Evening all. After our pause for Chinese New Year last week, we're back in full swing, and, tonight, we would find out who would take the first place in the semi-finals. Both teams have been strong throughout, and would deserve it, and, barring a complete breakdown, the runners-up would probably win their play-off and go through too.
St John's only narrowly emerged on top over St Catharine's in their preliminary, winning by just five points after letting slide somewhat late on. They previously took out Bristol and Queen's of Belfast by strong margins in the first two rounds. They were the same four we've got used to:
Alex Harries, from South Wales, studying History
Charlie Clegg, from Glasgow, studying Theology
Captain: Angus Russell, from Mill Hill in North London, studying History and Russian
Dan Sowood, from Uxbridge in Middlesex, studying Chemistry
Peterhouse also had a close run thing in their preliminary, beating York on the final question of the match having been level almost throughout. Their earlier victories were a narrow one over Glasgow and a comfy one over St George's of London. They too were unchanged from those efforts:
Thomas Langley, from Newcastle, studying History
Oscar Powell, from York, studying Geological Sciences
Captain: Hannah Woods, from Manchester, studying History
Julian Sutcliffe, from Reading, studying History
Off we set again then, and St John's drew first blood, with Mr Russell taking the first starter, and a full bonus set on essays showed they were up for it tonight. Miss Woods showed that her side were too, as she promptly took their first starter, but no bonuses followed it. (Their ever amusing conferring led Paxo to suggest Mr Powell go into stand-up comedy!) Another starter went to the Cambridge side, and two bonuses followed this time. The first picture round, on stanzaic forms and their rhyme schemes, proved tricky, with both sides missing the starter, and Peterhouse taking none of the bonuses. They still led 40-25.
St John's bit back into the match, though, as Mr Clegg took his first starter of the night, but they ran into a tricky bonus set on constellations and their three letter abbreviations, taking just one of the set. It was enough to level the score, but they promptly dropped five on the next starter, and Peterhouse couldn't capitalise after a swerve ruled their answer out. They did, however, take the next starter, and all three bonuses on the Borgia family followed. Mr Sowood fought back for St John's, and they took two bonuses on mythology. But Peterhouse wouldn't let them get away, as they took a starter and two bonuses.
The music round, on barcaroles in classical music, went to St John's, who took one bonus, which cut their deficit to 85-70. Another starter to Mr Clegg, two bonuses on art technique, and they had taken the lead. Neither side took the next starter, Mr Sutcliffe the next, giving Peterhouse back the lead, plus two bonuses on scientific terms.
The second picture round, on depictions of the martyrdom of St Sebastian, went to St John's, who took just the one bonus, but it was enough to put them on level pegging, 105-each. Neither side got the Mendips for the next starter (I did; thanks Fifteen-to-One!), before Miss Woods gave Peterhouse back the lead, and two bonuses followed, one of which was a self-admitted guess. Mr Powell took the next starter, and a full set of bonuses on rodents gave them a 45-point lead going into the final minutes.
But St John's weren't taking this lying down; Mr Clegg took the next starter, and two bonuses requiring foreign past participles to be spelt, not very sporting for a team trying to catch up late on, nonetheless gave them two correct answers. Another starter to St John's, and a full bonus set single-handedly answered by Mr Sowood(!) put them level pegging again! Miss Woods crucially took the next starter, giving her side back the lead, and two bonuses followed. And when Mr Sutcliffe took the next starter, that was game over. All three bonuses followed, and the gong followed them. Peterhouse won 195-150.
Another cracking match between two fine, evenly matched teams. Unlucky St John's, but another good showing, and, if you play like that again in the play-off, you'll surely go through to; best of luck for then. Very well done to Peterhouse though; another excellent showing against strong opposition, and very very best of luck in the semis!
Mr Clegg was the best buzzer of the night, with six correct answers, while Mr Powell was best for the Cambridge side with four. On the bonuses, St John's converted a decent 15 out of 24 (with one penalty), while Peterhouse managed an also very good 19 out of 30. Decent rates for both teams there.
Next week's match: York vs St Catharine's
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