Evening all. So, as I thought, the final regular University Challenge before Christmas tonight. The now annual Christmas celeb specials take over from next week for the next two weeks, and we then resume, hopefully, on January 2nd, but I will let yous know for sure nearer the time. As for tonight, we welcomed back two winners of consecutive first round matches; winners would progress to the group stage, where my guess if they'll run into either Wolfson or Warwick in the preliminaries.
Robinson College Cambridge were on level terms for most of their first match against Wadham of Oxford, before a well timed late sprint saw them emerge victorious 150-95. They were the same four that fought on that occasion:
David Verghese, from Hertfordshire, studying English
Catherine Hodge, from Birmingham, studying Theology and Religious Studies
Captain: James Pinder, from Martyr Worthy in Hampshire, studying Natural Sciences
George Barton, from Beaconsfield, studying Physics
Balliol College Oxford also spent the first half of their match against Imperial of London on level terms, before they hit their stride in the second half and won comfortably 220-55. They were also unchanged for their first outing:
Freddie Potts, from Newcastle, studying History
Jacob Lloyd, from London, studying English
Captain: Joey Goldman, from London, studying Philosophy and Theology
Ben Pope, from Sydney, studying Astrophysics
Off we set again then, and Mr Goldman, to whom I apologise for getting his forename wrong last time around, took the first starter of the night, and the Oxonians firmly set their stall out as they took all three bonuses on political insults. Robinson followed them out the blocks with Mr Pinder breaking their duck, but they got nothing from their first bonus set. A second starter for Mr Goldman and a second full bonus set, and already things were looking ominous for the Cambridge lot. A third starter went to the Balliol captain, and their record slipped as they took just two bonuses this time. The first picture round, on hypothetical concert programs, went to Balliol, but they got nothing from the bonuses, which nevertheless left them leading 80-10.
Mr Potts took a second starter in a row, and Balliol resumed former service with a full set, which already put their lead at 95. Robinson reduced it somewhat when Mr Pinder, eventually, took the next starter, and they took five points from the resultant bonuses. They then lost those five to a slip-up; Balliol took the points, and gave us the comedy moment of the week when they suggested Laurence Olivier was around in 1887! Paxo wasn't impressed, but Mr Goldman retorted that they might as well say something; quite right, you're certain to be wrong if you pass. They took the second bonus, and I correctly guessed Carol Reed for the third.
The music starter saw the first and possibly only appearance of Daft Punk on the show! The bonuses, on musicals duos, went to Balliol, who took two, which upped their lead to 140-20. And when Mr Goldman took the next starter, and a bonus set on ducks gave them a further ten, I was already tempted to call game over. Miss Hodge stopped me doing so when she took the next starter for Robinson, who took two bonuses from a good set on the first Millennium AD. A rather harsh penalty then cost Balliol five, and Robinson only just missed out on the points; Mr Pinder atoned by taking the next starter, and the obligatory Shakespeare bonuses gave them a good full house.
The second picture round, on clients of Elsa Schiaparelli, went to Robinson, but they got nothing from the resultant bonuses, albeit unfortunate that they missed one, which left the deficit at 155-75. They had clawed back a substantial amount of ground though, and were still just in touching distance. But Mr Pope reawakened Balliol, and the side did well to take one bonus from a difficult bonus set.
And when Mr Goldman very promptly took the next starter, that was game over; they took just one bonus on a set which would be easy pickings for connoisseurs of the Shipping Forecast. Miss Hodge took another starter for Robinson, but just one bonus meant they fell just short of triple figures. Balliol broke 200 with the next starter and two bonuses, and there was just time for one more from Mr Goldman; nothing came from the bonuses, and the gong prevented another starter being asked. Balliol won 210-90.
Another good match to conclude the regular shows for the year. Unlucky Robinson, who were simply outbuzzed tonight, but no shame in that, and a perfectly reasonable effort, so thanks very much for playing. Very well done to Balliol though; another excellent performance on the buzzer and bonuses, and very best of luck in the group stage!
Mr Goldman ended the night best on the buzzer, with six to his name, while Miss Hodge and Mr Pinder took three each for Robinson. On the bonuses, Robinson converted 7 out of 18, while Balliol managed a not bad 19 out of 36, and both sides incurred one penalty each.
And that's it for this year; Christmas specials take over next week, and we resume in the New Year with, as far as we know, Corpus Christi vs Peterhouse and Oriel vs Bristol. Surely they've all waited long enough for their second matches!
Only Connect is on next week as usual, breaking for Christmas one week later. I'll look back on tonight's match either tomorrow or Thursday night.
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