University Challenge 2013-14: Round 1: Match 10: York vs Bath

Well, it's Monday night, so it must be time for University Challenge. After two matches that were remarkable for different reasons, tonight's match was a bit more subdued, but certainly of note too.

York University, not to be confused with the Toronto based university of the same name, was founded in the '60s as a 'plate-glass' uni. It is famous for its ducks, which have been regularly mentioned on the show before, and alumni include Harry Enfield and Greg Dyke. Last year's team were defeated by New College Oxford in the second round; its best showing was in 2010-11, where they finished second. This year's team were:
Greg Carrick, from Hull, studying Maths
Brian Morley, from Liverpool, studying History and English Literature
Captain: Jeremy Harris, from Droxford in Hampshire, studying Medical History
Laura Kemp, from Colchester, studying Chemistry

Bath University is another 'plate-glass' uni founded in the '60s, and was originally the Bristol Trade School, which later became the Merchant Venturer's Technical College, and then moved to Bath later on. Alumni include Bill Giles the weatherman and Team GB gold medalist Heather Stanning. Last year's Bath team narrowly won a low scoring affair against Liverpool in the first round, before getting trounced by Pembroke College Cambridge in Round 2. Playing for the uni this year were:
Lilly Morris, from Beaconsfield, studying Politics with Economics
Calum Woof, from Send in Surrey, studying Chemistry
Captain: Simon Love, from Blyth in Northumberland, studying Mathematical Sciences
Jack Davies, from Buckinghamshire, studying Maths

Off we set, and York had by far the better of the earlier exchanges, getting all of the starters in the first phase. Bath did buzz in on a couple, but York had the right answers, which is what counts. Unlike Balliol last week, though, they were getting plenty of bonuses to back up their buzzer work; we saw how poor bonus work contributed to Balliol's undoing last week, as Dave Clark also noted over on LAM. By the first round, on noted British food producing areas, York led by 90-0, and Paxo already felt the need to tell Bath there was plenty of time left.

An amusing starter followed about a fossil nicknamed 'Elvis' due to how many copies it has! I guessed that, and so did Brian Morley, for his third correct starter of the night. Mr Morley also contributed strongly to a series of Star Trek bonuses, leading to Paxo accusing him of being a Trekkie! Bath finally got moving courtesy of Calum Woof, but just one bonus followed. York resumed normal business, getting a set of bonuses on parliamentary EDMs, which Paxo seemed rather amused by!

The music round, on film scores composed by Morricone, saw York extend their lead to 165-15, and Paxo felt the need to give Bath a second 'plenty of time left' check. It seemed to work, as Calum Woof got a second starter, but a set of bonuses on ballet proved no use to his side. Two dropped starters followed, before Mr Woof buzzed rightly again, allowing his side to better Keele's score from two weeks ago. The second picture round, on aviators, went to York, and the side now led by 195-45.

So, York looked home and dry, and Bath didn't stand much chance of reaching the repechage, but could they reach respectability. An incorrect interruption wasn't much use to them, but Jack Davies got his first starter of the night to lift them out of the Sub-50 club. But then another penalty dropped them back into it, and York added to their advantage with a set of bonuses about figs! They seemed to be scoring well on the bonuses as well as the buzzers, which is a sign that you're onto a good team.

In the final minutes, Bath managed to string two consecutive correct starters together, which lifted them to a more fair score. But, again, the bonuses weren't of much use to them, and it was quite sad to see the side pass on a full set in short order. At the gong, York won by 270-70.

Poor Bath. As Paxo said, we never really got to see what they could really do, though he did add "maybe we did, but I hope not!" Like with Keele, the side were clearly good if they made it into the show in the first place, and good on them for reaching a reasonable score at the end. Well done to York on a good solid effort on buzzer and bonus, but, again, I feel we will need to see them play against another team who are quicker on the buzzer before we earmark them for the title.

The stats: Brian Morley's six starters were York's best tally, just ahead of Jeremy Harris' five; the side converted a very good 27 bonuses out of 39, with one penalty. Calum Woof's four starters was the best individual score for Bath, who managed just 4 correct bonuses out of 18, with two penalties.

Next week's match: Pembroke College Cambridge vs Somerville College Oxford