University Challenge 2016-17: Repechage Play-Off 2: Durham vs SOAS

Evening all. We're back from our week off, which was probably needed; as much as we all love watching the Monday night quiz hour, it does go on for 3/4 of the year, so the occasional week off for battery recharging is probably a good idea. Of course, almost everyone of Twitter was complaining about the quiz hour being pulled; strangely, there was no mention of that when Autumnwatch was covered on Points of View last night! On with tonight; the winning team would take the final place in the second round. Both teams were unlucky to lose their first round match.

Durham lost to Edinburgh 190-155, though, as Paxo rightly said, that scoreline belies how close it was; they were actually better on the buzzer than their opponents, but a lesser bonus rate meant they were pipped at the post. Hoping to make up for that were the unchanged foursome of:
Thomas Brophy, from Hatfield, studying Maths
Owen Stenner-Matthews, from Cardiff, studying Defence, Development and Diplomacy
Captain: Cressida O'Connor, from Harrogate, studying Law
Nat Guillou, from Jersey, studying Arab World Studies

SOAS lost a thrilling contest to Wolfson College Cambridge the following week, with the two teams being virtually level the whole way through, finishing 175-each; the London side lost the tie-break, but surely went into tonight's show as favourites. Hoping to live up to that were the also unchanged quartet of:
David Bostock, from Cheltenham, studying Southeast Asian Studies
Magda Biran-Taylor, from Harrow, studying Southeast Asian Studies
Captain: Henry Edwards, from London, studying Near and Middle Eastern Studies
Odette Chalaby, from London, studying Near and Middle Eastern Studies

Off we set again then, and Mr Stenner-Matthews was first out of the blocks as he took the first starter on Durham's behalf; the first bonus set on characters from Sherlock Holmes novels saw the Wearsiders take five points. SOAS instantly responded by identifying the origins of the word stereotype for the next starter; the London side took two bonuses and the lead. The late Mr Bostock moved the London side further ahead, and they took a full bonus set on towers, on one of which they were a bit lucky to be let off with a slight mispronunciation. A third starter in a row went to the Londoners, and a second full bonus set in a row showed that they were really up for it tonight. The first picture round, on peninsulas, went to SOAS, who took two bonuses, which gave them a lead of 90-15.

Already, Durham were looking up against it; Miss O'Connor responded by taking the next starter, but, again, they took just the one bonus on chemical elements, on how Americium is found in smoke detectors, which I was just talking to my Dad about the other day! (Reminds me of something I need to do) Mr Edwards resumed SOAS's run on the buzzer, and a nice bonus set on words whose final letters are the first of that of a cheese saw them add a further 10 points to their score. Another ten come thanks to Mr Bostock, and then another ten come from the resultant bonuses. A third consecutive starter and pair of bonuses went SOAS's way, giving them a 120 point lead, and the way they were eating up the bonuses, you fancied it could already be game over.

The music round, on Tony award winning musicals, went to Durham, who took a much needed full bonus set (much to Paxo's amusement!), which reduced their deficit to 150-55. Mr Edwards put the gap back into triple figures, and the side finally showed a slight armour chink on the resultant bonuses, taking just the one. Three starters in a row were then dropped, though both sides came unluckily close on one of them, before Mr Brophy finally stopped the rot and took the points for Durham. And the Wearsiders made the most of it with a clean sweep on 17th century battles. Ms Biran-Taylor took the next starter for SOAS, and they too swept the board clean on a bonus set on Dickens' Hard Times. (Wonder if they've been reading the mini Complete Dickens in One Sitting book!)

The second picture round, on posters as an art form, went to SOAS, who took another full fifteen, which put their lead at 215-80. I was surprised neither side identified Alan Jay Lerner as the prolific partner of Frederick Lowe, but I guess its only easy if you know the answer. Miss Chalaby was maybe a bit fortunate to be allowed the points on the next starter, though she clearly had the right answer in mind; SOAS took one bonus from the resultant set.

SOAS were probably out of sight now, but Mr Stenner-Matthews took another starter for Durham, and the side took one bonus, which they didn't even let Paxo finish! Miss O'Connor did the right thing by taking a quick guess on the next starter, but only managed to lose five; SOAS couldn't take the points, but Mr Edwards took the next starter just to confirm they really couldn't be caught. An unlucky miss from Mr Brophy allowed SOAS further points; a rare dropped bonus set made no difference at this point. Nor did a borderline penalty Durham occured on the final starter. At the gong, SOAS won 270-85.

A pretty one sided match to be honest, but a very enjoyable one nonetheless. Unlucky Durham, who were simply outplayed on both fronts tonight, but totally didn't deserve to be beaten out of sight after their good first effort; thanks for taking part nonetheless. Very well done to SOAS though; a very convincing performance against good opponents, and very best of luck in the second round!

Mr Edwards finished the night's best buzzer, with seven starters under his belt, while Messrs Brophy and Stenner-Matthews ended with two each for Durham. On the bonuses, Durham converted an OK 9 out of 15 (with two late penalties), while SOAS managed a superb 26 out of 41; very impressive rate that, which marks them as a team to watch.

Next week's match: the first second round match. Don't know who it is yet, but hopefully we'll find out at some point in the coming week.

Only Connect was back tonight as well with the second play-off of Group B, which I'll go into in more detail tomorrow night.