LAST week’s fixtures in the Oxfordshire Quiz League were typified by some extremely gutsy displays from sides in the bottom half of the second tier of the competition.

None more so perhaps, than that put up by the wily old foxes from the Seacourt Bridge (Botley), who were facing the Premier Section pace-setters and red-hot title favourites, the Ploughman’s Bunch! (Wolvercote).

Ultimately, their heroic efforts proved in vain, going down by just 65 points to 70. But this was a very decent showing and it may not be too long before they break their duck for the season.

Over in Wolvercote, another lower division side was battling manfully against more exalted opposition. Having had a bye seven days earlier, a refreshed Black’s Head (Bletchingdon) really took the fight to the mighty Plough (Wolvercote), but sadly they too couldn’t outlast their rivals and went down 62-71.

Then there were the events in Summertown! At about 10.15pm last Thursday, I was beginning to feel I had shot not just myself, but my entire team (including in the line-up, you may be surprised to learn, the returning Coles!), in the collective foot. In last week’s column, I had ventured to suggest that a first victory of the campaign for the Gardener’s Arms (North Parade) was just around the corner, but was beseeching them to delay such an outcome by one more week as we, the North Oxford Conservative Club (Summertown) were their next opponents.

Completely disregarding my pleas, the Gardener’s moved into the lead for the first time on the night with barely a handful of questions remaining. Becoming increasingly perturbed by threatening looks from my teammates, I was saved from a lynching by of all people Coles, and his knowledge of the whereabouts of the National Coal Mining Museum! Consequently, we edged a thriller 64-61, but it was far less than the Gardener’s really deserved. This victory saw the Con Club go joint top of Section One, level with the Green Road Club (Kidlington) who secured a convincing 66-52 triumph over the Black Swan (East Oxford). Previous frontrunners, the Royal Sun (Begbroke), slipped from the top berth following defeat, 64-74, at home to Far From The Madding Crowd (Oxford City), who, with this win, are maintaining their vigorous pursuit of the Ploughman’s Bunch! in the Premier Section.

This column is taking a summer break until August 21.