Evening all. So, we've arrived at the play-off stage of this year's contest. It's been a very good contest so far IMO, in spite of the fact that we haven't seen very many high scores, but we have seen some very good closely fought matches. Tonight, two teams who narrowly lost two such matches face off, with a place in the second round the prize for the winners.
Jesus College Cambridge led Corpus Christi College Oxford for large portions of their first match, only to fall behind late on and not quite manage to close the gap in time, ultimately losing 200-175. But their score is the joint highest of the four play-off teams, so here they are again, unchanged from before:
Sam Fairbrother, from Greater Manchester, studying Education with Drama and English
Rosa Price, from East London, studying English
Captain: Theo Morris Clarke, from London, studying Economics
Daniel Petrides, from Petts Wood in Kent, studying Political Thought and Intellectual History
Queens' College Cambridge fought a derby against Peterhouse, and though they came close numerous times, never quite managed to overhaul their opponents, though they ultimately only lost by ten points, 160-150. Having survived to the play-offs with only five points in it, they too returned unchanged from that occasion:
Sam Booth, from Greenford in London, studying Maths
Lorenzo Venturini, from Italy, studying Engineering
Captain: Frank Syvret, from Evesham in Worcestershire, studying Physics
Daniel Adamson, from Cambridge, studying History
Off we set again then, and Queens' opened their account first with Mr Adamson doing the honours, and two bonuses accompanying. Mr Booth got the right answer to the second starter just as Paxo was about to abandon it (and the producers cut it out); his side took full advantage, with a full set on football club nicknames. A third Queens' starter and two bonuses piled a load of pressure onto their opponents, but Mr Petrides held his nerve and took the next starter to break their duck. One bonus on lanthanide elements followed. The first picture round, on Ancient Egyptian deities, went to Jesus, who took all three bonuses, which reduced their deficit to 65-40.
It increased again when Mr Syvret was first in with Barber's Adagio for Strings for the next starter; one bonus accompanied. A starter was dropped, before Mr Morris Clarke reduced Jesus' deficit again, but a bonus set on pubs brought them nothing further. A slip-up from Queens' gave the Jesus captain a second starter in a row, and two bonuses from a very complicated set on SI prefixes meant they were not just five points behind. Another dropped starter only delayed the inevitable, with Mr Morris Clarke taking the next starter and the lead came with it. A full bonus set meant they now had a 20 point lead.
The music round, on pieces associated with the Mississippi ("Spell Mississippi, without looking at how we've spelt it in the question" - Frankie Boyle), went to Jesus, who took a second full set in a row, which increased their lead to 120-75. A very good quick buzz from Miss Price added to the advantage; they took two bonuses on Arthur Miller, missing the third (which I knew, thanks to Millionaire!). The rotten borough of Old Sarum provided Mr Fairbrother with a second starter, and Jesus with two more bonuses. Mr Venturini finally stopped the rot when he took the next starter; Queens' took two bonuses, and then Mr Syvret took a second in a row. Just one bonus followed, but you now sensed the match was far from over.
The second picture round, on paintings depicting sport or games, went to Queens', who only took one bonus, but now only trailed 160-125. A very prompt buzz from Mr Syvret knocked another ten off, and a further fifteen disappeared when they swept the board on a bonus set on UK towns ending 'bury'. A penalty then added five to the gap, but Jesus couldn't capitalise, Mr Morris Clarke just missing the right answer.
A second starter in a row was dropped, Mr Booth took the next, and the gap was down to five. But Queens' got nothing from the resultant bonuses, and Mr Fairbrother then put crucial daylight between the two teams. Just the one bonus was collected, but when Mr Fairbrother took the next correct starter, that was game over. Two bonuses followed this time, and the gong cut the final starter off. Jesus won, 195-155.
Another fine close match between two very good evenly matched teams, both of whom would've deserved the win. Unlucky Queens', who were very much in the match and just lost it near the end, but two perfectly respectable performances, so thanks very much for giving us them. Very well done Jesus though; another excellent performance against good opponents, and this time it was their night, so very best of luck in the second round.
Mr Syvret was the best buzzer of the night, with five starters for Queens', while Mr Fairbrother was just best for Jesus with four. On the bonuses, Jesus converted 19 out of 30, while Queens' managed 15 out of 27 (with two penalties); both perfectly good rates, and, once again, all eight players ended the night with at least one starter under their belts.
No show next week due to Autumnwatch, so we're back with the second play-off between SOAS and Durham in two or three weeks' time; will let you know which in due course.
Only Connect is off next week too; a look back at tonight's first Group B play-off tomorrow night.
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