Evening all. You join me after another week when I've been putting serious thought to this blog's future, and I've come to some sort of conclusion, which I won't go into just now, because it's not definite, but which I will go into in detail in the coming weeks as both UC and OC reach their conclusions. Tonight, though, it's business as usual, though, again, I will try to be quick so I can watch what's left of Chelsea vs Man U in the FA Cup. (Still annoyed Lincoln City didn't get a BBC LIVE slot) Winners tonight went through, runners-up went home.
Warwick started well with strong victories over Liverpool and East London, before halt-grinding against our friends Emmanuel, then recovering with the comeback of the year (sorry Barca!) to beat Bristol 120-110 in their eliminator. Playing with a new left-winger, Miss Hobbs' arm injury presumably having become too severe to carry on, the new look squad looking to reach the semis were:
Jamie Keschner-Lycett, from Mytholmroyd in West Yorkshire, studying French and History
Sophie Rudd, from Lincolnshire, studying Computer Science and its Applications
Captain: Giles Hutchings, from Farnham in Surrey, studying Maths
Thomas Van, from Geneva, studying History
Wolfson College Cambridge also had a squeaker on the way here, over SOAS on a tie-break in the first round, before victories over Jesus of Cambridge and Balliol of Oxford put them through to face Edinburgh in their qualifier, losing 195-160. Looking to recover and join the Scots side in the semis were the unchanged foursome of:
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 Engineering
Off we set again then, and an immediate slip-up from Warwick handed the much loved Mr Monkman the first starter of the night, and two bonuses on railway architecture came with it. Mr Yang took the second, and the Cambridge side's strong start continued as they swept up all the bonuses. Miss Rudd broke Warwick's duck on the third starter, and two bonuses on Chinese leaders added a further ten to their score. That man Mr Monkman did the honours again on the next starter, but just one bonus went this time. The first picture round, on quotations from the Vulgate, went to Wolfson, who took all three, with Mr Monkman very impressively reading them out as if in a sermon! (Quoth the Paxman: "You would have made a wonderful revivalist preacher!") Wolfson led 85-15.
It was then Miss Rudd's turn to impress the Paxomeister with a very prompt buzz on the next starter; tennis bonuses got them nowhere, but Mr Hutchings came in with a timely interruption to unlock a more-to-their-liking bonus set on sea birds, with two being taken this time. Mr Yang was maybe a bit lucky to be given the next starter after giving just a surname, but get given it he did, and one bonus was enough to take his side into triple figures. Another starter to Mr Monkman, a full bonus set on psychology, and Wolfson were firmly in control of the match.
The music round, on Verdi choruses, went to Wolfson, who swept up a second full house in a row, giving them a lead of 150-145. Miss Rudd reduced the arrears somewhat by taking the next starter, and two bonuses on the Nobel Peace Prize also helped. Mr Monkman then slipped-up, allowing Warwick's sub Mr Keschner-Lycett to take the points, which were followed by another five from the bonuses. The Wolfson captain then made up for his mistake by taking the next starter, and they too took just one bonus on the Wars of the Roses. Another impressive early buzz from that man Monkman unlocked a full bonus set on Roman emperors, and his side now had one foot in the semi-final door.
The second picture round, on portraits of Napoleon, went to Wolfson, who missed the trick of saying the same thing three times and getting it right last time, saying a different answer third time when their previous guess was right! They still led 195-80, and when Mr Monkman took his NINTH starter of the night, taking them above 200, that was most likely game over. One bonus followed. Mr Van pulled one back for Warwick, and one bonus put them within one starter of triple figures.
Miss Rudd then deservedly took her side past the century, and they took a full bonus set on multiples of 13 in history. Indeed, Warwick ended their run with a good late sprint: Mr Van took another starter, and two bonuses on zoology went with it. Mr Hutchings added his two cents worth as well, with a starter and two bonuses on astronomy. Another Wolfson slip-up handed Warwick the final starter, and there was time for them to take one of the two bonuses they managed. At the gong, Wolfson won 205-175.
Another excellent match well played by both sides, of the standard we should be expecting at this late stage in proceedings. Unlucky Warwick, who did very well to recover late on despite having too much ground to make up, but who have played very well throughout the series and have nothing to be ashamed of at all, so thanks very much indeed for playing. Very well done Wolfson though, on another good win over strong opponents, and very best of luck in the semi-finals!
Mr Monkman, once again, was the best buzzer of the night, with NINE(!) to his name, taking his series total to 35, while Miss Rudd, again, was best for Warwick with five, finishing the series her side's best buzzer with 28. On the bonuses, Warwick converted a good 16 out of 29 (with one penalty), while Wolfson managed an very decent 21 out of 33 (with two penalties).
Next week's match: Corpus Christi vs Balliol in the final quarter-final
As for Only Connect, all bets are off on when/if I will be able to catch up with the series so far, but, rest assured, I will get on with it whenever I find myself able to.
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