Evening all. It's been a good series so far, with some very good close matches between some very good and evenly matched teams, as we arrive at the penultimate first round match, and a rematch of a play-off match from 2011-12. For tonight's runners-up, as Paxo said, a score of 155 or more would give them a definite place in the play-offs.
St Andrews is the oldest university in Scotland, and the third oldest in the UK, founded in the early 1410s. Alumni include Scottish freedom fighter Alex Salmond, sports presenter Hazel Irvine (who was on just before the show with Ryder Cup highlights!), and its, of course, where Wills met Kate. It last sent a team two years ago, who lost in the first round, and it won the original series in 1982. This year's foursome were:
Matt Eccleston, from St Helens, studying International Relations and Spanish
James Green, from Schaffhausen in Switzerland, studying German and Persian
Captain: Toby Parker, from Bristol, studying Maths
Andrew Vokes, from Edinburgh, studying Chemistry
Worcester College Oxford is nearly 300 years younger, founded in 1714. Alumni include Simpsons guest star Rupert Murdoch, actress Emma Watson and newsman Sir Alistair Burnet. It's team won the play-off against St Andrews five series ago, and went on to reach the semis, where they were trounced by eventual champs Manchester. This year's quartet were:
Sam Barnett, from Buckhurst Hill in Essex, studying Maths and Philosophy
Rosemary Walmsley, from Solihull, studying Maths and Philosophy
Captain: Nick Williams, from London, studying Maths and Philosophy
Dennis Wang, from Manchester, studying Maths
Off we set again then, and the match got underway with Mr Barnett getting to the buzzer first to identify HG Wells after the trigger words 'The Time Machine' were mentioned. Just one bonus on forms of amusement followed. St Andrews quickly opened their account thanks to Mr Parker (who then got unfairly told off for looking miserable after answering!), and they snuck into the lead when they took two bonuses. For the next starter, as soon as I heard the name Susan Sheridan, I shouted "Noddy!"; Mr Williams followed suite just afterwards, and a good bonus set on opening lines of Roald Dahl books provided them with ten points. The first picture round, on maps of Church of England dioceses, went to St Andrews, who took two, including Baths and Wells (as in the Baby-Eating Bishop of Bath and Wells!), which gave them back the lead, 40-35.
Mr Green increased the lead by taking the next starter, but bonuses on optics gave them nothing more. Miss Walmsley moved the Oxford side back within five by taking the next starter, and they pulled level with one bonus on the career of Cornwallis. They retook it when Mr Wang took the next starter, and increased it by taking two bonuses. A slip-up from St Andrews gave Mr Wang a second starter in a row, and the bonuses gave Worcester ten more points.
The music round, on classical pieces inspired by Spanish folk music and dance, went to St Andrews, who took two of three bonuses, which reduced their deficit to 90-65. It increased when Mr Wang took the next starter, breaking his side into three figures, and astrophysics gave them two correct bonuses. Mr Green identified 'Eragon' for the next starter, which allowed St Andrews to take another two correct bonuses. 'Neolithic site in the Orkney Islands' could only really be Skara Brae (been there, but, regrettably, didn't actually see it); Mr Vokes was first in with it, and, once again, St Andrews took two bonuses, unluckily missing the third.
The second picture starter was dropped; the bonuses, on stills from documentary films, went to St Andrews, who, again, took two, which gave them a lead of 125-110. Worcester bit back quickly thanks to Mr Wang, and they retook the lead with, again, two bonuses, on cities in Iraq. A second starter in a row went to the Oxonians, and one bonus on geology, another of which they unluckily missed after Mr Williams misheard his colleague's whispered answer, put them one starter away from repechage contention.
But back came St Andrews, with Mr Green taking his latest starter, and two bonuses drew them level again. The crucial next starter went to Mr Vokes, putting St Andrews ahead, and one bonus ensured them at least a play-off place. And when Mr Eccleston took the next starter, they had won the game. They took one bonus, and the gong cut off their (correct) answer to the second (which was thus disallowed). St Andrews won 175-145.
Another very good close match between two very good evenly matched teams. Very unlucky Worcester, who were very much in the match until right at the end, and who have fallen agonisingly short of a play-off place, but thanks very much indeed for playing. Very well done to St Andrews though; a good first showing against good opponents, and best of luck in the next round.
Mr Green was, just, the best buzzer of the night, with five starters to his name, while Mr Wang was best for Worcester with four under his belt. On the bonuses, St Andrews converted 16 out of 30 (with the night's sole penalty), while Worcester managed 13 out of 24; both decent rates, and, once again, all eight players got at least one starter right.
Safely through to the repechage: SOAS and Jesus College Cambridge (both 175), Durham (155)
Next week's match: Glasgow vs East London in the final first round tie
Only Connect was good again tonight as well, with two more good teams; more tomorrow night.
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