OK, so, the first semi-finalist would be known tonight, with the first qualification quarter-final. As I said last week, despite being a more logical way of doing things, I actually prefer UC's way of going about it, mixing them up so we alternate.
Anyway, playing for the first semi place were the Vikings, Mark Oxley, John Wilson and captain Mick Lee, who have beaten the Geocachers, the Parishioners and the Wanderers to get here unbeaten, and the Inquisitors, Luke Kelly, Rob Cumming and captain Julia Hobbs, who have lost to the Wanderers, but also beaten the Cricketers, the Snake Charmers, the Meeples and the Eco-Warriors.
Round 1. The Inquisitors opened the show with Eye of Horus: 'She will bombard', then 'We had married', then 'She had lost hair', and finally 'I have Apple's design guru'. They identified that the first two words can be abbreviated to a term that becomes the words after if the apostrophe if removed, if that makes sense (Shell, Wed, Shed and Ive), so collected the first point of the match. The Vikings chose Water first, and got the music set: we heard 'Libera Me' from Verdi's Requiem, then 'Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer', then John Taverner's 'Song for Athene', and finally Elton John's reworking of Candle in the Wind for Diana's funeral. Neither side spotted the link that they were all played at Diana's funeral. The Inquisitors chose Lion next, and got the picture set: we saw a chicken marengo, then Blenheim Palace; they saw them to be named after battles, and collected three good points. (The remaining clues would've been the Kop, as in Anfield, and the London Marathon) The Vikings chose Horned Viper next: 'New Zealand (17th century)', then 'Eldey (1844)', then 'Mauritius (late 17th century)'; they identified them as the locations of noted bird extinctions, and collected two points there. The Inquisitors chose Twisted Flax next: 'Tupac Shakur smoked', then 'Fred Baur in a Pringles can'; they offered that they are what became of those person's ashes, and collected another three points. (The other clues were 'James Doohan flown into space', and 'Hunter S Thompson fired from a cannon') Left with Two Reeds, the Vikings saw 'Turn Around', then 'Look Back in Anger'; they picked up a three pointer of their own, identifying that putting 'Don't' before them gives a UK Number 1. At the end of a strong first round, the Inquisitors led 7-5.
Round 2, What Comes Fourth? The Inquisitors kicked the round off with Two Reeds: 'Thursday: A bloody war or a sickly season', then 'Friday: A willing foe and sea-room', and then 'Saturday: Our families'. They didn't get close enough with 'Sunday: Our friends', and their opponents didn't quite get there either: it's toasts in the Royal Navy, so 'Sunday: Absent friends' would be fourth. The Vikings chose Eye of Horus next: 'Britain's first internet bank', then 'Continuous track on a tank'; they came in here with 'Swimming stroke', and were correct, the sequence being the life cycle of a butterfly (the first clues being 'egg' and 'caterpillar') The Inquisitors chose Lion next: 'Why Beryllium?', then 'Why Carbon?', and then 'Why Gold?'. They offered 'Why Selenium?', and were correct, the sequence being 'Why Because?', and thus the elements spell out the word 'Because'. The Vikings chose Twisted Flax next, and got the picture set: we saw John Humphrys, then jockey Luke Harvey, and then the BBC's Mark Lawson. Neither side saw this: they are the evangelists in the reversed order they are usually named in, so someone called Matthew, such as Mr Parris, would come fourth. For their final choice, the Inquisitors chose Water: '4 Carmarthenshire', then '3 Hampshire', and then '2 Kent'. They didn't get it, nor did their opponents: they are the terminuses of UK motorways, so '1 West Yorkshire' would complete the set. Left with Horned Viper, the Vikings saw 'Jason Bourne', and instantly tried 'The Bourne Identity', thinking it to be the Bourne films in reverse order, but were not correct. Their opponents saw 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' and 'Bridget Jones's Baby', but were none the wiser: they are the fifth, fourth and third films in a series, so a second film in a series, such as 'Basic Instinct 2' as the show suggested, would suffice. At the end of the second round, the Inquisitors led 9-8.
On to the Walls. The Vikings went first this time, and chose to tackle the Water wall. Spotting a few connections fairly promptly, they eventually isolated 'Ascot', 'Clip-on', 'Four in hand' and 'Bolo', which are types of tie. A second set, 'Photograph', 'Chance', 'Back seat' and 'Bow', which are things that can be taken, followed, and what was left fell into place soon afterwards: 'Kipper', 'Astro', 'Brian' and 'Brain' are cartoon dogs, while 'Buckling', 'Surstromming', 'Bloater' and 'Rollmop' are herring dishes. A full ten there.
The Inquisitors thus set to work on the Lion wall knowing only a complete shutout would realistically put them out of step. Their first set, 'Shambles', 'Pavement', 'Swinegate' and 'Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate', which are noted streets in York, came pretty quickly, as did their second, 'January', 'Jumble', 'Car Boot' and 'Flash', which are types of sale. The final sets were also sorted out pretty quickly: 'Gallimaufrey', 'Farrago', 'Hash' and 'Hodgepodge' are words meaning 'a muddle', while 'Bunga Bunga', 'Rainbow Warrior', 'Watergate' and 'Teapot Dome' are noted political scandals. Also a full ten there, so as you were, the Inquisitors led 19-18 going into the final round.
So, all to be decided on Missing Vowels. 'One hundred', such as 'CENTS IN A DOLLAR' and 'ZEROES IN A GOOGOL' (as Major Ingram will remember!), went to the Inquisitors 3-0. 'Plays merged with TV shows', such as 'ENDGAME OF THROWNS', was split 2-each. 'Nicknames of European cities' went to the Vikings 3-1, with the final clue coming right on the bell. At the end of the show, the Inquisitors won 25-23.
A very good show, some great answering there, well done both times. Unlucky Vikings, best of luck in the play-offs; well done Inquisitors, best of luck in the semi-finals!
Next week's match: the Belgophiles vs the Escapologists
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