University Challenge 2018-19: Round 1: Match 5: Clare vs Hertford

Evening all. Well, I think we can safely say summer is over; for the first time this series, I am watching this with all the windows shut in my flat; was a bit drafty. Now watch it suddenly heat up again now I've said that! Anyway, on with tonight, and the second Oxbridge match of this still young series, with the usual caveats, win and go straight through, lose and hope your score is among the four highest.

Clare College is the second oldest in Cambridge, founded in 1326 by Lady Elizabeth de Clare; alumni include poet Siegfried Sassoon, writer Peter Ackroyd and British legend Sir David Attenborough. It last sent a team to UC three series ago, who were unfortunate to lose in the first round; three quarters of that team later appeared on OC as the Clareites. This year's foursome were:
Anish Naik, from Enfield in London, studying Astrophysics
Matt Nixon, from Belfast, studying Astrophysics
Captain: Andrew Gurr, from Basingstoke, studying Law
Elijah Granet, from San Diego, California, studying Politics

Hertford College Oxford is even older, founded 1282 but taking its current name in 1874; alumni include John Donne, Jonathan Swift and Evelyn Waugh, and more recently Fiona Bruce and Krishnan Guru-Murthy. Making only its second BBC appearance tonight, the first back in 2010-11 resulting in a first round defeat. This year's quartet were:
Stefi Woodgate, from South London, studying Biology
Pat Taylor, from Warwick, studying Physics
Captain: Richard Tudor, from Stourbridge, studying History
Chris Page, from Orpington in London, studying English Literature

Off we set again then, and Mr Granet picked up when his compatriate Mr Golfinos left off last week, taking the first starter, and two bonuses on words ending 'ist' went with it. Mr Tudor promptly opened Hertford's account in short order, but his side could only manage one bonus on Nobel Prize citations. A penalty then dropped the sides level; the next saw both teams sit on the buzzers until they heard 'Thomas Becket', at which point Mr Tudor won the race to say 'Henry II'. Just the one bonus followed again, though. The first picture round, on old English kennings, went to Hertford, who took two bonuses this time, taking their lead to 50-15.

Another penalty then increased the lead, before Mr Taylor just about provided a close enough answer to be accepted; bonuses on Xmas UC alumnus Samira Ahmed's critique of various 90s culture saw didn't add to their score though. A prompt buzz from Mr Nixon brought Clare back into the game, but no bonuses followed, including Mr Gurr's unlucky plumping for of the wrong Lord of the Rings volume! A second starter in a row went to the Cambridge side, and they took one bonus, just missing out on another. Mr Granet added a third in a row for Clare with 'McDonaldisation', and another single bonus took them back to within ten.

The music starter saw Mr Gurr win the buzzer race to identify Reginald Dwight's 'Rocket Man'; the bonuses, on songs listened to by Tim Peake in space, saw the Cambridge side incur the wrath of Twitter for mistaking The Who for The Beach Boys; one of the other bonuses followed, giving them a narrow lead of 65-60. Mr Tudor decided that was enough of that, identifying Paul Erdos (who Stephen Fry may or may not have stolen a QI anecdote from) to give his side the lead again, and the first full bonus set of the game accompanied. A second starter in a row went Hertford's way, as did a second full bonus set, a nice one on cryptic clues to the names of bands (eg, the horizontal bands on the flag of North Korea = White Stripes!). Mr Granet promptly seized back possession with a very prompt buzz indeed, and two bonuses were taken with it. Another penalty set them back again, followed by controversy, as Paxo allowed Mr Nixon off with a slight hesitation before answering; to be fair, he did answer just before Paxo began to rule him out, unlike other occasions I've seen this happen. One bonus followed.

The second picture round, on paintings by Manet inspired by works by Spanish artists, went to Hertford, who took another full set, giving them a lead of 135-95. Still anyone's game going into the final mins; neither side took the next starter, Mr Granet took the next, and his side into triple figures, and one bonus put them just a starter and full set away going into the home stretch.

But Mr Page took the next starter, and, though just one bonus on oxymorons followed, time was now on their side. One more starter would win it, but Mr Gurr wasn't giving in, offering 'deer' to keep his side in the game; his side took two much needed bonuses. Neither side took the next starter, amusingly offering '1' and '0' when '1/2' was the answer! Mr Gurr pulled his side within ten with 'Grand Canal', and two bonuses put the sides level for, what would surely be, the last starter of the game. Mr Granet came in early with 'Robinson', and was right! And that was the gong! Clare won, 160-150!

A rather slow match that suddenly leapt into life in the final minutes. Unlucky Hertford, unlucky to just be pipped at the post, but hopefully 150 will be good enough for the play-offs; thanks in the mean time though. Very well done Clare though, and very best of luck in the next round!

The stats: Mr Granet was the best buzzer of the night with five starters, while Mr Page was Hertford's best with four. On the bonuses, Clare converted 13 out of 30 (with three penalties), while Hertford managed 14 out of 24, so it was a game won on the buzzer.

Next week's match: Strathclyde vs Durham. Shame that wasn't this week's match, otherwise it would've been exactly six years to the day since the exact same fixture was played!