Final Scores...

The end is not just near...it is here!

18 weeks of titanic struggle has concluded and congratulations are due to the triumphant teams you can identify from the scores below, along with commiserations to those less successful - next season it all starts afresh!

In the A League, the Ox-fford won the title for the third year running, and the Principals enjoyed an excellent season in finishing second. The Principals also have the Plate Final at the start of next season to loom forward to. The New Castle and the Church House Bollington fell through the relegation trap-door, but both teams will be missed and were excellent opponents (and good company) through the season.

Mark Watson won the A League Individual standings with Alan Hodgson second.

Since the turn of the Millennium, Mark and Alan have shared this honour between them and Alan is still 5-3 ahead over the last 8 years!

Alan has been a fantastic player in this and many other fora over the years, and his standing in this arena remains unchallenged (and unchallengeable) in your correspondent's view.

Third place was shared this year between two other titans who could not be separated over 14 games - Haydn Thompson of the Ox-fford 'C' and Peter McBride of the Dolphin.

The B League saw the tightest finish of the season with the British Flag winning the title on "points scored" (or "goal difference" as we colloquially call it!).

The Flag just pipped the Harrington Academicals by dint of scoring 19 points more over the 16 games after finishing with identical Won - Drawn - Lost records. Congratulations to both teams - a wonderful effort.

The Baths Hotel and the Lamb Inn will start next season one rung lower, but their time will surely come again.

Malcolm Asquith from the George & Dragon won the Individual title and this is his first such title in the League. Malcolm - well done indeed.

Jon Thompson from the Waters Green Wonderers was second after a brilliant season and Jackie Hulme from the Cock Inn claimed third spot with 3 other players just one question behind her. A doff of the cap is due to both.

In the C League, the Knot Inn won the title and promotion in their first ever season. This is a great achievement and congratulations go to all the Knot players. They have a very strong squad and will challenge in the B League next season. Their Plate Final in October against the Principals will also be a sight to see...

The Puss Artists also had a great season, finishing second and up to the B League next time round.

Andy Bailey from the Puss Artists heads the C League Individual standings and has had a fantastic campaign. Brian Bogie from the Knot Inn finished second having played only the minimum counting games whilst John Hargreaves from the Albion capped a fine season for him (as usual) with a well deserved third place.

In terms of questions, the Principals crept up on the rails and won the Cars and Vans 4U Ltd Question Setters Trophy with their Specialist questions from the last week of the season. They just edged out the long-time leaders the New Castle by 0.36 of a point.

Incredibly close stuff and both teams deserve much credit, but well done to the Principals for winning this trophy for the second time in 3 years.