University Challenge 2015-16: Semi-Final 2: Liverpool vs St John's

Evening all. So, the second semi-final of, what has been, a tough and highly unpredictable series of UC. Whoever won tonight would play Peterhouse in next week's final, the runners-up would finish a very respectable joint third.

Liverpool surprised many with their passage to the semis, beating Newcastle and Imperial to make it through the QFs, having previously defeated St Peter's of Oxford and Southampton. They were unchanged from those earlier rounds:
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

St John's were impressive in their early victories over Bristol and Queen's of Belfast, before beating St Catharine's and Newcastle in the QFs, though they did lose to Peterhouse as well. They were also unchanged from before:
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

Off we set again then, and Mr Russell took the first starter of the match, and a full set of bonuses on achievements by 25 year olds put their intentions clearly in view. Liverpool responded by taking the next starter, but just one bonus on US state nicknames followed. A starter was dropped, before an amusing slip-up from St John's allowed Liverpool to take the lead, plus two bonuses. A very sharp buzz from blog reader Jack Bennett pulled the Merseysiders further ahead, but a tricky bonus set gave them nothing more. The first picture round, on maps with locations St Paul wrote epistles to highlighted, went to St John's, who took two bonuses, which reduced the deficit to 45-40.

The deficit disappeared when Liverpool slipped up on the next starter, but St John's couldn't take advantage or the lead. Liverpool took both back when Mr Wainwright took the next starter, though again, the side could only take one bonus. Mr Wainwright did take a second starter in a row, however, and the side pressed their advantage further home this time by taking a full set. Mr Harries steadied St John's by identifying Bordeaux for the next starter (ironic considering a conversation about French wine I was having with my parents yesterday; don't ask!), and one bonus on astronomy followed.

The music starter was dropped; the bonuses, on ballets written by Michel Fokine for Nijinsky, went to Liverpool, but nothing came of them, leaving their lead at 90-55. Mr Sowood ate into that lead a bit by taking the next starter for St John's, and an interesting set of bonuses where any of three consecutive years was an acceptable answer saw them take two. A very good buzz from the hitherto quiet Mr Clegg, and, again, two bonuses followed, which was enough to put them in front. Neither side took the next starter, Liverpool unluckily slipped up on the next starter (Paxo had finished the question, but there was extra waffle after it), handing St John's possession and taking them into triple figures.

The second picture round, on buildings whose architects lived in them, went to St John's, who took just the one bonus, but they now had a lead of 125-85. Another starter was unluckily missed by both sides, Mr Clegg took the next, and St John's appeared now to have built up steam, though just one bonus followed this time. Mr Wainwright valiantly tried to break Liverpool back into the match, but only managed to lose them five, handing St John's the points, and when Mr Sowood single-handedly swept up the bonuses, they likely had the match in the bag.

Mr Harries took the next starter, which confirmed his side's victory, and two bonuses accompanied. Another starter from Mr Clegg followed, no bonuses did, but it didn't matter by now. Liverpool did manage to take a final starter, but only managed one bonus, not quite making triple figures. At the gong, St John's won 195-95.

Another tough match, which can only be expected come this late stage. Unlucky Liverpool, who started well but ran out of steam later on, but a very respectable series of performances and nothing wrong at all with losing in the semis, so thank you very much indeed for playing; thoroughly enjoyed it. Very well done to St John's though; another solid effort, and very very best of luck to yous in the final next week!

Mr Clegg was, again, best buzzer of the night with five starters to his name, while Messrs Bennett and Wainwright were joint best for Liverpool with three each; Mr Bennett was the side's best buzzer for the overall series, with 26 over five matches. On the bonuses, Liverpool converted 8 out of 21 (with three penalties), while St John's managed a not bad 18 out of 33 (with one penalty).

Next week's match: the Grand Final! Peterhouse vs St John's for a place in the annals of history. Best of luck to both teams; a preview will follow on here in the coming days!