Evening all. Apologies for not doing that Only Connect review I said I might be able to do. Besides, I cannot possibly match up to those provided by Messrs Clark and Weaver. I will, hopefully, be able to do quarter and semi-final roundups, and then a full review of the final. On with the show, anyway; whoever won tonight's match would be the first team to make the semis, and can put their collective feet up for a month and a bit.
Liverpool defeated Sheffield, Glasgow and Bristol on their way to this stage, improving their score every time, as Paxo pointed out. Hoping to do so again tonight were the same four we've had before:
Ben Mawdsley, from Southport, studying Astrophysics
Jim Davis, from Gullane near Edinburgh, studying Tropical Disease Biology
Captain: Declan Crew, from Liverpool, studying Biochemistry
Hugh Hiscock, from Southampton, studying French
St Peter's College Oxford defeated Sussex, Selwyn College Cambridge and our friends Oxford Brookes so far, and have improved both their score and victory margin each time. Hoping to repeat both tonight were the also unchanged quartet of:
John Armitage, from Lancaster, studying Maths
Ed Roberts, from London, studying History
Captain: Gabriel Trueblood, from London, studying Medicine
Spike Smith, from Maidenhead, studying Maths
Off we set again then, and an unlucky slip-up from Liverpool gave Gabriel Trueblood, who amassed 28 starters across his side's prior matches, his first starter of the night. Hugh Hiscock, also impressive beforehand, then took the next two starters, thus showing St Peter's they weren't prepared to just roll over and die. Blog reader Declan Crew then unluckily slipped-up, and gave Mr Trueblood another starter to his name. The first picture round, on irrational mathematical constants (nope, me neither) went to St Peter's, who hoovered them up to give themselves a lead of 70-35.
Mr Roberts then added another starter to St Peter's score, but they only managed one bonus. Mr Crew then bought Liverpool back in via another complex maths starter I won't try to repeat, but no bonuses went with it. The reliable Mr Hiscock then pulled them further back into the match, and this time they managed two bonuses. John Armitage then finally managed his first starter of the series for St Peter's, but they managed no bonuses, as Mr Trueblood showed us he didn't manage to kick his toggle fiddling habit during the filming break. (I'm guessing this was both sides' first match back after a recess?)
After a very long wait, Ben Mawdsley identified Elton John for the music starter; the bonuses, on pop songs inspired by the works of Mr W. Shakespeare, allowed Liverpool to cut the deficit to 95-80. Mr Trueblood, who'd had a very out-of-character quiet spell, woke up on the next starter, and took a full set of bonuses he'd have to get a full-house on given his degree. He took the next starter too (so did I, as I saw the same one on an old UC on YouTube many years ago!), but only took one bonuses this time. Mr T. now seemed to be fiddling with both his hoodie toggles with both hands now, though he restricted himself to just the one as his side swept the board on their next bonus set enabled by Mr Smith.
The second picture round, on portraits of prime-ministers who previously served as chief secretary of Ireland, went to St Peter's, and they had now run up a lead of 180-80. And when Mr Armitage took the next starter, and the side took all three bonuses, it looked like that would suffice. Hugh Hiscock finally broke Liverpool back into the game, and two bonuses bought the side thoroughly deservedly into triple figures.
That was as far as St Peter's were prepared to let them go though, as Mr Trueblood took the next starter, but no bonuses followed, as if it mattered. Neither side identified Perkin Warbeck as the royal pretender who tried to overthrow Henry VII (though I was amazed Paxo let a guess of Richard III go uncommented on!). Mr Trueblood took the next starter and two bonuses followed, before what looked like a complete guess from Mr Smith ensured their 'improved score every time' record held again. At the gong, St Peter's won 245-100.
Well, it was close until half time, and then St Peter's found their feet and ran away. Unlucky Liverpool, who held firm until half time, but they're not out yet, and definitely have the capability to perform well again in their play-off, so good luck to them then. Well done to St Peter's though on another fine showing, and this time, it was a true team effort, with all four contributing freely; best of luck to them in the semis!
Gabriel Trueblood was, again, the best buzzer of the night, but with his lowest tally yet of six, one less than his colleagues combined; Hugh Hiscock was best again for Liverpool with four. On the bonuses, Liverpool managed 10 out of 18 (with two unlucky penalties) and St Peter's 23 out of 39.
Next week's match: I'd guess it'll be Bristol vs Oxford Brookes (good luck aspinctersays if so!)
Only Connect tonight saw a rematch between our friend Filip and Sean Blanchflower, two old Trinitarians and UC alumni. I'll leave the detail to Messrs Clark and Weaver at the weekend.
I found Gabriel Trueblood's constant twiddling with his bloody toggle so irritating that I had to leave the room, so thanks for the summary.
ReplyDeleteI thought the Watergate refusal at the very beginning of the game was a bit harsh. At least, as with last week, we can't say it had any bearing over the final result.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, both teams gave good showings, and it was especially good to see the whole St Peter's team contributing well. This makes them look increasingly fearsome going into the semis - very well done to them, and bad luck to Liverpool, but it was another very entertaining performance from them!
And I couldn't possibly let the Taylor Swift music question go without a mention - I'm a great fan of hers, so that was the moment of the match for me!
It was nice to see what was much more of a "team" performance from St Peter's. Good luck to them in the semis, although it should be remembered that they were in the "weaker" pool of the quarter-finals, so sterner challenges await them.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like Liverpool will have the great fortune of facing the losers of Magdalen v Caius in their play-off.
Hi Jack
ReplyDeleteI mentioned the Watergate starter on LAM. As I said there, I don't mind an incorrect answer being ruled as incorrect. But if you're going to insist on that level of accuracy for one starter - then you have to apply the same stringency to every question. In my own opinion allowing that, with JP explaining, - well strictly speaking it wasn't the Hotel, but the building, but Watergate was the crux of the answer which you got - would have been the fairer adjudication, and more importantly would have been more consistent with other adjudications we've seen in this series.
Hi Jack
ReplyDeleteI mentioned the Watergate starter on LAM. As I said there, I don't mind an incorrect answer being ruled as incorrect. But if you're going to insist on that level of accuracy for one starter - then you have to apply the same stringency to every question. In my own opinion allowing that, with JP explaining, - well strictly speaking it wasn't the Hotel, but the building, but Watergate was the crux of the answer which you got - would have been the fairer adjudication, and more importantly would have been more consistent with other adjudications we've seen in this series.