University Challenge 2013-14: Preliminary Quarter-Final 3: Somerville vs Clare

So, it's University Challenge time again people. And an Oxbridge clash too; they're always interesting in some way, and tonight's was no exception. Winning would get either of tonight's teams one foot in the semis, losing would leave them with just one chance left.

Somerville College Oxford looked good in their first two matches over decent teams from Pembroke College Cambridge (who they defeated 255-145) and York (240-135). However, this was not quite the same team that achieved those victories, for tonight, for the first time in three years IIRC, we had a substitution! How exciting! The new reformed quarter were:
Sam Walker, from Stafford, studying Physics
Zac Vermeer, from Sydney, studying Law
Captain: Michael Davies, from Blackburn, studying PPE
Chris Beer, from Blyborough in Lincolnshire, studying English Literature

Clare College Cambridge, on the other hand, won two close affairs over Loughborough (defeating them 195-155), and then the excellent Christ Church Oxford team, who they defeated on a tie-break after tying 165-each at the gong. So, they did have good playing potential, but had not been able to shake either team off their tail in either match. We would see if that would be costly for the unchanged team of:
Tom Watson, from Navenby in Lincolnshire, studying Chinese studies  
Carys Redman-White, from Hampshire, studying Veterinary Medicine  
Captain: Tom Wright, from Sevenoaks, studying Theology  
Mark Chonofsky, from Boston, studying Physics

Off we set then. Clare got off to the better start, getting the first three starters and almost all the bonuses that went with them. They had soon raced off to 65 before Somerville could so much as buzz in. But Zac Vermeer, a good performer in the first rounds, put a stop to that, and the side showed they meant business too by taking two bonuses. The first picture round, on places in the titles of recent novels, went to Clare, and their lead was already 80-20.

And Clare's good buzzer run continued, and so too did their good showing on the bonuses. In their previous games, they've answered bonuses they don't know with obvious joke answers, notably a complex physics question with 'Jeff'! Tonight, when asked for a German climatologist, they gave us 'Jeremy Paxman'! The man himself was not amused!

Soon, Clare's lead had reached 100, and Somerville looked in trouble. But the Oxonians soon bought themselves back into the game, taking a full set of bonuses on Roman figures known as the 'Elder' and 'Younger'. Surely, we all must've expected Pliny to be one of them! The music starter went to the newcomer Sam Walker; the music bonuses were on folks performers who've appeared at the Cambridge folk festival, including the Proclaimers, who I've been listening to virtually all day! We also heard a very amusing cover of 'Ace of Spades'!

Somerville had now recovered the deficit to 120-80. And it continued to fall when Zac Vermeer shot in with a very quick buzz on the Vice Presidency of the US. The side took all the subsequent bonuses, putting them within fifteen points. Tom Wright gave Clare a bit more breathing space, but Somerville were now in gear, and were hunting them down. On a set of bonuses on the National Portrait Gallery, Zac Vermeer came out with the remark "it's a portrait gallery of people" while conferring!

The second picture was on meetings of the G7 leaders, and the year in question. Neither side got the starter, Clare got the bonuses, and took all three of them (as I did, though two were guesses!). Their lead now stood at 160-135. Now, though, up surged Somerville, and the Oxford side finally got a strong momentum spurt when it mattered. A full set of bonuses on poultry gave them the lead for the first time in the game.

All they had to do was not give Clare any chances to sneak back in, and they had it. Clare did get that chance, but couldn't go through with it, and when Somerville took the points, that looked like it. Indeed, the gong went before anyone could buzz in on the next starter; Somerville had come from behind to win 195-160.

Another fine match well played by both sides. Bad luck to Clare, but they did well considering, and if they keep on like that, they may well still make it through. Good work by Somerville, and another good win, but not as convincing as their prior efforts. We shall wait and see how they get on next time.

On the buzzer, Zac Vermeer was the night's best, getting four for Somerville, while Tom Wright and Carys Redman-White got three each for Clare. The Cambridge side converted a very good 16 bonuses out of 24, which is promising for next time around. Somerville managed an equally good 19 out of 30, and there were no penalties all night. Good play all round. More of the same, please!

So, next week, preseumably, we'll see Queen's University Belfast play Southampton; best of luck to Cromarty(IV) and co!