Only Connect: Series 9: Qualification Matches Review

OK, so now we've seen both of the qualification matches of this series of Only Connect, and two teams are safely through to the semis undefeated.

Match 7: Heath Family vs Europhiles
The Heath Family, Kip, Alan and Heather Heath, defeated the unlucky Exhibitionists in their first match, while the Europhiles, Douglas Thomson, Mark Seager and Khuram Rashid, defeated the Relatives in a closer first match. The match started close in the first round, before the second round saw the Europhiles take a slight lead. That lead was maintained after the Walls, in which both teams struggled, and, in the final round, the Europhiles ran away to win by 21-8.

Match 8: Welsh Learners vs Record Collectors
The Welsh Learners, Margaret Gabica and Stuart and Chris Hern, convincingly defeated the Software Engineers in their first match, while the Record Collectors, Adam Barr, Rachael 'Cherryade' Neiman and Richard Gilbert, defeated the Erstwhile Athletes in the highest scoring first round match. This was very close, with the teams literally neck-and-neck the entire way through. Tied after both the first two rounds, the Walls allowed the Collectors to take a slim lead. But the Learners overturned that lead in the final round, and ended up winning 20-18.

So, the Europhiles and the Learners are the first two teams to reach the semi-finals of the series; very well done to both teams! Bad luck to the Heaths and the Collectors, but they're not out yet, and could still make the semis if they win their play-offs, where they will join the Relatives and the Software Engineers.

I'll be back in two weeks' time with summaries of the two play-offs.