Evening all. So, we're into the home straight for the quiz season now: Mastermind has begun its semi-finals tonight, and Only Connect has just two shows left after tonight; I may decide to bring my OC reviews back for a fuller write-up of the grand final. UC, too, only has five matches left after tonight's second elimination contest, so we're into the home straight, and I'm starting to consider whether to carry these write-ups on next series or try something different. Watch this space...
Jesus College Oxford narrowly lost to fellow quarter-finalists Manchester in the first round, then narrowly defeated Sheffield and Birmingham to reach the QFs, their first of which saw them lose 195-110 to Durham. They were the same team as those prior matches:
Lucy Clarke, from Ottershaw in Surrey, studying Early Modern History
James Cashman, from Guildford, studying History
Captain: Matt Cook, from Wellington, New Zealand, studying PPE
Miranda Stevens, from Sevenoaks, studying Biology
The Courtauld Institute of Art surprised many by reaching the quarter-finals, via victories over the LSE in the first round and Glasgow in the second, before being soundly defeated 240-75 by Imperial in the preliminaries. They were also the same four as before:
Ash Silver, from North London, studying History of Art
Morgan Haigh, from Cardiff, studying History of Art
Captain: Harry Prance, from Winchcombe in Gloucestershire, studying Middle Byzantine Eucharistic Objects
Nancy Collinge, from Blackpool, studying History of Art
Off we set again then, and Ms Clarke very quickly took the first starter of the night; the first bonuses, on forms of poetry, gave the Oxonians a full bonus set to be starting with (Paxo was maybe a bit lenient to accept one, accepting a correction after a slight slip). Ms Clarke took the second starter almost as quickly as she had the first, and two bonuses on research papers followed this time. Mr Prance opened his side's account with the third starter, but his side drew a blank on a bonus set on kings of France known as 'Charles the' something. The first picture round, on maps with cities containing world heritage sites dating to the 20th century, went to Courtauld; again, though, they got nothing from the bonuses, so trailed 45-20.
Neither side took the next starter, the one after went to the Courtauld captain, and the bonuses finally fell for his side, a full set on the work of Penelope Fitzgerald, which drew them level. A rather long run of four dropped starters followed, including an amusing one where both sides guessed two random names when asked for two fictional characters! The only score change from these was a penalty from Courtauld. Mr Cook finally got some points on the board by identifying the final words of novels by William Golding; one correct bonus on British geography followed.
The music round, on electronic pop music, went to Jesus; no bonuses followed though, which left the scores at 70-40. The lead increased when Ms Stevens identified 'leaves' for the next starter; bonuses on astronomy gave the Oxonians one correct answer. The next starter was dropped; the next went to Mr Cook, but nothing came from a bonus set on collage art ("Courtauld would've got all these, you know!" quoth Paxo!).
The second picture round, on artworks that attempt to give a visual form to music, went to Courtauld; two bonuses bought the scores to 95-60. And when Mr Prance took the next starter, they were now right back in the match, just about; one bonus took them within twenty points.
Another starter was dropped, the next was taken by Ms Stevens, and a full bonus set on flowers beginning with P pretty much won them the game. Two further starters went missed by both sides, Ms Collinge stopped the run by identifying a list of words that can precede 'stone'; a sole bonus on tapestries followed pretty much ended any chances of catching up. One final starter was dropped, the last went to Mr Cook, and his side took one of the bonuses there was time for. At the gong, Jesus won 135-90.
A low scoring match, with quite a few dropped starters (that made the broadcast), but two pleasant teams made it a watchable one. Unlucky Courtauld, but no shame in going out now, especially for a specialist institution, thanks very much for taking part. Very well done Jesus though, and best of luck in the play-offs!
The stats: Mr Prance was the best buzzer of the night with five starters, comfortably making him his side's best buzzer of the series with seventeen overall, while Ms Clarke and Mr Cook were joint best for Jesus with three each. On the bonuses, Jesus converted 11 out of 24, while Courtauld managed 7 out of 18 (with the night's one penalty).
Next week's match: don't know for sure, but I'd guess Wolfson vs Durham, followed by Trinity vs Jesus
Only Connect arrived at its second semi-final tonight, with the 007s vs the Turophiles. After a low scoring first two rounds, both sides aced the walls, and the former just about hung on in Missing Vowels for a 23-18 win. They'll now probably start the final in two weeks' time as the favourites against the Suits, while their opponents will face the Forrests for third place next week.
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