University Challenge 2014-15: Preliminary Quarter-Final 4: Magdalen vs Trinity

Evening all. Well, that was certainly something wasn't it? I mean, yes, it was the result we probably expected, but still... Add to the unusually warm temperatures here in my flat, and you get a pretty engaging half hours play, for numerous reasons. I think I may have to turn off the heating in here.

Magdalen College Oxford were seen by many as a team to watch following their comfortable wins over Pembroke College Cambridge in a highly controversial first round match and Open in the second. Hoping to give those people further reason to think that were the unchanged quartet of:
Harry Gillow, from Stone in Staffordshire, studying Classics
Chris Savory, from Burgess Hill in West Sussex, studying Chemistry
Captain: Hugh Binnie, from Cheltenham, studying Chemistry
Cameron J. Quinn, from Los Angeles, studying Philosophy and French

Trinity College Cambridge took down St Andrews in a low scoring first match before surprisingly beating the excellent Leicester team comfortably in the second round. No doubt hoping that second round form wasn't a one-off were the also unchanged (and still refusing to give their surnames in the introductions) team of:
Matthew Willetts, from London, studying Physics
Claire Hall, from Greenwich in London, studying Classics
Captain: Hugh Bennett, from London, studying Chemistry
Aled Walker, from Birmingham, studying Maths

Off we set again then, and Twitter favourite Cameron Quinn took the first starter of the night after a slight pause from both sides. Mr Willetts, whose father may or may not by the former universities secretary David, lost five on the next starter, but Magdalen failed to take advantage. Mr Quinn took his second starter of the night, eventually, after a bit of prompting for preciseness from Paxo. The Oxford side swept up the early starters, including the first picture starter; the bonuses, on dramatis personae of 20th century plays, gave them a lead of 65-(-5).

Paxo already felt the need to offer Trinity encouragement; it didn't work, as that man Quinn took the next starter, and the side took all three bonuses from a rather tricky set on eye rhymes. Trinity finally got into positive figures courtesy of Mr Bennett, and they took two bonuses on chemistry, unluckily missing the third. Magdalen moved further ahead when Mr Binnie took his first starter of the night, making sure all four Oxonians had at least one starter to their names. The resultant bonuses, coupled with the next starter, gave them a lead of over 100 points, and Trinity looked in deep trouble.

The music starter, Gershwin's 'an American in Paris', was quickly identified by Mr Binnie; the bonuses, on Pulitzer prize winning musicals, gave Magdalen a lead of 140-15. Mr Binnie took the next starter, a very quick piece of mental arithmetic ("What day of the week will it be 100 days after Monday?"), and left Paxo utterly stunned! ("How did you know that?!") I'm more into a different sort of day pattern myself, but that's another story, and possibly another article. The starters were just falling straight into Magdalen's collective laps; two starters in a row for that man Quinn bought their score through the 200 barrier, and Trinity were now in dire straights.

The second picture round, on paintings of garden scenes by central European artists, went to Magdalen, and gave them a lead of 225-15. Trinity's situation worsened when Mr Bennett was very unfairly penalised for interrupting just as Paxo was finishing reading the question; of course, it was that being imposed on poor Pembroke that made that first round match so controversial and annoyed many purists. At least this time, it cannot be said to have had any possible impact on the final score. Magdalen took the points, and when Mr Quinn took the next starter, their score reached 250, and you began to wonder whether a 300+ score could be on the cards.

Finally, Mr Bennett broke Trinity back into the match, but they could only manage one of the resulting bonuses. Back came Magdalen, and they took two bonuses. Another starter to Mr Quinn and two more bonuses later, and then had reached 300. Trinity managed something of a late run, stringing two starters together, and lifting (just) themselves out of the Sub-50 club. One final starter and bonus set went to Magdalen before the gong finally brought the evening's proceedings to a close; Magdalen won 315-55.

Well, like last week, I think we expected Magdalen to win, but not that easily. Unlucky Trinity, who were just outbuzzed virtually all the way through, and never really gathered any sort of momentum until the final minutes; best of luck to them for their next match. Very well done to Magdalen though, on a very good performance and we shall see how they fare in their qualification match. Whoever they face, it could be fascinating.

Cameron J. Quinn finished the match with ten(!) starters to his name (still no more hair flicks though), while Hugh Bennett was best for Trinity with three. On the bonuses, Magdalen converted 27 out of 54, while Trinity could only manage 5 out of 12 (with two penalties).

Next week's match: don't know yet, but it must be between two initial winners going by previous series standards.

Only Connect finally reached its knockout stage tonight; hopefully, I'll be able to write a full-ish review for this blog when I watch it back later this week.