University Challenge: Round 1: Match 14: Warwick vs Aberdeen

So, we’ve finally reached the final first round match in this year’s contest. Would we be able to end the first round with a good match?

Warwick University was founded in 1965, and is one of the most regular entrants on University Challenge. Their team won the series in 2006-07; last year’s team fell to eventual semi-finalists U.C.L. in the second round. Playing for them tonight were:

Sean Quinn, from Derry in Ireland, studying Classical Civilisation

Sarah-Jane Bodell, from Western Kentucky, studying the History of Medicine

Captain: Andrew Shaw, from Ipswich, studying Maths

James Wheatley, from Sudbury in Suffolk, studying Chemistry

Now, when I saw Mr Wheatley there, I immediately had Warwick down as the favourites. For, back in March, Mr Wheatley played for the University of Warwick students on the Radio 4 quiz show The Third Degree (Sumukh Kaul, from last year’s Warwick team, was also on the team); they became the first (and thus far only) student team to triumph over the Dons team on the show. And by quite a big margin too.

So, despite Aberdeen being my local university, I had them down as underdogs tonight. The university was founded in 1495, making it the third oldest in Scotland. The university last appeared on the show in 2000-01, where they lost to York in the first round. Playing for them were:

Thomas Ainge, from Wellingborough, studying Anatomy

Sean McMahon, from Cambridgeshire, studying Astrobiology

Captain: James King, from Chicago, studying Divinity

Ross Collier, from Sunderland, studying Politics and International Relations

So, the heart said Aberdeen, but the head said Warwick. The head won out to begin with, as Mr Shaw of Warwick got the first two starters. Aberdeen got off the mark with the first picture round, a superb round on film scene recreated using lego, which they swept the board on! Another starter for the Aberdonians followed, but only one bonus went with it this time.

The teams swapped starters up to the music round, with Aberdeen keeping Warwick’s lead slender. Warwick then began a short surge, which saw them get into three figures. Though Aberdeen got another starter, Warwick had now opened up a decent lead by the time we reached the second picture round. And when Aberdeen incurred a penalty on the next starter, it looked like game over.

Warwick managed to get up to 145, enough for a repechage place at least. Aberdeen were stuck on 60, and the match was as good as over. Aberdeen didn’t stand much chance of reaching the repechage, but could they at least reach three figures. Yes, they could. Two more starters saw them just reach three figures in time for the gong. Warwick emerged triumphant 175-100.

Hard luck Aberdeen, but, as Paxo said, you did reach 100, which is perfectly respectable. James King got three starters correct (the other three all got one), and the side answered 9 bonuses out of 18 with one penalty. Well done to Warwick, who gave a respectable account of themselves. Andrew Shaw’s six starters was the side’s best tally ahead of James Wheatley’s five; the side answered just 13 bonuses out of 33, though, and that may need to be worked on for next time.

Next week: Lincoln College Oxford vs Lancaster in the first play-off

Week after: King’s College Cambridge vs Homerton College Cambridge in the second play-off

Tonight’s Only Connect was a good one, with some of my all-time favourite questions, including weapons in Mario Kart, Fawlty Towers episodes, and Pokemon. Just one point separated the two teams, which is a sign of how close a match it was.