Evening all. So, we've seen half the first round matches; we've had one tonight, we'll have one next Monday, and then we're off for Christmas, with the show resuming in the New Year. Only Connect is on one extra week before it breaks for Christmas IIRC; I'll check again later. On with tonight, and the big question for tonight's teams: would the winners score more than 195?!
Wolfson College Cambridge were virtually neck and neck with SOAS throughout their first round match, which ultimately ended in a 175-each tie-break, which they emerged on the right side of. Their return much awaited on Twitter, they were unchanged from before:
Justin Yang, from Vancouver, studying Public Health and Primary Care
Ben Chaudhri, from Cockermouth in Cumbria, studying Natural Sciences
Captain: Eric Monkman, from Oakville, Canada, studying Economics
Paul Cosgrove, from Cookstown in Northern Ireland, studying Nuclear Energy
Jesus College Cambridge narrowly lost their first match to Corpus Christi of Oxford, but survived to the play-offs, where they narrowly won a Cambridge derby against Queens' to get here. Hoping to be the first repechage survivors to reach the group stage since out old friends Southampton three series ago were the also unchanged foursome of:
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
Off we set again then, and it was Mr Yang who got the night underway with the obligatory Shakespeare question; one bonus followed before Mr Monkman, the return of whom in particular has been much awaited by Tweeters, broke his duck for the night. A full bonus set on the old UC staple chemical elements came with that one, before Mr Monkman undid some of his work with two consecutive penalties (albeit one of them was caused by unnecessary extra spiel). Jesus didn't pick either up, but Mr Morris Clarke identified the River Tweed (tae mark whaur England's province stauns!) to get them going. A full bonus set on the Old Testament got them firmly going. The first bonus round, on English railway towns, went to Jesus, who took five out of fifteen, but had now snuck into a 40-30 lead.
Mr Chaudhri put the sides level again when he took the next starter, and they easily reclaimed the lead with a full bonus set on ancient alphabets. A starter was dropped, Jesus dropped five, Wolfson picked up, and took two bonuses to go with it. Mr Monkman then took a second starter in a row, and the side humourously swept up a bonus set on the Lord of the Rings! Mr Fairbrother finally broke Jesus back into the match, and one bonus on astronomy meant they now had half the points of their opponents.
The music round, on classical lullabies, went to Jesus, who impressively took a full set, and thus cut the deficit to 100-75. Mr Chaudhri increased it when he took the next starter, and obscure colours with their own Wikipedia page provided an amusing bonus set, of which Wolfson took ten points. A slip up lost them five of those points; Mr Petrides picked up possession, and his side took two bonuses on writers known by their surname and two initials. What looked like a complete guess handed possession back to Wolfson, and they took two bonuses on National Trust heritage sites. (Fortunately, they weren't asked to identify its symbol!) Another starter was dropped, the next went to Wolfson, and they took a full bonus set on biology.
The second picture round, on photographs of musicians by the Dutchman Anton Corbijn, went to Jesus, who took a much needed full set, which reduced their arrears to 160-120. Still gettable with a good run, but it was Wolfson who took the next starter. For the first time of the night, the side dropped a full bonus set, getting nothing from a set on cricket.
When they took the next starter though, that was most likely game over; two bonuses on apples seemed to suggest this. Mr Monkman took the next correct answer just to make sure; the resultant bonuses took them through 200, thus ending the 195 run. A slip up proved immaterial, though Jesus did pick up and went out with a bang with two bonuses on 19th century history. There was time for Wolfson to take one final starter and bonus before the gong; Wolfson won 225-140.
Another seriously good pair of performances by both sides tonight. Unlucky Jesus, who were simply outplayed by a better buzzing team, but nothing to be ashamed of at all, so thanks very much indeed for partaking in this series. Very well done to Wolfson though; another excellent performance against strong opponents, and good luck in the group stage!
Mr Monkman was by far the best buzzer of the night, with seven starters to his name, while Mr Fairbrother ended the night best for Jesus with four. On the bonuses, Wolfson converted a good 25 out of 35 (with a not so good four penalties), while Jesus managed an also good 15 out of 21 (with one penalties), and, once again, all eight players answered at least one starter correctly. Well played both; good show!
Next week's match: don't know who once again, but I understand this to be the final match before the Christmas break; hopefully we'll find out who in the coming days.
Only Connect continued the Cambridge theme in tonight's Quizzy Mondays with the return of the Clareites; more on how they and their opponents got on tomorrow/Wednesday night.
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