THERE was a break in league action last week as teams assembled en masse at the Green Road Club (Kidlington) to participate in the ‘Films’ themed Tabletop.

Instantly noticeable upon entering the room was the absence of ‘Howie’, the ‘Barry Norman’ of Oxfordshire Quizland, from the ranks of the hitherto red-hot favourites, The Plough (Wolvercote). It was apparent that a few hasty phone calls had been made, resulting in the appearance of an able replacement in Ruth, of ‘Ruth’s Gang’ – a fabled Sunday night quiz outfit.

However, ‘Barry’s’ boots are indeed big to fill, and you sensed that the one hand his erstwhile teammates perhaps had on the silverware had now been cruelly wrenched away. So it came to pass! No prizes for guessing who did win!

Claiming their third such victory from four Tabletops this season was Premier Section frontrunners, the Ploughman’s Bunch! Thanks to a barnstorming final round which yielded 55 points from a possible 70, they prevailed by a margin of six from Barry’s mates with the gallant Royal Sun (Begbroke) finishing the best of the Division One sides, in third.

After a very bright start, the Black Swan (East Oxford) faded briefly, but then recovered to take a creditable sixth place. Captain Conway seemed pleased with his charges night’s work, more satisfied, I suspect, with the vast stocks of ‘Bud’ the club had brought in especially for him! It’s nice to see the Swan Academy working well though, and following on from the introduction of ‘H’ (not the one from Steps) and Frank the Kerryman a while back, the conveyor belt of young talent appears to be endless. They seem a better unit for it. Good on yer, skipper!

This Thursday, league hostilities resume, and with only four fixtures remaining, the competition for honours is hotting up. One would expect the Premiership sides to see off their lower ranked opponents, although Far From The Madding Crowd ‘A’ (Oxford City) will need to be at or near their best to defeat the Royal Sun. Perhaps the most eye-catching clashes are the visit of the Green Road Club to the Gardener’s Arms (North Parade), and the Seacourt Bridge (Botley) hosting the North Oxford Conservative Club (Summertown). A loss for either of the travelling teams could seriously damage their title aspirations and, perhaps, given their run-in, propel the Gardener’s into championship favourites, an unlikely scenario just a few weeks ago.

In the other game of the night, the Black’s Head (Bletchingdon) will be aiming to arrest a run of nine straight losses as they entertain fellow basement battlers, FFTMC ‘B’.