Evening all. OK, so you've heard me criticising the show's QF format in recent years, saying its time for something a bit different. It is time maybe I lightened up, and not tried to be too serious, so that is what I shall try and do from now. Also, we've had some cracking games so far in the QFs this series, and tonight's, hopefully, would carry that on, as two excellent teams played to join Peterhouse in the semis.
Imperial have run riot through the competition so far, trouncing Reading and Sidney Sussex of Cambridge in the early rounds, before running away with their first QF against Nuffield in the final minutes. They were unchanged from those previous matches:
Ben Fernando, from Birmingham, studying Physics
Ashwin Braude, from North London, studying Physics
Captain: James Bezer, from Manchester, studying Physics
Onur Teymur, from North London, studying Mathematical Statistics
Liverpool have quietly but calmly made steady progress thus far, with victories over St Peter's of Oxford and Southampton early on, before narrowly beating Newcastle in their first QF. They too were unchanged from those prior encounters:
Jenny McLoughlin, from Leeds, studying Biological and Medical Sciences
Jack Bennett, from Lancaster, studying Law
Captain: Robin Wainwright, from the Wirral, studying Biological Sciences
Ed Bretherton, from Bampton in Devon, studying Medicine
Off we set again then, and Imperial shot off the mark, with Mr Bezer taking the first starter, and all three bonuses on the city of Halicarnassus. Liverpool slipped up on the next starter, but their opponents didn't pick it up; Imperial then returned the favour by dropping five themselves, and Liverpool did take the points. They took two bonuses, and a second starter in a row gave them the lead. But Imperial quickly reclaimed the lead with a starter and a bonus. The first picture round, on flags of states that are not officially independent in their own right (i.e. not acceptable on Pointless!), went to Liverpool, who took all the bonuses, and back the lead 50-40.
Imperial drew level with the next starter, and swept the board on a set of bonuses on, ironically, the Big Bang Theory! (Why is that not surprising?!) Liverpool took back the lead thanks to a starter from Mr Bennett and a full bonus set of their own. Imperial then fell victim to one of those borderline interruptions, but Liverpool couldn't capitalise; the London side did take the next starter, but drew a blank on the bonuses. Another penalty dropped Imperial back, and allowed Liverpool to take the points, but got nothing from a rather complicated bonus set.
The music round, on excerpts from dances of the baroque suite, went to Liverpool, who took two bonuses, and thus won the battle to reach triple figures first, leading 105-65. A quick buzz took Imperial back into the match, but just one bonus on the Prohibition act followed. A good starter asked for the letter common to surnames of the first three PMs of this century (R: BlaiR, BRown and CameRon), and was taken by our man Mr Bennett, but no bonuses on economic works followed for his side. Another slip-up from Imperial handed more points to the Merseysiders, but more complicated bonuses proved, again, no use. Imperial did take another starter, and a full bonus set on garlic showed they were still very much in the match.
The second picture starter was narrowly missed by both sides; a slip-up from Liverpool gave Imperial the picture bonuses, on stills from films and paintings by artists that inspired their design. They took one bonus, which was enough to cut the gap to 115-120. A starter for Mr Bezer gave them the lead, and two bonuses on sudden literary success followed. But Imperial then dropped another five, allowing Liverpool in the back door, and a full bonus set on Japanese mammals followed.
A second starter in a row went Liverpool's way; just one bonus on pairs of years followed, but when Mr Wainwright took the next starter, that was game over. Just one bonus followed again, but it didn't matter by now, and Mr Bennett took the final starter just to make sure. At the gong, Liverpool won 185-130.
Another excellent close match between two good teams both worthy of the semis. Unlucky Imperial, but a fair effort nonetheless, and very best of luck in your play-off. Very well done Liverpool though; another excellent showing against strong opponents, and very very best of luck to yous in the semis!
Our man Mr Bennett was the best buzzer of the night, with seven (taking his series total thus far up to 23), while Mr Bezer was best for Imperial with three (taking his to 22). On the bonuses, Imperial converted an OK 15 out of 24 (with a not so OK five penalties), while Liverpool managed an also decent 15 out of 33 (with two penalties); so three extra starters plus not as many penalties was what won them the match.
Next week's match: Nuffield vs Newcastle
Pointless observation: Imperial’s bonus conversion rate in this match is identical to what we managed against SOAS in our first-round match two series ago, while Liverpool’s is identical to our tally from our repechage match against Loughborough.
ReplyDeleteIn all seriousness, though, this series has really come into its own in recent weeks, and tonight’s game epitomises that. Perhaps Imperial were the slight odds-on favourites going in, but if tonight reminds us of anything, it’s that we mustn’t underestimate this Liverpool side. The semi-finals are slowly filling up with “teams that mustn’t be underestimated” now, and – this is the really telling observation – of the three sides that broke 250 points in the first round, none are through to the semis yet, and at least one of them will not get there. The QF play-offs should be worth watching…!