Evening all, as I seem to be starting my reviews with every week. Only two more first round matches to go; for tonight's losers, a score of 145 or 150 would put them on the repechage board, while 155 or more would mean a definite return. As would winning, of course.
Corpus Christi College Cambridge was founded in 1352 with the aim of training new priests to replace those who died during the Black Death. Alumni include Christopher Marlowe and Hugh Bonneville. It hasn't been seen on UC since losing a low scoing first round match back in 2003-04, but their Oxford namesakes have been champs twice since then, even if they were disqualified one of those times. Hoping to do as well as them tonight were:
Ram Sarujan Rajkumar, from London, studying Maths and Management
Jessica Stewart, from Cambridge, studying Arabic and Russian
Captain: Sam Sharma, from Gloucestershire, studying Classics
Caroline Purvis, from Southend-on-Sea, studying Physical Natural Sciences
York University was originally an idea of James I/VI, but wasn't actually founded until 1963 as a 'plate-glass' uni. Alumni include Harry Enfield and Harriet Harman MP, and Paxo made sure to give us our annual update on the famous ducks! The uni hasn't missed UC for some years now; last year's team trounced Bath in Round 1, but came unstuck against Somerville in Round 2. This year's quartet were:
Jack Alexander, from Hertford, studying Maths
Adam Koper, from Pwllheli in North Wales, studying Physics
Captain: Alistair Middleton, from Penrith in Cumbria, studying Maths
Joe Crowther, from Churchdown in Gloucestershire, studying Maths and Philosophy
Off we set again then (again, as I say every week), and York were the first to get going, taking the first two starters, and two bonuses from both sets. Corpus Christi got going on the third starter, and took their time with the bonuses, taking one. They also took the first picture round, on Italian football teams and their cities, which reduced York's lead to 40-35.
It was soon on the up again though, with Alistair Middleton taking the next starter. The Northeners then surrendered five points on a slip-up, and Corpus Christi responded by taking the next starter, and took all three bonuses to give them a narrow lead. But back came York, who tied the score, and then reclaimed the lead they had only briefly lost with the bonuses.
The music round, on pop songs associated with the US civil rights movement, went to Corpus Christi, and they took back the lead 80-65. They then lost five after Miss Stewart buzzed in by mistake, and lost five as a result! Bit harsh, but fair. York took back the initiative, and took two starters in a row, and two bonuses from both sets. A third starter went to York, but no bonuses came this time; despite this, they did seem to be building up a head of steam.
The second picture round, on statues of figures on horseback, went to York, and they had opened up a lead of 135-75. A potential match winning score, so Corpus Christi had to fight back quickly. They did so, taking two starters in a row, and four of the resultant six bonuses bought them back into touching distance. York then surrendered five on a slip-up, and the gap was down to 15.
But then York took the next starter, and two bonuses gave them more breathing space. And when the Northeners took the next starter too, that looked like game over. But could Corpus Christi sneak onto the repechage board? They tried, taking the next starter, and two bonuses put them within one starter of doing so. They buzzed on the final starter, but didn't get the right answer, and that was the gong; York won the game 170-135.
A middle-of-the-road sort of game overall. Bad luck to Corpus Christi, who just fell short of the repechage board, but a fair showing nonetheless. Well done to York on a reasonable first showing, and we shall see how they fare in the next round.
Alistair Middleton was the night's best buzzer, getting a good six starters for York, while Ram Sarujan Rajkumar was best for Corpus Christi with three. On the bonuses, Corpus Christi converted a decent 14 out of 21 (with one penalty), and York 16 out of 30 (with two penalties), which is an OK rate, but one that may need to improve next time.
Safely through to the repechage: Open (190), Manchester (160), Sussex (150)
Next week's match: Magdalen College Oxford vs Pembroke College Cambridge
More Only Connect returnees tonight, and good to see Sean Blanchflower, owner of the unofficial UC stats site, on the show too.
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