University Challenge 2013-14: Round 2: Match 6: Manchester vs Queens'

So, here we are again with the penultimate regular match of the year. One more next week, and then Christmas UC takes us into the New Year, where we will resume with the final second round match.

Reigning champs Manchester were given a closer than expected first round match by Brasenose College Oxford, but still emerged on top by 215-105. However, would playing away (in Salford, rather than just across the road) have any effect on their performance this time? We would see, for the unchanged team of:
Edward Woudhuysen, from London, studying History 
Joe Day, from Bideford in Devon, studying Physics with Astrophysics 
Captain: Elizabeth Mitchell, from Birmingham, studying PPE 
Jonathan Collings, from Manchester, studying Geography

Queens' College Cambridge won the closest match of the first round, beating Durham by 190-170. Playing Manchester is never an easy task, but facing up to it tonight were the also unchanged team of:
Paul Merchant, from Surrey, studying Modern Languages 
Rachel Gregory, from Sheffield, studying Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic 
Captain: Rhys Jackson-Jones, from London, studying Astrophysics 
David Phillips, from St Albans, studying Maths

Off we went again, and Queens' buzzed first, but were wrong, allowing Manchester to sneak in and take a full set of bonuses. A rare starter not buzzed in on by either side followed, before Manchester came back, and again took a decent haul of bonuses. Queens' got off the mark next, and took one bonus on British raptors. The Cambridge side also took the second picture round, on cuts of meat, but a storming start by the opposition meant they trailed 90-25.

Despite subsequently incurring a penalty, Manchester weren't fazed, and continued a strong run on the buzzer. The bonuses were generally falling well for them as well. Queens' responded with a starter and a full set of bonuses on the 1904 Olympics, including one about how the Marathon winner was disqualified for using a car! (Thanks to QI, I also knew that) And when Mr Woudhuysen took the next starter, he ensured all four Manchester players had at least one correct starter to their name.

The music round, on songs used for wake-up calls on space shuttle flights, also went to Manchester, and their lead now stood at 150-50. But Queen's then took two starters in a row, and narrowed it down a little bit. But it would take more than that to immobilise Manchester, and they hit straight back, and the lead was back to 100 in no time at all.

On to the second picture round, on British queens and consorts, and areas of the states named after them. Queens' (rather appropriately) took the starter, and were a bit unlucky to miss all three bonuses on very narrow slips. Manchester's lead now stood at 190-90. Not quite a match winning lead, but you got the impression that if Manchester could string a few starters and a good haul of bonuses together, it would be all over.

And that they did. Two starters in a row from Joe Day seemed to confirm this impression, and when Jonathan Collings took the next starter, and all three bonuses followed, it looked like game over. But it didn't stop there: Manchester had turned on the back burners now, and were motoring away on both buzzer and bonus. David Phillips did manage one more starter for Queens', which hauled his side into three figures, which they certainly deserved.

There was no stopping Manchester though, and with a couple of minutes to go, they broke 300, the third side to do so this series. At the gong, Manchester had won by 325-110. But a great portion of that lead was achieved in the final minutes, and I'd say it was closer than that.

Still, it's yet another impressive victory for Manchester, and they're into the QFs once again. Bad luck to Queens', who did very well considering a great deal of vanquished Manchester opponents over the years haven't even reached three figures. A good effort by Queens' all the same, considering their opposition's showing. Looks like playing away has had no effect on them at all.

The stats: Jonathan Collings was by far best buzzer of the night, with nine starters, and the side converted 32 bonuses out of 48, which is highly impressive. Rachel Gregory had the most starters for the Cambridge side, with four, and the side managed 9 correct bonuses out of 21. Both sides incurred one penalty.

So, as I said earlier, one more match next week, and they we break for Christmas UC. We shall wait and see what that holds for us this year.

I won't mention how Jamie Karran and co got on on their Only Connect semi-final tonight; my advice is you watch it.