University Challenge 2016-17: Preliminary Quarter-Final 2: Bristol vs Corpus Christi

Evening all. Hope not many of yous were caught out by the early start tonight, to make way for Winterwatch. At least that's one good thing about OC's move to Friday; were it still on the correct day, I suspect both it and UC would've been pulled to make room. Plus, it did mean I could watch EastEnders LIVE too! (SPOILER: it was worth it!) Anyway, on with tonight, and the second preliminary, as has become traditional, saw the return of the final two second round winners.

Bristol very quietly racked up the highest overall score of the quarter-finalist teams, beating Sheffield 210-130 in the first match of the series, and walloping Oriel of Oxford 265-70 in the first match of the year. That foursome remained the same as before:
Joe Rolleston, from Tamworth, studying History
Claire Jackson, from Carshalton in London, studying Paleontology and Evolution
Captain: Alice Clarke, from Oxford, studying Medicine
Michael Tomsett, from Hinckley, studying Organic Chemistry

Corpus Christi College Oxford won two excellent Oxbridge derbies to get here, firstly beating Jesus College 200-175 in the first round, and then reigning champs Peterhouse 175-150 in the second. They too were the same quartet as before:
Tom Fleet, from Pendoggett in Cornwall, studying English
Emma Johnson, from North London, studying Medicine
Captain: Nikhil Venkatesh, from Derby, studying PPE
Adam Wright, from Winnersh in Berkshire, studying Physics

Off we set again then, and Corpus picked up where they left off before, with Mr Venkatesh taking the first honours; bonuses on Shakespeare and the First World War provided them with just the one correct answer. Miss Jackson soon had Bristol rolling, and the Avonsiders took the lead with two bonuses on pirates. That lead vanished when Miss Clarke unluckily lost five on the next starter, though their opponents failed to capitalise. Mr Venkatesh did take the next starter though, and a good bonus set on anagrams provided ten. The first picture round, on forms of cross, went to Bristol, who took just one bonus this time, which left the Oxonians narrowly ahead 35-30.

The lead increased when Mr Venkatesh took his latest starter; the bonuses saw a reappearance of Aland on this show, though Paxo's pronunciation ensured no confusion this time! Mr Wright moved Corpus Christi further ahead, and bonuses on biblical quotations gave them the first full house of the night. Another Bristol penalty then increased the lead, as did a pickup by their opponents; two bonuses were converted, one of which Paxo was maybe a bit lenient to let them off with. Bristol finally broke back in with Miss Jackson doing the honours; two bonuses on unnamed literary characters added ten to their score. 

The music starter was missed by both sides; the bonuses, on trouser roles in opera (ie male characters written to be played by a female), went to Bristol, who only took the one bonus, which left them behind 100-60. Miss Johnson increased it with a nice prompt buzz on the next starter; bonuses on modern European monarchs provided some entertaining conferring, but sadly no points. Mr Wright made up for that by taking the next starter, and geometry proved more to the Oxonains' liking, taking two correct answers. Another starter to Mr Wright, another two bonuses to Corpus Christi, and they were beginning to pull over the event horizon. 

The second picture round, on photographs of figures by Julia Margaret Cameron, went to Corpus Christi, who took just the bonus, but their lead now stood at 165-60. Mr Fleet took a second starter in a row to add to it, but the side got nothing from a bonus set on pairs of authors, unluckily offering the wrong Bronte for one of them! It mattered not, as Miss Johnson took the next starter, and that was most definitely game over.

Miss Johnson then provided comedy moment of the night by identifying the Avengers for the next starter! Two bonuses followed, but now it was just a question of how high a score both teams could get. Two starters to Mr Wright, and two bonuses from each set put the Oxford side one starter away from a 200 point winning margin. But Miss Jackson would rather ensure Bristol ended the match with a flourish, taking one final starter. No time for any bonuses though; at the gong, Corpus Christi won 250-70.

A rather more one sided match than we might have hoped/expected, but still a perfectly watchable half hour. Unlucky Bristol, who were simply outplayed on the buzzer this time, but not out of it yet, so best of luck in your eliminator. Very well done Corpus Christi though; another good victory against proven opposition, and very best of luck in your qualifier match! 

Mr Wright was, just, the best buzzer of the night with five, taking his series total thus far to 12, while Miss Jackson was best for Bristol with three, though Mr Tomsett remains the side's best buzzer thus far with 14. On the bonuses, Bristol converted 6 out of 12 (with two penalties), while Corpus Christi managed 22 out of 42; not bad from both sides there, and they should hopefully give good fights in their next matches, which could be against Balliol and Wolfson respectively. Now those should be good, we hope!

Next week's match: don't know yet, but Edinburgh, Birmingham, Warwick and Emmanuel are in the hat, so lets just keep an eye on Twitter and see if we spot anything.

Hopefully I'll be able to do Only Connect tomorrow or Wednesday; otherwise, it may be next week before I can do it. Stupid schedule change!