University Challenge 2017-18: Round 1: Match 13: Corpus Christi vs St Anne's

Evening all. After last week's show, I rather sensibly decided to take a Strepsil before the show started, so that I didn't have to run off and get one early on in the show. Hopefully this won't become a forced habit, but we can only wait and see. Anyway, the penultimate second round match, with 150 or more enough to bring either team back win or lose.

Corpus Christi College Cambridge was founded in 1352, and is one of the university's smaller colleges. Alumni include the playwright Marlowe, the Tory bigwigs Francis Maude and Owen Paterson and the actor Hugh Bonneville. It hasn't enjoyed as much success as its Oxford sister college, its most recent performance being an unlucky first round exit three series ago. This year's foursome were:
Tristan Roberts, from Amersham in Buckinghamshire, studying Physics
Kripa Panchagnula, from Hemel Hempstead, studying Natural Sceicnes
Captain: Joseph Krol, from Bingley in West Yorkshire, studying Maths
Benedict McDougall, from London, studying Classics

St Anne's College Oxford was founded in 1879, and was a women only college until men were let in 100 years later. Alumni include writers Iris Murdoch and Helen Fielding, political has-been Danny Alexander and conductor Simon Rattle. It too hasn't had much luck in the BBC era, three times exiting in the first round, though an all-female team of alumni did well in the most recent Christmas series. This year's quartet were:
Ramani Chandramohan, from Canterbury, studying Classics and French
Cameron Royle, from Fleet in Hampshire, studying Chemistry
Captain: Kanta Dihal, from Eindhoven in the Netherlands, studying Science Communication
Andrew Jamieson, from Northampton, studying Earth Sciences

Off we set again then, and Mr Royle set the ball rolling for the night with 'mortar'; the Oxford side failed to take any of the first bonus set, on rebellions, including a topical one on the Gunpowder Plot. Mr McDougall promptly identified Aristotle to get the Cambridge side off the mark, and they, in contrast, took a full bonus set on Commonwealth island nations. A second starter in a row went to the Corpus Christi right-winger, and a second full bonus set in a row came with it. Mr Royle put a stop to that, and bonuses on 'popinjays' gave St Anne's their first correct bonus. The first picture round, on former colonies and the decades they became independent nations, went to Corpus Christi, whose bonus form continued, a third full set, and a lead of 75-25.

Mr Krol took a second starter in a row, the planet Neptune his answer, but the Cambridge side finally showed some armoury chinks, as they dropped all three bonuses on works differing by one word. Kings of Belgium proved more to Corpus Christi's liking, taking two of that set. Neither side guessed the right decade on the next starter, Miss Chandramohan took the next for St Anne's, and the Oxonians showed they weren't going to take this lying down, taking a full house of their own.

The music round, on Russian classical pieces inspired by the work of Pushkin, went to St Anne's, who took just the one bonus this time, which reduced their arrears to 115-65. A third starter in a row went the Oxford side's way courtesy of Mr Royle, and two bonuses on 19th century US history put them within sight of their opponents. Mr Krol increased that sight gap, but just one bonus on zoology followed. (I got one of the ones they didn't, on which order rabbits belong to) Leading ladies in Hitchcock films also proved a troublesome set for the Cambridge side, just the one bonus accompanying again. Then controversy as Miss Chandramohan buzzed, then failed to answer, and had cut in quickly enough for it to be considered an interruption; Mr Krol took the points, and two bonuses on time zones gave them the points needed to come back whatever the result.

The second picture starter was dropped; the bonuses, on triptychs, went to Corpus Christi, who took just the one bonus again, which left their lead at 170-80. Mr Royle proved his side weren't given up just yet, taking the next starter, and bonuses on polar bears (no mention of Knut, sadly) took them into triple figures. Mr Krol was first in with Wittgenstein though, and a full house just about put the game to bed.

Which left St Anne's seeking a play-off berth; Mr Jamieson added his worth to that cause by taking the next starter, but just one bonus on Indian land borders followed. Mr Royle's taking of the next starter, though, gave them sufficient points to push Imperial off the play-off board, and two accompanying bonuses within one starter and bonus of a definite return. Mr Krol was in first to identify the Joker card though, with two bonuses going with it. Final starter of the night went to Mr Krol, and there was no time for bonuses; at the gong, Corpus Christi won 225-135.

Another pretty good match tonight, well played both. Unlucky St Anne's, who gave a good account of themselves, and whose score will be the target for next week's teams; if they do miss out, hopefully it won't be by just five points. Best of luck in getting there! Very well done Corpus Christi though, a decent first performance against good opponents, and they could get a good run with a favourable second round draw (hopefully not the draw I fear they'll get); best of luck in the next round!

The stats: Mr Krol was, by far, the night's best buzzer with NINE(!) to his name at the gong, while Mr Royle was best for St Anne's with five. On the bonuses, Corpus Christi converted a decent 21 out of 33, while St Anne's managed 12 out of 24 (with that one penalty).

Next week's match: Merton College Oxford vs King's College London, at the earlier time of 7:30, so don't miss it.

Only Connect moves into its second round on Friday, be back on Sunday with my usual summary. May also choose to post tomorrow about a few other things, see how I feel.