IT MAY not have made me popular among the quizfolk of Childrey, but my prediction in last week’s column that the village’s league team, the Hatchet, faced a potential banana skin in their away tie at the King’s Arms (Wheatley), came true, as the home side gained a narrow and hard-fought 67-63 victory against their Premier Section opposition.

As a consequence of this setback, the Hatchet plummeted to the foot of the table. No doubt they will be seeking swift and decisive retribution, so their opponents this Thursday should be on their guard.

The remaining sides in the top division all won convincingly, but with only four games left, the destination of the title will be either the Chester Arms (Oxford) or the Six Bells (Headington). Their match on March 15 could well settle matters.

The latter’s defeat of the Black’s Head, 71-59, ended the Bletchingdon outfit’s slim chance of winning the West Division. With a comprehensive 68-46 drubbing of a below-par Chequers (Chipping Norton), pacesetters the White Hart (Eynsham), maintained their slender edge over challengers, the Windrush Club (Witney) who, by correctly answering the last question, snatched a nailbiter, 64-63, from the Blue Boar (Chipping Norton).

With this frustrating loss, the Blue Boar surrendered their briefly-held position at the top of the North Division, being replaced once more by the Rock of Gibraltar. The Enslow Bridge team regained pole in the wake of their 61-50 success over the other championship contenders, the Crown (Church Enstone).

None of these three leading lights has a particularly easy run-in, and the quest for laurels may only be determined in the final round of fixtures.

Far more clear-cut is the destination of the silverware in the Oxford Division. Although the North Oxford Conservative Club regained second spot following their thumping (72-38) of the plucky Highwayman (Kidlington), the Green Road Club’s defeat of the Sun Inn (Hook Norton), by 72-50, has allowed this Kidlington side to open up a seven-point gap which should prove more than enough. Creeping up into fourth is the Royal Sun (Begbroke) who, despite being inconsistent for most of the season, have found a bit of form of late which they demonstrated in seeing off old rivals, the Seacourt Bridge (Botley), 65-56.

Having overcome the Black Swan (Oxford), 61-51, the Green Dragon remains firm favourite to secure the honours in the East Division, this despite that terrific triumph for the King’s Arms over the Hatchet. However, the front runners face the Six Bells next, so a positive result for the King’s Arms over the Seacourt the same night could make things interesting! The Eight Bell’s (Long Crendon) faint hopes for the title were extinguished by the Woodman (North Leigh), going down 63-52, while the Oakley Army (Chandos Arms) remains fourth after a battering by the Chester Arms, 79-54. The Gatehanger’s stays bottom after succumbing to the Plough, 78-44. Completing this week’s round up, the Bell (Grove) beat the Gardener’s Arms (North Parade), 72-56.