University Challenge 2023-24: Round 1: Match 4: Southampton vs Christ Church

Good evening once again friends, and welcome to Week 4 of Quizzy Mondays! Some were saying we'd have Mastermind back this week too, but this doesn't appear to be the case just yet; surely not much longer though. Hopefully, when it does come back, its new series will be just as good as those of UC and OC have been so far! Tonight, UC's fourth first round match was between the two institutions who won the two play-offs ten series ago; one fell in the second round and hasn't been back since, the other went on to the QFs and has been back many times in the years since...

Southampton were the quarter-finalist team of that series, which was their best showing of the BBC era until, last series, they went one better and reached the semis before losing to Bristol; their other eight BBC era showings were either first or second round exits. This year's foursome were:

Elise Harrington, from Vancouver, studying Geochemistry

Rhys Counsell, from Bangor in Northern Ireland, studying Neutron Star Physics

Captain: Roshana Wickremasinghe, from Watford, studying Education

Chris Meredith, from Horsham, studying Maths

 

Christ Church Oxford were most unlucky to lose that epic second round match on a tie-breaker that series. Of their previous six BBC appearances, their best was unquestionably when they won the 2007-08 series. This year's quartet were:

Eliza Dean, from Edinburgh, studying Classics and French

Melika Gorgianeh, from Leeds, studying Astrophysics

Captain: Arthur Wotton, from Cardiff, studying Spanish

Elliot Lowe, from Thames Ditton in Surrey, studying Classics

 

So, off we set once again then, and, for the second week in a row, we started with a penalty, this time to Southampton; this allowed Mr Wotton to take the first starter of what would be a good night for him, with one bonus following. Despite this early setback, Southampton then went on to dominate the buzzer for the rest of the first quarter and, after the first picture round, on literary verb tenses, they led 55-15. Christ Church recovered nicely after this, with Mr Wotton taking two more starters to pull them within ten, before another took the Oxonians into the lead. The music round, on pop songs where guitar solos are played backwards, went to Southampton, and two bonuses gave them the lead back, 90-75.

Three starters in a row then put Christ Church into three figures first; a bonus set on Japanese films gave them nothing, but five bonuses from the other six gave them a solid lead. Ms Harrington pulled one back for Southampton, but the Oxonians were into their groove now and, after the second picture round, on artworks depicting funerals, they 145-110. Two more starters put Christ Church within sight of victory, but a penalty gave Southampton the chance to get back into the game; they didn't take it, but did take the next two starters, and five bonuses from six meant they were just 15 behind again. But Mr Wotton took yet another starter, and that was game over. The gong went during the resulting bonuses; Christ Church won 180-155.

Another good enjoyable contest between two decent teams; well played both. Well done Christ Church, Mr Wotton especially impressive, and best of luck in the next round! Hard lines to Southampton, whose score I fear will be right on the borderline of whether they come back or not, but thanks for playing for now, hopefully we'll see you again.

The stats: Mr Wotton was by far and away the best buzzer of the night with NINE(!) starters, while Ms Wickramesinghe was best for Southampton with four. On the bonuses, Southampton managed a good 16 out of 24 and Christ Church 15 out of 35, and both sides incurred one penalty each.

 

Next week's match: Emmanuel Cambridge vs Jesus Oxford

 

Only Connect’s first round continued with the Thrifters, Will Chadwick, Jack Karimi and captain Sam Haywood, playing the Suncatchers, Alice Nettleship, Charlotte Ashton and captain Ben Warth. The former led 4-2 after the first round and 12-10 after the second in which they also claimed the first five pointer of the series! (I claim five points on the months question) Two perfect walls meant it was as you were, 22-20 going into Missing Vowels, which was an epic round all round, and ended with the Thrifters just maintaining their lead to win 29-28!