A nailbiter was always on the cards in Kidlington last Thursday as we reached round three of the summer season.

Seven days previously when posting almost identical scores and margins of victory, home outfit the Green Road Club, were even tipped in some quarters – eg this column! – to perhaps put one over on their Premiership opponents the Ploughman’s Bunch! (Wolvercote).

In what proved to be a very tough match, with both sides regretting a few dodgy answers, the Bunch! heaved a gigantic and collective sigh of relief when, with one pair of questions remaining, and after endless to-ing and fro-ing, they finally managed to open up an unbridgeable gap.

The Green Road finished off well but were agonisingly edged out 67-66. It’s been a gruelling opening few matches for them having also run into the Plough.

It does not get any easier either with Section One pacesetters the Royal Sun (Begbroke) next up, but I guarantee that this lot will be in the mix come the beginning of April.

As for the Royal Sun, it was business as usual as their road trip to Lower Heyford was rewarded with a 73-61 success. Nothing in it after two rounds, but hosts the Bell faltered in the next and never really recovered.

A random yet correct guess at “Rigoletto” near the end from their visitors suggested that it was not going to be their night.

In contrast, the Bletchingdon Nomads displayed scintillating knowledge as they defeated the Blue Boar (Chipping Norton) – in huge part thanks to their recollections of the 1950s.

Two points up prior to this round, they left it seven clear and with the impetus to crack on, eventually prevailing 66-57.

The Nomads’ only setback to date was an opening-day reversal at the Gardener’s Arms (North Parade). Their conquerors on that occasion made it two from two as they accounted for the Seacourt Bridge (Botley), 67-58. They now sit third in Division One with a game in hand. Their perennial problem is getting five round a table week in, week out – but a recent signing may have alleviated that and they too could figure in the shake-up.

The White Hart (Eynsham) are a decent unit but their start has not necessarily reflected that: three straight losses, though all against hitherto unbeaten teams. They got a caning 72-49 from the Royal Blenheim (Oxford City) but that can happen with that crew and they should not despair. Their fixture list does become a little easier.

In the other tie, the Plough (Wolvercote) extended their winning streak to three after seeing off the spirited challenge of near-neighbours, the North Oxford Conservative Club (Summertown), 77-61. Pictures proved the Con Club’s undoing.

JAMES CARR'S QUESTIONS

1 Who was PFA Player of the Year for the 2000-2001 season, West Ham Player of the Year 2004-2005, and Tottenham Hotspur Player of the Year 1994-1995?
2 In the books by Jill Murphy, by what other name is Mildred Hubble known as?
3 Which river flows through Berlin?
4 Name Stella Burnford’s 1961 book which tells the story of three pets as they travel 300 miles through the Canadian wilderness searching for their beloved masters?

ANSWERS: 1 Teddy Sheringham, 2 The Worst Witch, 3 Spree, 4 The Incredible Journey.