I HAVE no idea if divine intervention is lending a hand here, although maybe it is given the presence of a vicar in their ranks, but Far From The Madding Crowd ‘A’ (Oxford City) are on fire!

After racking up 84 points in defeating the unfortunate Black Swan (East Oxford) in their first match, last Thursday they despatched the reigning Winter League champions, the Plough (Wolvercote), 79-71.

A small yet fully committed bunch with an eclectic mix of players, FFTMC ‘A’ are, however, prone to the occasional and wholly inexplicable gaffe. Such an instance occurred 12 months ago for which my lot, the North Oxford Conservative Club, were the grateful beneficiaries.

They will be hoping to avoid the banana skins (until they play the Con Club again, that is!), and so maintain their excellent start. Next up is no trifling affair though, as they visit defending Summer Premier Section titleholders, the Ploughman’s Bunch!

After a thumping by their stablemates, the Plough, in week one, the Bunch! responded in style with a convincing 74-63 success over pre-season Section One favourites, the Green Road Club (Kidlington). Their match up with FFTMC ‘A’ could be a classic.

Thinking of ‘bouncebackability’, there was none more dramatic, perhaps, than that demonstrated by the White Hart (Eynsham). Having posted a miserly 49 points in the drubbing meted out by the Royal Sun (Begbroke) on opening night, they amassed the highest total of the evening in crushing the Black’s Head (Bletchingdon), 84-54. I am informed some of the fringe players brought in to replace those absent, possibly through embarrassment, have left the skipper with a selection dilemma for their next league outing.

After a few weeks commenting on the liquid consumption of Maurice of the Royal Sun, it transpires that it’s coffee in his mug and not tea. Whatever, his nevertheless slightly odd catering requirements don’t appear to be hampering his team’s performances on the pitch, so to speak.

They now proudly boast a 100 per cent positive record following victory over visitors, the Black Swan, 64-57. Unusually, the lead changed hands no less than four times during the course of the contest, round seven eventually proving decisive in favour of the hosts.

Also in Section One, the Gardener’s Arms (North Parade), after losing out narrowly seven days earlier, opened their account for the season by overwhelming the Young ‘Uns, aka Far From The Madding Crowd ‘B’, 66-47, while in Summertown, the Con Club, somewhat surprisingly, secured a comfortable two points from a lacklustre Seacourt Bridge, running out 80-53 winners.

This Thursday, there is a break in league action in order to accommodate the inaugural staging of the ‘Science Fiction’ Tabletop, being held at the Green Road Club.

The Bunch! are favourites to add this silverware to that acquired in landing the ‘Company’ themed equivalent, on that occasion without the services of Graham ‘The Pad’. Another selection crisis then, this time for Captain Beth!