Hello again my friends, and welcome back to another Quizzy Monday! Coming up later, the second phase of Only Connect begins, and a quick reintroduction to what is now a staple of Radio 4's rotating quiz line-up. But we begin with UC as usual, with tonight's match being between two institutions whose best showing on the show so far has been a second place finish.
Trinity Hall Cambridge, not to be confused with Trinity College Cambridge from a few weeks ago, were unlucky to be runners-up to Manchester in 2005-06; tonight is their first student series appearance since 2007-08 when they were beaten by, again, Manchester in the QFs. They were represented by:
Teymour Taj, from London, studying Astrophysics
Jake Bransgrove, from Auckland, studying History
Captain: Jeffrey Opreij, from Margraten in the Netherlands, studying Mathematical Physics
Shannon Gilbert, from Brechfa in Wales, studying Chinese Studies
The London School of Economics were runners-up in the all-London final against Imperial in the second Paxo-ero series of 1995-96; last year, its team was unlucky to draw and lose to U.C.L. in the second round as they were a pretty good team. Playing for them this year were:
Ryan Sharpe, from Oakville, Ontario, studying History and Philosophy
Cormac Beirne, from Ireland and Canada, studying International Relations
Captain: Andy Huff, from Houston, Texas, studying International Social and Public Policy
Catherine Tan, from Lexington, Massachusetts, studying Anthropology and Global Studes
We started very well indeed, with both sides taking a starter and full set of bonuses each. A penalty to Trinity Hall allowed L.S.E. to pull away though and, after the first picture round, the Londoners led 65-20. Trinity Hall recovered well with four starters in a row and, while their bonus conversion varied quite a bit, they had nonetheless taken the lead back. L.S.E. got back into the game with the music round, which allowed them to cut the gap to 80-70.
The two sides then swapped starters for a bit, after which they were on level pegging. L.S.E. then took two starters in a row and all but one of the resulting bonuses to eke out a strong lead. They also took the picture round, after which they were all but guaranteed at least a repechage slot, leading 155-95. A penalty brought Trinity Hall back into the game though, but L.S.E. kept their cool and took the next starter and all three bonuses to put themselves within sight of victory. Only for two penalties, one of which Trinity Hall picked up, opened the game up again. But L.S.E. recovered again and pulled away into a strong lead that made the game look a lot more one sided than it was. At the gong, L.S.E. won 215-135.
A very good high quality contest indeed, two very strong teams indeed. Well done L.S.E., a very good first showing and, if they don't get another unlucky second round draw, they could be a team to watch; best of luck to them in that second round! Hard lines to Trinity Hall, a very decent team who I fancy could've easily beaten another team; thanks very much to them for playing.
The stats: Mr Huff was the best buzzer of the night with five starters, while Mr Taj was best for Trinity Hall with four. On the bonuses, Trinity Hall managed 15 out of 24 (with four costly penalties) and L.S.E. a pretty good 25 out of 34 (also with four penalties, for a joint total of eight which must be the most for some time).
Next week's match: Durham vs Merton Oxford
Only Connect’s first elimination
match was contested by the Pear Trees, who were beaten by Oh No They Didn’t in
their first match, and the Caraxians, who lost to the Whitley Baes first time
out.
I claim the same point as the Trees
on their first two questions in the first round, the birthdays question and the
‘we’ question; the Caraxians led 5-3 at the end of that round. I claim the same
three points as the Trees on the first question of the second round, two points
on the Oceania question and the same three as the Caraxians on the knock knock question,
while my Dad claims two points on the Marx Brothers question; the Trees led 9-8
after all that.
The Caraxians went first on the
Walls, and took their time to work out all four groups, and got all the
connections too, so a full ten points. The Trees also took their time and
worked everything out for another full ten, so, as you were, they led 19-18
going into Missing Vowels. The Trees fared better and increased their lead in
that to win the game 28-22. Well done them, and best of luck in the play-offs!
And thanks to the Caraxians for taking part.
Mastermind was won by Eric Davis,
whose 24 points saw him home ahead of Nigel Haynes with 21; Gurpal Cheema and Annette
Fenner, formerly of OC, finished further back with 18.
We also had the return on Radio 4
yesterday of The 3rd Degree, the university based quiz which, like UC, deals
with Oxbridge colleges singularly. We were in Bristol yesterday though, with
the highlight of the show being a joke about Chess Masters which those of yous
who watched that particular show back in the Spring would very much approve of
I suspect!
And that's another week in the bag! I won't be making The 3rd Degree a regular feature of this blog unless something notable happens; this is just a place holder really until Brain of Britain, hopefully, returns soon. Anyway, thanks as ever for reading; see yous again same time same place next week...
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