Evening all. So, we've arrived at the ever thrilling second round. No second chances in this round; if you lose, you're out. Which, given the high standard of teams this series, is a huge shame. Especially given tonight's fixture, which, given the line-up of the last two series, was, I suppose in hindsight, pretty easy to foresee. But more on that later.
The Open University team defeated Salford in their first round match, in a match that started evenly matched until they sprinted away in the second half, eventually emerging on top 210-115. They were unchanged from that encounter:
Rob Mitchell, from Leicestershire, studying Maths
Dale Crawford, from Shropshire, studying Maths
Captain: Sarah Banks, from North Uist in the Western Isles, studying Maths
Mags Adamson, from Gloucester, studying Music
Edinburgh were level pegging with Durham in their first match, until literally the closing moments of the match, when they took the decisive starter to win 190-155; their better bonus rate outdoing their opponent's better buzzer showing that night. They were also unchanged from before:
Luke Dale, from York, studying Late Antique, Islamic and Byzantine Studies
Euan Smith, from Aberdeen, studying Classics
Captain: Joe Boyle, from Brighton, studying Ecology and Environmental Science
Emily Goddard, from Wilmslow in Cheshire, studying Chemistry
Off we set again then, and Mr Smith was first on the buzzer the night; Edinburgh took two bonuses on Dunstanburgh Castle, Northumberland. (Might have been there; can't remember what the one I went to was called) Mr Crawford quickly pulled Open off the mark as well, but they got nothing from their first bonus set. Their second set, a nice one on mnemonics, proved more to their liking, as they swept the board to take the lead. The first picture round, on lists of non-speaking characters in Shakespeare plays, went to Edinburgh, who also took a full house, which gave them a narrow 45-35 lead.
On the next starter, for once, the Central African Republic earned ten points rather than none (had to be done!); Mr Crawford had the honour, and Open provided a third clean sweep in a row. Mr Mitchell moved them further ahead, but just the one bonus followed this time. A prompt buzz from Mr Dale pulled Edinburgh back on side; another clean house followed, to pull the Scots side within five points. A penalty from Open put the sides level, then allowed Edinburgh to take the lead, but nothing more than that, as all three bonuses were dropped.
The music round, on operas involving parts for children, went to Open, who only took one bonus, which nonetheless gave them back the lead, 85-80. But Edinburgh immediately took it back, with Mr Smith, again, on the mark. Two bonuses on sea birds followed, before Mr Crawford bit back for Open; people whose lives spanned a similar period to that of Churchill (Sir Winston, not him!) provided them with another full sweep and the lead returned to their grasp. Mr Boyle pulled Edinburgh level again, and a topical bonus set on US state flags provided them with just one correct answer, but the lead as well. Open reclaimed it, with Ms Banks first in to identify Miss Mhairi Black's famous win in Paisley last year; a bonus set on chapters of Dickens gave both them and myself one correct answer (and it wasn't the same one!).
The second picture round, on stills from sci-fi films of the 50s, went to Edinburgh, who got nothing from the bonuses, but did come close on one and gave us the comedy moment of the night as well! The sides were now level, 125-each, only for Edinburgh to lose five and allow Open possession again; the side impressed by sweeping the board on a very tricky bonus set on physical chemistry. Edinburgh bit straight back by taking a full set of their own on portrayals of Sir Thomas More in film (I only knew The Tudors, but predicted what the other two might be), which pulled them within five to set up yet another grandstand finish.
Mr Smith gave Edinburgh the lead, and they increased it via two bonuses. Mr Crawford bit straight back for Open, and they pulled level via one bonus, which they were a bit fortunate to be allowed; another they were unlucky to miss after Ms Banks misheard her colleague. Edinburgh retook the lead, and two crucial bonuses put them within one starter on victory. But Open took it instead, took two bonuses... and the gong went just before they gave the right answer to the third! A 185-each tie-breaker!
So, for the second time this series, it would all come down to a sudden death starter. A very long one it was too. Mr Smith eventually buzzed in for Edinburgh, and was right!
An absolute screamer of a match between two fine teams who were level pegging literally all the way through, and it's a travesty that one of them had to go out for good tonight. Very unlucky Open, who were, as Paxo rightly said, a very entertaining and impressive team, but thanks very much indeed for playing; nothing to be ashamed of. Very well done to Edinburgh though, and very best of luck in the quarter-finals!
Mr Crawford was, just, the best buzzer of the night, with six starters, just ahead of Mr Smith's five for Edinburgh. On the bonuses, Open converted 18 out of 30, while Edinburgh also managed 18 out of 30; so identical bonus rates, and one penalty each, which explains and emphasises what a great match this was! Very well played both teams! (Why do I somehow feel another post on format reform in the coming weeks?)
Next week's match: Birmingham vs St Andrews, if the last two years are anything to by. We'll probably be seeing the two repechage survivors in the weeks after that as well.
Only Connect also began its sudden death second round phase tonight, and, again, it was a huge shame either team had to lose. But more on that tomorrow of course.
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