University Challenge 2013-14: Elimination Quarter-Final 2: Clare vs Queen's

OK, it's Monday night again, so it's University Challenge time again. Whoever lost tonight's match would be going home, while the winners would make it into the play-offs for a chance to make it into the semis.

Clare College Cambridge defeated Loughborough and Christ Church Oxford in the first two rounds, both narrow wins, before narrowly losing to Somerville last time around. On paper, the favourites for tonight, and unchanged from before, they remained: 
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

Queen's University Belfast defeated Aberdeen in a low scoring first match, before comfortably beating Downing College Cambridge in the second round, but they were easily overpowered by our friends Southampton last time around. They were the same four as before too: 
Suzanne Cobain, from County Down, studying History
Gareth Gamble, from Lurgan in County Armagh, studying Medicine
Captain: Joseph Greenwood, from Manchester, studying Irish Theatre
Alexander Green, from Lytham in Lancashire, studying Plasma Physics

So, on paper, not much between these two teams, but Clare would probably be favoured to win.

Off we set again then, and a very good buzz from Joseph Greenwood got Queen's off to the better start, and another starter gave them an early advantage. But then a slip-up allowed Clare to get off the mark, and they soon caught up. The first picture starter saw Joseph Greenwood take a punt on trying to buzz in before the picture had been shown! It didn't work out, and allowed Clare to take the round, on motorsport endurance racetracks. At this stage, Clare led by 45-30.

Mr Greenwood took a less speculative punt on the next starter, but was wrong, but Clare couldn't capitalise, and managed to annoy Paxo instead! Clare now had a narrow lead, but Queen's soon caught them up, and took the lead back again. The teams were getting most of the starters, but very few bonuses went with them, which I guess suggests that the questions are getting harder at this late stage of the contest.

Neither side took the (rather hard) music starter, but the next starter allowed Clare to take the bonuses, on classical pieces written for the left hand. Clare now had the lead back again, 70-60. Neither side took the next two starters, but a mistake from Mark Chonofsky allowed Queen's to retake the lead. A second slip-up from Clare allowed Queen's to pull further away, even though their bonus rate was rather low again.

The second picture starter was the latest starter to be dropped; two starters and two penalties from Queen's later, and the bonuses, on paintings by French artists, went to Clare. Now though, they were behind, albeit by just 85-80. Gareth Gamble took the next starter, and the one bonus they took broke them into three figures. Another slip-up from Clare, and maybe now Queen's had now won the match.

Or maybe not. Clare hit back with the next starter, and the low stakes gap went down again. But when Queen's took the next starter, that looked like game over. Even though they missed all the bonuses, and then incurred yet another penalty, which Clare duly picked up, the match was won. At the gong, Queen's won the low scoring match 125-105.

Bad luck to Clare, who, as Paxo said, weren't on as good form as they have been before. Queen's weren't exactly on good form either; the increasing difficulty of questions clearly took its toll on both teams here. Well done to Queen's anyway, and best of luck whoever you face next, and well done Clare for getting this far, and for providing some good entertainment along the way.

Tom Wright was the night's best buzzer, getting four starters, though Mark Chonofsky was narrowly better over the series as a whole, with sixteen to Mr Wright's fifteen. Queen's put in a good collegiate effort on the buzzer, with Messrs Gamble, Greenwood and Green getting three starters each. Neither side were terribly strong on the bonuses, Clare getting just 8 out of 22 (with three penalties), while Queen's managed 12 out of 27 (with FIVE penalties).

So, we're in to the home stretch now. On to the play-offs next week, and Cromarty(IV) has hinted that Southampton are back next week, preseumably against SOAS again or Manchester. Good luck Cromarty(IV) and co!