Evening all. Here we go again, with a series the University Challenge that we weren't sure we were going to get, but we have indeed got, at least for the time being. As you'll know, I'll be streamlining my reviews for this series, keeping the traditional team line-ups and stats, but less detail-by-detail action. Thus, when Only Connect and Mastermind return, I can write longer potted summaries of them as well. For now, though, while UC is the only active Quizzy Monday show, my reviews will be long, but not as long as before. So, let's try this and see how it goes...
Glasgow University is appearing for the sixth series in seven, having previously been absent from the show for nine series; last year's team were unlucky to lose the second round to Courtauld. This year's team were:
Brian Nieves, from Stevensville, Maryland, studying History
James Warburton, from Stalmine in Lancashire, studying the History of Medicine
Captain: Rory McDowell, from Belfast, studying Global Security
Michael Greencorn, from Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, studying Engineering
Exeter University has also been a regular on the BBC series; it last appeared two series ago, where they narrowly lost their first round match, surviving to the play-offs, where they also lost. This year's four were:
Edward Parker, from Braintree, studying Archaeology and Anthropology
Alfie Riden, from Brixham in Devon, studying Mechanical Engineering
Captain: Cleo Gravett, from Faversham, studying English
Matthew Williams, from Bromley, studying Physics
Off we set again then, and Mr Nieves took the first starter of the series with 'oranges'. After two bonuses, a penalty allowed Exeter into the game and they had a full house. Then they incurred a penalty, and Glasgow retuned the favour. After the first picture round, on descriptions of the flags of Spanish speaking countries written in Spanish, the Scots side led 50-20.
Exeter took the next starter, and another full three bonuses, but Glasgow dominated the buzzer race from then on until the music round. In the process, they answered a full bonus set on video games, but dropped a full set on locations in Dickens; Paxo was not impressed with either! The music round was one partially recycled from the later stages of the last series, on songs where the title isn't mentioned until the final verse; Exeter had that, and two bonuses, to cut the gap to 105-60.
Mr McDowell looked like he was guessing 'Spiegel' when asked for a word linking various German publications, but he was right. Exeter were starting to recover though, and two starters in a row and five out of six bonuses drew them within ten points. But Glasgow duly increased the lead again, and also took the second picture round, on films where Colleen Atwoood designed the costumes, after which they led 155-105.
The Scots side maintained the lead throughout the final phase, though Exeter did mount a late recovery, pulling back to within thirty points. But when Mr Nieves identified Bell as the surname linking, among others, the MP for Tatton between '97 and '01, that was game over. At the gong, Glasgow won 200-145.
A good start to the new series, two good teams, both of whom deserve to come back; Glasgow worthy winners, but Exeter also a worthy team and hopefully will reach the still to be filmed play-offs.
The stats: Mr Nieves was best buzzer of the night with five starters, while Mr Parker was best for Exeter with four. On the bonuses, Glasgow converted 16 out of 34 and Exeter a very good 17 out of 21, and both sides incurred two penalties.
Next week's match: Leicester vs Durham
I have been told that both Nieves and Greencorn went back to their home countries during the pandemic. Usually, teams are only allowed to have one alternate player. If they aren't allowed back into the UK at the time of the filming of the next round, do you think they'll allow extra alternates?
ReplyDeleteThis is the 3rd year in a row that Glasgow have won one of the first 2 matches of the series, and the second time in 3 years that Exeter have lost the first match of the series.
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