Only Connect Series 13: Round 1: Match 12: Detectives vs Theatricals

So, two weeks earlier than expected, here we are at the final Only Connect first round match. The task for the two teams involved: win, or lose with a score of 22 or more; 21, and they'd have had to have done in having scored more than eight in the first two rounds to outpip the Cricketers to the final space. I feel another rant, sorry, post about tournament structure coming.

Anyway, playing on Friday were the Detectives, Ian King, Tim Harrison and captain Tim Hall, and the Theatricals, James Kinsley, Caz Slota and captain Vikki Nelson.

Round 1. The Detectives kicked the show off with Eye of Horus: 'Spectacular Spectacular', then 'Manhattan Melodies', then 'Oh Streetcar!', and finally 'Springtime for Hitler'. They identified them to be fictional musicals (within other works), and collected the first point of the night. The Theatricals opened their account with Twisted Flax: 'Newborn babies', then 'Winner of the Indy 500', then 'Alex and his droogs'; that gave it to them, they are noted for drinking milk. (The final clue would've been 'Someone who wants to play for a team better than Accrington Stanley'!) The Detectives chose 'Horn-ed' Viper next: 'Improbable', then 'Watchmaker', then 'Gene', and finally 'Delusion'. That gave it to them: they are the final words of titles of Richard Dawkins books. The Theatricals chose Two Reeds next, and got the music question: we heard Green Day's classic 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams', then Eddie Grant with 'Electric Avenue'; that was enough for them to offer 'streets', and collect a rare music question three-pointer. The Detectives chose Lion next, and got the picture set: we saw George from Rainbow, then Patrick from Spongebob Squarepants, then Michaelangelo's David, and finally Prince Andrew. They saw them to be the Patron Saints of the Home Nations, and collected another point. (Incidentally, was thinking the other day that perhaps we should have a sound, such as a camera flash, to signify the picture sets, in the same way the music questions have their 'da-ding' sound) Left with Water, the Theatricals saw 'President Knox', then 'Comedian Kehinde', then 'Author Kindred', and finally 'Economist Kenneth'. They didn't get it, and their opponents didn't quite get close enough: they are the middle names of people known by their middle initial K (James K Polk, Stephen K Amos, Philip K Dick and JK Galbraith respectively). At the end of the first round, the Theatricals led 5-3.

Round 2, What Comes Fourth? The Detectives opened with Two Reeds: 'PAT = 1 or 2', then 'S = 2', and then 'FG = 3'. They didn't get it, nor did their opponents: it is scoring in American football, so 'TD = 6' would come fourth. (Apparently, there has been some discussion about this question, which I sadly cannot contribute to as I do not follow the sport) The Theatricals chose Lion next: 'First Dog Watch ends', then 'BBC4 begins', then 'Monday night Premier League kick-off'; they saw it to be something to do with times, but their answer of 'EastEnders begins' wasn't acceptable . Their opponents saw it to be 6pm, 7pm and 8pm, so offered 'The Nine O'Clock News begins' for the bonus points. (On a point of pedantry, EastEnders does start at 9pm sometimes, but probably not often enough to make that an acceptable answer) For their own question, the Detectives chose Twisted Flax: 'Chair, Patron of the National Citizen Service', then 'UN Special Envoy for Global Education'; they saw it to be jobs done by PMs after leaving office (Cameron and Brown respectively), so 'Quartet's Special Middle East envoy' for Blair would be third, and 'Surrey CCC President' for Major would be acceptable for fourth and three points. The Theatricals chose Horned Viper next: 'Puerto Rico', then 'Jamaica', and then 'Hispaniola'; they saw it to be Caribbean islands getting larger, so 'Cuba' would be fourth. For their final choice, the Detectives chose Eye of Horus: 'L_____ Relating to jurisprudence', then 'D____ Sufficiently clothed', and then 'H____ Not disposed to cheat'. They offered 'T____ Disinclined to tell lies', and were correct for two points, the sequence being the 'LOHT' mantra of the Advertising Standards Authority. Left with Water, and the picture set, the Theatricals saw a calendar bearing 'December 25', then Hugh Laurie as Doctor House, and then a cup of tea being stirred. They saw it to be the poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas', and offered a mouse, for two points. At the end of the second round, the teams were tied on 9-each. So 21 would bring either team back win or lose.

On to the Walls. The Theatricals chose to tackle the Water wall, and isolated their first two sets in short order: 'Cochlea', 'Anvil', 'Tragus' and 'Stirrup' are parts of the ear, while 'Fast one', 'Muscle', 'Rank' and 'Pint' are things that can be pulled. They then took their time to work out the final sets, but couldn't in their three gos. So they had to go for bonus connection points: 'Stone', 'Bonspiel', 'Hog line' and 'Hammer' are terms in curling, which they didn't get, while 'British Lion', 'Eon', 'Ealing' and 'Handmade' are British film companies, which they did get. Five points there then.

So the Detectives set to work on the Lion wall knowing they had a good chance to take the lead. After spotting a link of 'easy things', they eventually isolated 'Doddle', 'Snap', 'Cakewalk' and 'Breeze'. A second set, 'Chill', 'Easy', 'Sleep' and 'Country', which can all follow 'The Big' to give a film title, followed. They then had more luck than their opponents with the final sets, solving it on their final go: 'Bank', 'Computer code', 'Railway line' and 'Menorah' are things with branches, which they got, while 'Seat', 'Cinch', 'Tree' and 'Cantle' are parts of a saddle, which they didn't. Seven points there then, which gave them a narrow lead of 16-14 going into the final round.

So Missing Vowels would decide who went through and who'd have to hope they reached 21. 'Brands preferred by Brexit voters', such as 'HP SAUCE' and 'PG TIPS', went to the Detectives 3-1. 'Brands preferred by Remain voters' (!), such as 'BBC IPLAYER' and 'SPOTIFY', also went to the Detectives 3-1. 'Things found in corners' went to the Theatricals 3-1. 'Events of 1986' only had time for one clues, which the Theatricals took. The Detectives won, 23-20.

Another excellent match, one of the best of the second round. Unlucky Theatricals, who miss out on a return by a single point, a shame considering that performance, a very decent one indeed, thanks very much indeed for playing. Very well done Detectives though, and very best of luck in the second round!

So, the Escapologists and the Cricketers (we think) will join the six second round runners-up in the play-off round.

Next week's match: the Vikings vs the Parishioners in the first second round match