University Challenge: Preliminary Quarter-Final 2: U.C.L. vs Bangor

So, onto the second quarter-final, and a very odd match indeed.

U.C.L. dominated Exeter in the first round, but only narrowly defeated Jesus College Oxford in the second round. The favourites tonight, with the highest collegiate of the two matchers, were:
Adam Papaphilippopoulos, from London, studying Philosophy 
Tom Tyszczuk Smith, from Cambridge, studying Medicine 
Captain: Simon Dennis, from London, studying the History and Philosophy of Science 
Tom Parton, from Staffordshire, studying Natural Sciences

Bangor won a low scoring first round match over St Andrews, before narrowly defeating tournament favourites Durham in the second round in the shock result of that round. They remained unchanged from their two previous outings:

Adam Pearce, from Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, studying Translation Studies

Mark Stevens, from Widnes in Cheshire, studying Environmental Science

Captain: Nina Grant, from Enfield in London, studying French and Linguistics

Simon Tomlinson, from Manchester, studying Neuropsychology

Adam 'Welshguy' Pearce, a regular poster on here and LAM, took the first two starters of the match, helping his side to an early lead. U.C.L. did get into the game briefly, but only briefly, as Bangor dominated the early stages. After the first picture round, on European passports, they led by 80-10.

Then, two penalties reduced U.C.L.'s score back to zero, and, soon, they were trailing by 100-0, and a very unlikely trouncing looked to be on.

But Tom Tyszczuk Smith put a stop to that, with two starters in quick succession. The music starter was the dying words of an operatic couple; surely, I wasn't the only one thinking 'Romeo and Juliet' before they'd even played the track! Tom Parton got it eventually, and U.C.L. had now halved Bangor's lead to 100-50.

Then, U.C.L. began a surge, and were well back in contention. An incorrect interruption proved a brief blip, as they soon caught Bangor, and narrowly took the lead. Step in Simon Tomlinson, who took the second picture round, on paintings depicting the Lady of Shallot; it bought them back into the game, but their lead was now down to 120-110.

And it fell back further, when Adam [Pearce] buzzed in to early on a question about an English monarch. Tom Tyszczuk Smith did no better, confusing William I with William III, and nearly giving Paxo a coronary! He was not amused!

But, amidst this, U.C.L. had stolen Bangor's momentum, and, in the final stretch, zoomed away on the buzzer, and were soon well ahead. I couldn't help laughing when U.C.L. answered Manchester University, when the answer was Imperial College London! (See last week's match) Simon Tomlinson did get the final starter of the match for Bangor, but U.C.L. were now out of sight. At the gong, U.C.L. won by 190-125.

Very much a match of two halves; Bangor dominating early on, before U.C.L. shot into gear, and ran away in the final stretch. Bad luck Adam and co, but you're not out yet, and best of luck for next time. Simon Tomlinson managed an impressive six starters, which helped the side to 11 bonuses out of 24 with two penalties. The Toms Tyszczuk Smith and Parton both got four starters each for U.C.L., who managed 18 bonuses out of 36 with four penalties.

Next week's match: Pembroke vs St George's. This points to New College vs King's the week after.