FOCAL’s resident reverend MSR reports back from our most recent outing in Oxford

To a city of dreaming spires, historic buildings, and prestigious institutions designed to churn out future oppressors of the working class-we’re in Oxford. Hosted by enemy of the comb industry and all-round good guy, Darren Godfrey, we found ourselves back at the St Clement’s Church Centre to the north of the city for the usual anagramming faffery – 35 of us all told, with the ever-reliable Beachy helping pull things together.

Having made sure I didn’t bumble into the Jesus-themed away day next door (nor did they need me as a spare vicar), off we went. The field wasn’t as stacked as last year, but still several monsters lurking in there. Jonathan De Souza and Tom Stevenson were among the former event winners debuting here for this season, whilst Ronan “The Hurricane” Higginson ,as Colin Murray coined him, turned up with his usual skill of solving conundrums as such a speed that makes Concorde look like my nan.

Indeed, Ronan’s speed served him well, as it was him and Tom Cappleman who clawed their way to the top, and into the final they went. Beachy, being the ever-reliable legend, drafted in Dr Tom Crawford – Rachel Riley’s recent stand-in on Countdown and all round good guy. Was just like the real thing! (Only with a floppy mophead and more funky tattoos).

It’s not mentioned, but Oxford is of course the home of the dictionary with which we play our game – apt therefore that the results of their tinkering last July were on full display here, with multiple spots that once would have been good, but were now naught but widdle in the wind. Get ready…

Ronan was first to be caught out, in R2 with VETOISMS, giving T-Cap an eight-point lead-not that T-Cap could capitalize in R4-he also went for the now-dead HUMANISER. Ronan’s ELUSIVE in R8 cut the gap to 1 point, which soon opened up in R10 when he had his third former lovely spot in NOODGES ruled out. R11 saw the impressive feat of both contestants declaring declaring different words, both of which were now less use than me at a dating agency (EMPUSA and AMPAGES respectively). Not wanting to be outdone, T-Cap’s lead shrunk again to 1 point when he tried BOTTINE – only this had never been good, but would’ve been if you were playing Scrabble… So well done I suppose?

81-82 going into the con. Out came BACKRIDEU-and despite having Ramsgate’s answer to a caffeine-addicted Harrier jump jet on the opposite buzzer, T-Cap got RUDBECKIA in 1.5 seconds to take the crown – he leaves Oxford atop the FOCAL standings. Not at bad take away all told.

Headed for the pub and to scoff Italian food afterwards. It was whilst ambling over that some E-Scooters flew by with people wearing striped blazers and slacks astride them. I voiced my confusion. It’s Oxford. One wonder’s if Rugby can provide such confusion… Join us there on Friday 21st and/or Saturday 22nd March to find out!