number of nail-biting finales in last Thursday’s round of league fixtures. Two of them spelt the end of all bar one of the remaining 100 per cent records.

Over in Wolvercote, the top of the table clash between Premier Section outfits, Far From The Madding Crowd ‘A’ (Oxford City) and hosts, the Plough, was decided on the last pair of questions with the visitors landing the spoils, 80-77. In so doing they extended their blemish-free start to the campaign to five from five. This setback for the Plough sees them drop from top spot to third overtaken by not only their conquerors and new frontrunners, but also by their stable mate, the Ploughman’s Bunch!, who emerged victorious over the Bell (Grove) in the highest scoring encounter, 88-77.

The Seacourt Bridge (Botley) were red-hot favourites to increase their unbeaten run to five, especially as they were up against the basement side in their division, the Gardener’s Arms (North Parade). However, in a pulsating finish, the Gardener’s claimed their first scalp of the season, prevailing by the narrowest of margins, 73-72. This success has elevated the victors to mid-table respectability. For the vanquished, their pace-setting duties have now been taken over by the North Oxford Conservative Club (Summertown), who admirably led by skipper Coles, defeated Premier side the Hatchet (Childrey), by the convincing score of 73-65. The Green Road Club (Kidlington) continued their recent fine form, overwhelming Far From The Madding Crowd ‘B’ 72-56, further proof, were it needed, of their steely determination to retain their crown.

Bravo to the Sun Inn. A few weeks back their captain gloomily predicted his Hook Norton unit might not pick up a win all season. Well, such doleful thoughts were banished last week as his side triumphed over the Woodman (North Leigh) albeit in a very low scoring affair, 57-49. Despite the effects of vertigo, the Sun will be delighted to have leapfrogged near neighbours the Chequers (Chipping Norton), who succumbed to the Crown (Church Enstone), 50-66.

After a bright start, the Bell (Lower Heyford) has now suffered three defeats in a row, the latest at the hands of the Blue Boar (also of ‘Chippy’), 61-65, and it is the latter who now take charge of matters at the head of the North Division.

Over in the East, reigning champions, the Green Dragon (Haddenham), maintained their strong title defence, outpointing the Black Swan (East Oxford) 72-58. In hot pursuit, the King’s Arms (Wheatley) summarily despatched the Gatehanger’s Inn (Ashendon), 72-49, thereby setting up an intriguing duel this Thursday between themselves and the league leaders. In the other game in the East, the Eight Bells (Long Crendon) edged a belter, 59-58, against the Chandos Arms (Oakley).

In the West, leaders, the Royal Sun (Begbroke), somewhat surprisingly, annihilated the White Hart (Eynsham), 74-39, while the Black’s Head (Bletchingdon) moved into second place following an equally surprising but no less emphatic 64-51 success over the Windrush Club (Witney).

Questions supplied by James Carr