University Challenge 2020-21: Round 2: Match 7: Corpus Christi vs Magdalene

Good evening all, and welcome to the final regular University Challenge of 2020! The usual Xmas specials start on Monday for two weeks, and we resume the series with the final second round match on the 4th of January. Tonight, we'd see an Oxbridge match between two teams who performed well in the first round but went somewhat under the radar compared to others IMO; their scores were quite similar, so a good match could be in the offing.

Corpus Christi College Oxford defeated Bristol back in August, leading throughout their match, maintaining a steady lead, and ultimately winning 175-135. Playing their reserve, and having promoted their best buzzer from that match to captain, they were now:

Libby Cherry, from Stroud, graduated in English

Michael Zaayman, from Pretoria, South Africa, studying Biochemistry

Captain: Shaun Webb, from Ealing in London, studying Ancient and Modern History

Arthur Morris, from Kingston-upon-Thames, studying Physics

Magdalene College Cambridge won the final first round match in October, gaining long awaited revenge over University College Oxford for a heavy first round defeat in the 2000-01 series, winning a nip and tuck match 170-130. They were unchanged from before: 

James Byrne, from Welwyn Garden City, studying Maths

Adam Davies, from Wichita, Kansas, graduated in History

Captain: Daniel Lawson, from the Wirral, studying Medicine

Kerry Payne, from Little Weighton in Yorkshire, studying Theology for Ministry

So off we set for the last time this year, and it was the newly promoted Mr Webb who opened the scoring for the night with 'market'; the Oxonians took two bonuses on works in the National Gallery. A slip-up from Magdalene allowed newbie Mr Morris to open his account; one bonus followed this time. Mr Davies moved Magdalene back up with their first starter, and they took a full house of their first set. The first picture round, on empires that occupied modern day Iran, went to Corpus Christi; no bonuses left their lead at 45-20.

Back came Magdalene, and they took one bonus from the weekly Dickens set; a second in a row gave them the lead, and they took a full house on writing systems. Mr Webb gave Corpus Christi the lead back by taking the next two starters, and his side added to the advanatge with three out of six bonuses. The music round, on musicals featuring performances in drag, went to Corpus Christi as well; no bonuses followed, giving them a lead of 90-60.

The lead increased when Magdalene lost five on the next starter; Mr Webb picked up the points, giving his side a bonus set on place names which Wikipedia fears may be confused with Harry Potter's 'Azkaban'! They took a full set of that. Back came Magdalene though, and they mounted a fine fightback, with two successive starters and all six of the bonuses that came with them. They also took the second picture round, on paintings of medical lectures; a third full house in a row meant they had suddenly pulled into a 130-115 lead.

Mr Byrne then gave the Cambridge side a fourth in a row; their run ended as they only took two bonuses on Finnish currency, one of which Paxo was maybe a touch lenient to let them off with just a surname, having forced Mr Webb to give a forename and surname twice earlier. But when Mr Byrne took the next starter, and another two bonuses were taken, that was game over. Mr Lawson confirmed this by taking the final starter, and they took just one bonus on apples. The final starter was interrupted by the gong; Magdalene won 185-115.

Another good contest between two good teams, both of whom deserved to reach the QFs quite honestly. Congrats to Magdalene on another good victory over good opponents, and best of luck in the next round! Hard lines to Corpus Christi, Mr Webb especially, whose fourteen starters over two matches must be one of the best for a team not to reach the QFs; another good showing though, thanks for playing!

The stats: Mr Webb was, again, the best buzzer of the night with six starters, while Mr Byrne's four was Magdalene's best. On the bonuses, Corpus Christi managed 9 out of 21, and Magdalene a very good indeed 21 out of 27 (with two penalties).

And that's it for regular UC this year. We resume with the final second round match, between Open and Birkbeck, on the 4th of January. Xmas UC starts next Monday.

Only Connect moved on to the qualifying matches, with the Whodunnits playing the Corkscrews. The latter led 12-6 after the first two rounds (5-3 after the first), and increased it with a slightly better wall to 19-11. The Whodunnits valiantly fought back in the Missing Vowels, but just fell short, the Corkscrews sneaking home 21-20.

 

Mastermind was comfortably won by Ashton Davies, whose 26 points was a winning score by a six-point margin, with two other contenders joint second on 20.