Well, after last night's epic UC, Only Connect would have to go some way to match that tension! Playing in last night's match were the Part-Time Poets, Nina Grant, Katie McGettigan and captain Jenny Harris, and the Oscar Men, Howard Freedman, Adrian Knott and captain Michael Slowey. Most of yous will remember Miss Harris and our old friend Nina Grant as UC alumni, but Miss McGettigan is one too, having captained the team from Exeter College Oxford that went out in the first round of the Gail Trimble series 08-09.
Round 1. The Men went first, and kicked the match off with Two Reeds: 'Feather (West Yorkshire)', then 'Silver (Northamptonshire)'; this was enough for them to see that putting 'stone' after them gives place names in those counties, for three points. The Poets opened their account with Lion: 'Queen Beatrix, Aruba', then 'Benazir Bhutto, Islamabad', then 'Sabiha Gokcen, Istanbul', and finally 'Indira Gandhi, New Delhi'. They didn't get it, nor did the opposition: they are women who have airports names after them in those locations. The Men chose Twisted Flax next, and got the music set: we heard what sounded like the Monster Mash, then Mr Bowie's 'Ashes to Ashes', then 'Peggy Sue Got Married' by Buddy Holiday; they had run out of time by now, and had to guess, and guessed wrong.. The Poets heard the final snippet, 'Let's Twist Again', but had no answer. They are sequel songs, the first tune actually being Monsters' Holiday rather than the classic, as heard in I Love Lisa. The Poets chose Eye of Horus next, and got the picture set: we saw a still from the BBC's adaptation of Mrs Gaskell's 'North and South', then two identical selections of meat, then some mince pies; they spotted at this point that they are rhyming slang for parts of the body, for two points. The Men chose 'Horn-ed' Viper next: 'The Nabateans', then 'Makka Pakka', then 'Alley Oop', and finally 'Old Mother Shipton'. They identified them as all having lived in caves, and collected the point. Left with Water, the Poets saw 'David Aaronovitch (Victoria University of Manchester) 1975', then 'Miriam Margolyes (Newnham College Cambridge) 1963', and instantly offered 'University Challenge contestants' for three points! (I hope yous all got FIVE on that!) At the end of the first round, the Poets led 5-4.
Round 2, What Comes Fourth? The Men began the round with Eye of Horus: 'Poor rates', then 'County rates', and then 'Community Charge'; they offered 'Business rate', which wasn't right. The Poets offered 'Poll Tax', which was incorrect, as that's what the third clue represents. 'Council Tax' completes the set, the sequence being local taxation in England and Wales. The Poets chose Water next, and got a music question: we heard 'She Left Me On Friday' by Shed Seven, then 'Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting', and then 'Everyday is Like Sunday'; that gave it to them, and they offered (and were forced to sing!) 'I Don't Like Mondays', for two points. The Men chose Lion next: 'Rhodes', then 'Lesbos', and then 'Euboea'; they offered 'Cos', which was wrong. Their opponents offered 'Crete', which was correct, the sequence being Greek islands in order smallest to largest. For their own question, the Poets chose Two Reeds: 'Counter-intelligence', then 'Terrorism', and then 'Revenge'. They didn't get it, their opponents did: they are what 'Spectre' stands for in the Bond film of the same name, so 'Extortion' would be fourth. For their own final choice, the Men chose Twisted Flax, and got the picture question: we saw some Romanian currency the Leu, then the MGM lion, and then a 'Lei' girl; both teams identified the clues, but not the sequence, failing to offer 'Lee' of some sort for any points. Left with Horned Viper, the Poets saw 'Beyonce = XLVII', then 'Bruno Mars = XLVIII', and then 'Katy Perry = XLIX'; they spotted it to be Super Bowl half time acts, but their answer of 'Beyonce = L' was wrong. Their opponents offered 'Coldplay = L', which was accepted for a bonus, Coldplay having been the headliners and Beyonce having come on later. (Though some on Twitter, including OC alumnus Chris 'monkseal' Rubery, say the Poets' answer should have been accepted) At the end of the second round, the Poets led 8-6.
On to the Walls. The Poets went first, and chose to tackle the Lion wall. Having quickly spotted some links and attempted some unsuccessfully, they isolated 'Cobra', 'Saracen', 'Hunter' and 'Nightshade', which are characters from Gladiators. They then quickly isolated 'Power', 'Jet', 'Six' and 'Expansion', which can all be followed by 'pack'. Almost as quickly, they had solved the final sets: 'Wild', 'Election', 'Walk the Line' and 'Mud' are Reese Witherspoon films, while 'Mountain', 'Cow Face', 'Lotus' and 'Crescent Moon' are yoga positions. So a well worked full ten there.
The Men thus had to equal that, or come close to, to stay in touch as they set to work on the Water wall. They isolated their first set somewhat quicker: 'Chisel', 'Adze', 'Bradawl' and 'Plane' are woodwork tools. A second set, 'Rambutan', 'Guava', 'Avocado' and 'Durian', which are tropical fruits, followed very quickly. They worked out the remaining sets, and isolated them on their second go: 'Tangram', 'Tentaizu', 'KenKen' and 'Crossword' are types of puzzle, while 'Jigsaw', 'Monsoon', 'Oasis' and 'Mango' are women's fashion stores. Another full ten there, which meant the Poets led 18-16 going into the final round.
So, it would all come down to Missing Vowels. 'Adjectives involving animals', such as 'DOG-EAT-DOG', went to the Men 1-0 (with the Poets getting one right but one wrong). 'Things an estate agent might say' (a topical set for my Dad! Don't ask why) went to Poets 2-1. 'People who share their surnames with birds' went to the Men 2-1, and that was time. The Poets had snuck the win, 21-20!
A very good close match between two very good teams, which nicely complimented the great UC match yesterday. Unlucky Men, but your score is definitely enough for the play-offs, so best of luck then. Very well done Poets though, and best of luck in the next round!
Next week's match: Genealogists vs Surrealists
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