IN possibly the most exciting match of this campaign, Premiership title contenders, the Plough (Wolvercote) and Far From The Madding Crowd ‘A’ (Oxford City) ended a topsy-turvy contest on 78 points apiece.

The former had led by eleven after round two but found themselves trailing by three with two questions remaining.

Successfully answering each of these forced the draw but for FFMTC ‘A’, in particular, this result may have put paid to any title aspirations.

While these honours were being shared, leaders, the Ploughman’s Bunch! (Wolvercote) were securing a maximum return in Eynsham where they overwhelmed hosts, the White Hart, 83-62. Their next fixture is at FFTMC, and a win will effectively end the latter’s championship hopes for another year.

For the third season in a row, it appears that the Green Dragon (Haddenham) will mop up in the East. Unfortunate to have lost several players in the last 18 months, they have recruited a couple of very capable deputies, and their most recent success, a hard-fought 67-63 victory at an in-form King’s Arms (Wheatley), has enabled them to open up an eight point gap. A spell in the Premier Section is fast becoming a realistic option and I feel they could rise to the challenge.

In not quite as commanding a position, but a healthy one, the Royal Sun (Begbroke) continue their domination in the West. Having fancied the Windrush Club (Witney) to mount a serious challenge, their ambitions look dashed after succumbing narrowly to the Royal Sun, 64-70. They now lie a distant third behind their conquerors with the only meaningful threat to the league leaders coming from the Seacourt Bridge (Botley) who stayed in touch after an 71-64 win at the Eight Bells (Long Crendon).

For once, the front-running duties in the North stayed in the same hands for consecutive weeks. This was despite the fact that those in possession, the Bell (Lower Heyford), were beaten, 70-59, at the Chandos Arms (Oakley). Sweet revenge for the ‘Oakley Army’, who had suffered a similar reverse at the same opponents seven days earlier!

The Bell stays top courtesy of the Blue Boar ‘A’ (Chipping Norton) being edged out, 59-64, at home by the Woodman (North Leigh). Their stablemate, the Blue Boar Bees have leapfrogged them into second after a 74-56 drubbing of the Black’s Head (Bletchingdon).

In the Oxford Division, the North Oxford Conservative Club’s hold on pole position is shaky. Back to back losses have left the outfit vulnerable, their latest defeat at the hands of nearest rivals, the Green Road Club (Kidlington), 78-64, whilst the Hatchet (Childrey) took closer order after seeing off the Gardener’s Arms (North Parade), 85-57.

In other results, the Sun (Hook Norton) took a second straight win beating the Chequers (Chipping Norton), 60-59, and the Black Swan (East Oxford) ended a run of seven defeats by downing FFTMC ’B’, 63-41.

A full fixture list and details of the league can be found at oxfordshirequizleague.co.uk