Evening all. Well, after the somewhat slow start to this series, things have really picked up in the QF stage, with some absolutely cracking matches so far in the process (no Apprentice reference intended!). Tonight's match, on paper, looked like another good close one, with two teams with similar passages through the early rounds, but pretty different QF progress.
Nuffield defeated Queen Mary of London in the first round, and then Warwick in the second, but were soundly defeated by Imperial in their first QF, beaten by a late sprint from the opposition. They were the same four who played those three matches:
Spencer Smith, from Holland, Michigan, studying Economics
Alexander Sayer Gard-Murray, from Los Angeles, studying Politics
Captain: Mathias Ormestad Frendem, from Oslo, studying International Relations
Daniel Kaliski, from Cape Town, studying Economics
Newcastle took out Kent in their first match, and then defeated Glasgow in the second, but were narrowly defeated by Liverpool in their first QF outing, narrowly being pipped late on. They too were unchanged from their prior outings:
Alexander Kirkman, from Guildford, studying Biomedical Sciences
Nick Smith, from Chorley in Lancashire, studying Medicine
Captain: Tony Richardson, from County Durham, studying International Politics
Kate Bennett, from Chichester, studying Film Theory and Practice
Off we set again then, and Mr Richardson took the first starter for Newcastle, and a full set of bonuses accompanied it. Nuffield tried to reply, but slipped and lost five, allowing Mr Richardson to take a second starter and another full bonus set followed as well. A third starter fell the Tynesiders' way, but just the one bonus followed this time. A second slip-up dropped Nuffield to (-10), but Mr Ormestad Frendem recouped their losses, and they took two bonuses from their first set. The first picture round, on the opening lines of novels written in their native French (including Proust's 'A La recherche de Temps Perdu'), went to Nuffield, who swept the board, cutting the gap to 65-30.
A third starter in a row went to the Oxford side, with Paxo harshly mocking Mr Ormestad Frendem's apparently thinking the questions too easy(!), two bonuses, and the gap was down to 15. Mr Smith of Newcastle steadied his side's ship, taking a starter, but just one bonus from a tricky set of glaciology followed. An almost equally as tricky set accompanied Newcastle's next starter, and nothing came of it this time.
The music round, on film scores by Bernard Herrmann for non-Hitchcock films, went to Newcastle, who took one bonus, which increased their lead to 105-50. A timely intervention from Mr N. Smith upped that lead, as did a full set of bonuses on minor characters in Shakespeare. (I got Measure for Measure, the old chestnut of that being the only play by Will S. set in Vienna) Mr Ormestad Frendem took a much needed starter for his side, and all four Oxonians took a much needed full bonus set on Africa countries. A second starter and full bonus set in a row went to Nuffield, and set up a tense final stretch.
The second picture round, on opera houses, went to Newcastle, who took took just the one bonus, which nonetheless upped their lead to 145-100. Mr N. Smith took Newcastle further into the lead, but the side got nothing from a set of bonuses on the painter Velasquez (though they did give us our comedy moment of the night!). It was only appropriate, however, that a starter on the Angel of the North went to the Tynesiders! They took a full bonus set on Quakers, giving Nuffield a tall order going into the final minutes.
Neither side took the next starter, though both came close, but when Mr Kirkman took the next starter, plus one bonus, Newcastle were 95 ahead, and most likely home and dry. Mr Gard-Murray took another starter for Nuffield, but just the one bonus on battles confirmed they weren't going to catch up. Neither side took the penultimate starter, the final one went to Mr Richardson, and that was it. At the gong, Newcastle won 205-115.
Another good enjoyable match, despite it not being as close as some of recent weeks. Unlucky Nuffield, who never quite recovered and caught up from that slow start, but nothing to be ashamed of throughout this series, and thanks very much for playing. Well done to Newcastle though; another good performance, plus their highest score yet, and very best of luck in your play-off!
Our man Mr Richardson was the best buzzer of the night, with eight (taking his series total so far to 22), while Mr Ormestad Frendem was Nuffield's best with five (making him his side's best buzzer this series with 14). On the bonuses, Nuffield converted an very good 13 out of 18 (with two early penalties), while Newcastle managed a decent 17 out of 33.
Next week's match: nothing confirmed yet from what I've seen, but York vs Imperial if my and UKGS's best guess.
Only Connect returned tonight for its Sport Relief special, which I will watch tomorrow night, though maybe not comment on on here, given I didn't do the Children in Need special. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to Challenge to check out The Chase Australia.
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