So, on to Only Connect. The task for tonight's teams: win, or failing that, lose with a score of 14 or more to guarantee a return in the play-offs. Playing last night were the Shutterbugs, Jasmine Leonard, Adam Ardron and captain Jenny Skene, and the Highgates, John Aldersey-Williams, Stephen Bowden and captain Tom Bannatyne.
Round 1. The Shutterbugs went first, and kicked the show off with Water: 'Icelandic: Bra Bra', then 'Danish: Rap Rap', then 'French: Coin Coin'; at this point they offered noises made by telephones in those languages. Not right. The final clue the Highgates saw was win Greek, so I can't really retype it here, but they correctly identified them as being what a duck makes in those languages for a bonus. For their own first question, the Highgates chose Twisted Flax: 'Cot', then 'Holland', then 'Chira', and finally 'Bonapart'. They identified that adding a letter to the end of the clues all gave the name of a French president (Coty, Hollande, Chirac, Bonaparte) The Shutterbugs chose Two Reeds next, and got the music set: we heard Word Up by Cameo, then Golden Earring's classic Radar Love, then a song by Jesus and Mary Chain, and finally Manic Monday by the Bangles. They offered 'jewelry' correctly for a point. The Highgates chose Lion next: 'Gilbert Chilvers (A Private Function)', then 'Brian Hope/Sister Euphemia (Nuns on the Run)', then 'Man with Rock (Jabberwocky)'; they offered 'roles played by Monty Python actors', which was correct for two points. The Shutterbugs chose Eye of Horus next: 'Penthouse (2016)', then 'Auto Trader (2013)', then 'The Dandy (2012)'; they offered 'magazines and the year they ceased publication', which was close enough, the correct answer being the year they went online only. Left with Horned Viper, the Highgates got the picture set, and saw comedian Rhys Darby, then actress Jennifer Ehle, then Angela Rippon, and finally Adrian Lester. They got it at the final one: their names are all homophones of citys in the UK. At the end of the first round, the Highgates led 5-3.
Round 2, What Comes Fourth? The Shutterbugs kicked off the round with Horned Viper: 'Lead', then 'A copper', and then 'Palladium'. They didn't see it, their opponents did: a gym class completes the set. They are Pb, (a) PC, Pd and PE. Excellent question. For their own question, the Highgates chose Eye of Horus: 'RightsFlow', then 'YouTube', and then 'Google'. This time, they didn't get it, but the opposition did: 'Alphabet' completes the set, as each clue is the parent company of the previous one. For their own question, the Shutterbugs chose Lion: '5th: Johnson', then '3rd=: Underwood and Dallaglio'; they spotted the link to be the most capped rugby players, but their answer of '1st: Wilkinson' was wrong. The Highgates saw '2nd: Wilkinson', and offered '1st: Leonard' for a bonus. For their own question, the Highgates chose Twisted Flax, and got the picture set: we saw the author Dodie Smith, then Dodi Fayed, and then the crest of the Department of Defense. Neither team identified Smith or Fayed and thus didn't get it. The musical note 'Do' can complete the set that's pretty obvious when written out. For their final choice, the Shutterbugs chose Two Reeds: 'Outstanding Production', then 'Outstanding Motion Picture'; at this point they spotted it to be what the Best Picture Oscar was formerly called, but took the third clue of 'Best Motion Picture' before offering 'Best Picture' for two points. Left with Water, the Highgates saw 'Sant Francesc', then 'Vila d'Eivissa', and then 'Mahon'. They spotted it to be the capitals of the Balearic Islands in increasing order of size, and offered 'Palma' for two points. At the end of the second round, the Highgates led 9-6.
On to the Walls. The Highgates went first, and chose the Water wall. It was a tough wall. Very tough indeed. They spotted numerous links, but couldn't isolate any of the sets. They eventually ran out of time, and had to pick up bonus connection points. 'Frenchman's Creek', 'Jamaica Inn', 'The Birds' and 'The Scapegoat' are works by Daphne du Maurier, which they got, 'Eve', 'Rebecca', 'Bathsheba' and 'Tamar' are women in the Old Testament, which they didn't get, 'Otter', 'Exe', 'Torridge' and 'Dart' are rivers in Devon, they they did get, while 'Harbour', 'Cheque', 'Theatre' and 'Axe' are words spelt differently in the States, which they didn't. Just two points there.
The Shutterbugs thus had a real chance if they could make the most of the Lion wall. This wall was not much better though. They did, however, manage one set: 'Bottle', 'Nerve', 'Pluck' and 'Spunk' are words for courage. They couldn't untangle anything else, and thus had to also pick up bonus points. 'Dishwater', 'Ash', 'Platinum' and 'Strawberry' are shades of blonde, which they got, 'Crossing', 'Grit', 'Arizona' and 'Proxy' are Coen Brothers films, which they didn't get, while 'Atom-probe-field-ion', 'Dissecting', 'Simple' and 'Electron' are microscopes, which they also missed. So just three there, which gave the Highgates an 11-9 lead going into the final round.
So Missing Vowels would decide the game. 'Breeds of British sheep' went to the Shutterbugs 2-(-1), giving them the lead. 'Brand names for food with holes', such as 'CHEERIOS', went to the Shutterbugs 2-1. 'Times of day', such as 'TWENTY-FIVE TO FIVE', went to the Shutterbugs 2-0, and that was time. The Shutterbugs won 15-11.
A good match with both teams hampered by two very tough walls, the toughest I've seen in a while. Unlucky Highgates, whose score sadly isn't enough to bring them back, but well done anyway on a gallant effort. Well done Shutterbugs, and best of luck next time!
Next week's match: Korfballers vs Channel Islanders
The second wall was a pain, but our family managed to recover the ten points of the first wall between us which makes a pleasant change! Low-scoring show but it was indeed a tough set of questions.
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