Evening all. So last night, I decided on a whim to look on YouTube for an old quiz show I used to like called 'Beg, Borrow or Steal' (used to be on BBC2 after The Weakest Link); unexpectedly, I found one, and who was on it, but Only Connect stalwart Katie Bramall-Stainer! Won't give any spoilers in case you decide to look it up yourself, and I'd recommend you do; it was a good quiz that deserved better than to be cancelled after one series. Anyway, on with tonight's UC, and the first Oxbridge match of the series...
Corpus Christi College Cambridge was founded in 1352 to train new clergymen to replace those who killed in the Black Death; alumni include the playwright Marlowe, the writer Christopher Isherwood and the actor Hugh Bonneville. It last sent a team to UC two series ago, who were unlucky to draw eventual winners St John's in the second round. This year's foursome were:
Alexander Russell, from Bristol, studying Japanese Studies
Will Stewart, from Peterborough, studying History of Art
Captain: Ian Wang, from Trafford in Greater Manchester, studying English
Alex Gunasekera, from from Witney, studying Chemistry
Merton College Oxford is one of the universtiy's oldest, founded 1264; its alumni include the writers TS Eliot and JRR Tolkein, the library founded Thomas Bodley and the politician and cheese fanatic Liz Truss. It also last appeared two series ago, and were also beaten by St John's, though they made it as far as the final before running into them. This year's quartet were:
James Kempton, from Orpington, studying the attack strategies of birds of prey, with applications to designing defensive drone technology
Rowan Wilson, from London, studying English
Captain: Nick Ridpath, from Golders Green, studying Economics
Jacob Robertson, from Kingston-upon-Thames, studying Physics
Off we set again then, and Mr Robertson opened the game with 'Mercury', but just the one bonus was taken from the opening set. Corpus Christi didn't exactly get off to a great start, a penalty, but they soon recouped the lost points, and tied the score with two bonuses on director Ava DuVernay. Mr Wang (brother of Dennis Wang of the 16-17 Worcester Oxford team) gave his side the lead with 'Taiwan', and a full house of bonuses gave them a steady early advantage. The first picture round, on the titles of Beatles songs written in Old English, went to Corpus Christi, who took two correct answers, which increased their lead to 60-15.
Mr Ridpath decided that was enough of that for now, and buzzed in to identify Anya Shrubsole as the first woman to be on the cover of Wisden. A full bonus set put them well back into the game. Another penalty from Corpus Christi, a pickup from Merton, another full house, and suddenly the Oxford side had the lead. And they weren't holding up, Mr Robertson giving them a third in a row, and a bonus set on video games given a perfect rating by Famitsu magazine provided another two correct answers. Back came Corpus Christi, with Mr Wang identifying James Comey as the FBI director hired by Mr Obama and fired by Mr Trump (though Paxo didn't get that far before he was interrupted); one bonus followed.
The music round, on jazz standards, went to Corpus Christi, who took two correct bonuses; their mistaking of Ian Hislop lookalike Jimmy Somerville for Sade did not go uncommented on on Twitter! (Mr Somerville's old mate Rev Richard Coles was among those laughing at it!) The Cambridge side now led 90-85, and that lead increased when Mr Gunasekera took the next starter; the subsequent bonuses saw them acquire a further five points. Back came Merton with Mr Kempton doing the honours, and one bonus put them five behind. Mr Robertson then gave them the lead back with 'John Betjeman', and the weekly Shakespeare bonuses gave them a full set.
The second picture round, on selections of stills from film adaptations of novels by the same author, went to Corpus Christi, who took a full bonus set and the lead back, 130-125. Neither side knew Grace Kelly for the next starter (I guessed correctly), Mr Wang took the next, and the side quickly hurried through the resulting bonuses, taking all three and giving them the advantage heading into the home straight.
A Merton penalty put the Cambridge side within sight of victory, but they couldn't pick up. The Oxonians duly pulled one back, and took a full set of their own to keep themselves in the game. But another penalty handed Corpus Christi the advantage again, though they, again, couldn't capitalise. But Mr Stewart then took the next starter; just the one bonus followed, but when Mr Gunasekera took the next, that was game over. A sole bonus was taken again, as was one final starter before the gong; Corpus Christi won 195-140.
A good solid contest, well played both teams. Unlucky Merton, but a good effort, and hopefully 140 will be enough for a play-off place, we'll wait and see. Well played Corpus Christi though, a fine first effort against good opponents, and best of luck in the second round!
The stats: Messrs Wang, Gunasekera and Robertson were joint best buzzers of the night, with four each for their respective teams. On the bonuses, Corpus Christi converted 19 out of 30, while Merton managed 16 out of 21 (with both sides incurring two penalties).
Next week's match: Magdalen College Oxford vs York
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