The Men They Couldn't Hang pipped The Charabancs of Fire at the Parrswood.  Damian reports:

"As Dave 'Little Peterkin' Barras remarked when asked about the significance of his 3 man team's victory tonight:

'Why that I cannot tell, but 't' was a famous victory.'

In a low-scoring affair at the Parrswood, Dave and his 3 man team did indeed do themselves proud against a full team of Charas raring to go, and with the confidence that comes from being almost unbeaten this season.  At the start, we were in good form, immediately seizing the lead and holding on to it for THREE whole rounds.  Thereafter, the Hangmen wrested it from us and firmly held on for the rest of the evening.  A surge from the Charas in the very last round was not sufficient to turn the tide.  The Hangmen scored a well-deserved victory. So much for our confidence!"

Compulsory Meat Raffle lost to The Prodigals.  Nice to hear from Prodigal Mark...

"It says something about this league that tonight there was an Egghead, a Mastermind round winner, and three current University Challenge contestants in one match.  Danny, Cheryl and I were not completely overawed, but we know our place.  An enjoyable quiz from the Pigs, but playing the Meat Raffle highlighted to us the age bias - quite a few questions related to the 60s and 70s. That was the  reason why we won.  Perhaps as a league we need to think about succession planning." 

Ethel Rodin entertained I Blame Smoke Fairies at the Cricket Club sending them away with all the points.  An absent Kieran (like me at the Etihad) gathers the thoughts of his colleagues:

"Last season, as City and United exited the Champions League on the same night, Barry and Martin took on Ethel in the Griffin and emerged with the spoils. Last night, as City did what they do best, Bob bolstered the Fairies for another famous victory at the Cricket Club.  Ethel must hate European nights.  At the Etihad, Ronaldo showed off his entire repertoire: the pout; the teapot; the head in hands in disbelief; the 'I'm going to cry in a minute' and his famed cover of 'I can't stand up for falling down'.  Mostly he was crap, a s*** Lionel Messi if you will.  Meanwhile at the cricket club the Fairies were always in control and Barry delivered a perfect four twos in the second half to secure the win."

A depleted Opsimaths failed at home to the Bards.  Brian witnessed it all....

"Due to European commitments, both sides fielded ‘weakened’ teams.  Given that the 2013 Legal Aid reforms have not yet kicked in, Tony  was still able to find a top-class legal eagle as super-sub and also lend us Dom as an excellent QM.  Played in the new ‘Stadium of Murk’ that is the Albert Club snooker room, the  nap of the green baize was always against us.  With 20/20 hindsight, we should have gone second first - we seemed to know the answers to their questions, but not our own!  We did win three rounds, but not by enough points to staunch the tide. Still, it was a convivial evening, and we look forward to beating Bards on their own turf later in the season."

The History Men narrowly defeated Albert.  Ivor writes in...

"A very close game at the Red Lion and we just get a result thanks to Anne’s performance in her seasonal debut.  Like a thoroughbred racehorse she must be lightly raced and tends to quicken in the final furlongs.  We don’t even have to show her the whip.  She might yet be the difference that elevates us from mid table mediocrity to a live challenge for fourth or fifth place.  Of course it might all go wrong if vodka is declared an illegal substance by the quizzing equivalent of the Jockey Club."