University Challenge 2014-15: Round 2: Match 6: Glasgow vs Liverpool

Evening all. Thank you to Weaver's Week for the mention yesterday; it was good to see them look at the subject of female under representation too. Here's an idea: don't enforce a quota that bans all-male teams altogether, but one that bans two all-male teams playing each other in, at least, the first two rounds. That would partly solve some of the relevant problems without seeming too drastic.

Glasgow won their first match against Bath 190-120, and did so quietly but determined, and got a good haul of bonuses too. The Scots were the same four as before:
Jonathan Gillan, from Inverness, studying Classics
Christina McGuire, from Glasgow, studying Chemistry
Captain: Daniel Hill, from the Kingdom of Fife, studying Archaeology and History
Erin White, from Edinburgh, studying Genetics

Liverpool defeated Sheffield the preceding week 155-130, building up a steady lead in the first half before trailing off somewhat and allowing their opponents to draw close. The Liverpool four, who all appeared to be wearing the same top at a squint, were also the same as before:
Ben Mawdsley, from Southport, studying Astrophysics
Jim Davis, from Gullane near Edinburgh, studying Tropical Disease Biology
Captain: Dachman Crew, from Liverpool, studying Biochemistry
Hugh Hiscock, from Southampton, studying French

Off we set again then, and Glasgow started first, with Jonathan Gillan getting the first starter, and the side took two bonuses on English cathedrals. Neither side took the second starter, and Mr Gillan slipped up on the third, allowing Liverpool to kick off and draw level. Liverpool took a second starter, and one bonus. The first picture round, on WW1 poems with missing words, went to Liverpool, but they infuriated Paxo, who did a documentary on the subject a few years ago IIRC, by not getting any of the bonuses! They led 40-15 at this point.

Liverpool continued their buzzer run by taking the next starter, but only got one bonus from a tough set on Sir Robert Walpole. Glasgow dropped five again on the next starter, but repeating their wrong answer got Liverpool nowhere! Another starter went to Liverpool, but again, they got little from the bonuses. By contrast, Glasgow took their second starter of the match, and took all three bonuses, one of which saw them interrupt an unnecessary ramble from Paxo! If they could string some starters together and keep that up, they'd be in with a shout.

The music round, on classical music inspired by fairy tales and folk tales, went to Liverpool, but, again, they only took one bonus. This gave them a lead of 90-35. Two starters in a row were dropped before Liverpool struck again, and did somewhat better this time, taking two bonuses. Glasgow took a third starter, and, again, took all three bonuses from a set on Harry Potter characters. They were certainly better on the bonuses, but Liverpool's better buzzing hands were keeping them out of reach.

The second picture round, on artworks sold for record prices at auction, went to Liverpool, and this time, they took all three bonuses, which upped their lead to 135-60. They then lost five of those points to a slip-up, but Glasgow couldn't pick up the points. The Scots did get another starter, but, in contrast to earlier on, took no bonuses from a set on reptiles. The Clydesiders then took a second starter in a row, and restored earlier form with a full house.

Going into the final minutes, a buzzer run would win it for either side for different reasons. Liverpool steadied themselves by taking the next starter, but only managed one bonus, narrowly missing a second. But when the Merseysiders took the next starter, that looked like it would suffice to see them safely home. They only took one bonus, and got none from their next set, but, by now, it was too late on to matter. Glasgow took the final starter of the match, but the gong cut off the first bonus. Liverpool won 170-105.

A pretty slow moving match throughout really. Bad luck to Glasgow, who, had they done better on the buzzer, could well have walked this match given their much better bonus work, but two good showings they can hardly be disappointed with; well done them. Well done Liverpool too, but, as Paxo said, they'll need to do better in the QFs if they're going to progress; best of luck to them for then, and we'll see how they fare.

Hugh Hiscock was the best buzzer of the night, with six starters, while Daniel Hill was best for Glasgow with three. On the bonuses, Glasgow converted a superb 11 out of 15 (with two penalties), while Liverpool managed just 13 out of 33 (with one penalty); that will definitely need to be improved on the QFs.

So, now we take a break for Xmas UC, which begins Saturday and runs sporadically over the festive fortnight. I'll be providing short summaries (roughly) half way through the series and at the end of it as usual. We resume in the New Year with, I gather, U.C.L. vs Oxford Brookes and St Peter's vs Selwyn.

Only Connect saw two UC champions with Trinity College Cambridge face off: Sean Blanchflower, and our friend Filip Drnovsek Zorko, who VCM put on the spot by making him solve a Rubik's cube during her rules spiel! He did it! A good close match between two good teams ensued.