University Challenge 2014-15: Round 1: Match 1: Manchester vs Selwyn

Evening all. We're back! Fresh from last week's pleasant delve into the pre-series selection of teams by both university and production crew, we're off with the 21st series of the Paxo era. Just two more, and he'll have done the same number as dear old Bambi. Anyway, let's get going.

Manchester University needs no real introduction, expect to say that its teams have been almost formidable on the show for the past ten years, winning three times and being retrospectively awarded a fourth series by default. Alumni include Benedict Cumberbatch (aka Patrick Watts from Starter for Ten) and Sir Norman Foster. This year's quarter were:
Edmund Chapman, from Norwich, studying Literature
Matthew Stallard, from Wolverhampton, studying American Studies
Captain: John Ratcliffe, from Manchester, studying Chemical Engineering
Charlie Rowlands, from Albrighton in Shropshire, studying Genetics and Chinese

Selwyn College Cambridge was founded in 1882, and its alumni include Tom Hollander of Rev fame and Hugh Laurie. It last fielded a team three series ago, where they were trounced in the first round by, er, Manchester. Hoping to do better tonight were:
Afham Raoof, from Colchester, studying Natural Sciences
Hannah Warwicker, from Huddersfield, studying Classics
Captain: Joshua Pugh Ginn, from Manchester, studying Classics
Charles Cooper, from Bedford, studying Natural Sciences

Off we set then, and it was Matthew Stallard who struck first, getting the first two starters of the series, and his side asserted authority win just one wrong bonus from six. But Selwyn showed they weren't going to be rolled over like many a Manchester opponent before them, and promptly followed them off the mark. The first picture round of the series was on direct rail journeys and their terminal cities; Manchester took this, and their lead stood at 65-20.

Back came Selwyn though; two starters and bonus sets later, and they had drawn level, and a third starter and set gave them the lead. Manchester soon got going again though, though John Ratcliffe did get the first telling off for not answering promptly of the series. The sides were soon level again, and Manchester promptly took the lead back.

Neither side took the music starter, much to Paxo's annoyance as he considered it a well known piece; the music bonuses, which went to Selwyn, turned out to be pieces commonly used by councils when they put enquirers on hold! The teams were now level on 105-each. It was anyone's game, and Matthew Stallard took the next starter to give the home side the lead back. No bonuses followed, which allowed Selwyn to pounce and reclaim advantage. Mr Stallard then made the first incorrect interruption of the series, which allowed Selwyn to pull further ahead.

The second picture round was on postcard depictions of seaside resorts; Manchester took the bonuses after the starter was dropped, but couldn't convert any of them. This meant they trailed 145-120 going into the home stretch. Still in the balance, and a starter and full bonus set to the home side leveled the scores. Matthew Stallard claimed the lead back with that well known factoid of the only British PM (thus far) to be assassinated (Spencer Percival), and two bonuses followed.

But back came Selwyn again, and two starters later they had reclaimed the lead. Still time for Manchester to sneak back in, but when Edmund Chapman slipped up and lost five points, it looked like Selwyn had done it; Joshua Pugh Ginn took the starter just to make sure. The gong went just afterwards, and Selwyn had won 190-160.

Well done both teams on a great match to start the new series. Bad luck to Manchester, who could easily have won it had things gone differently, but 160 would, I'd suspect, be enough for the repechage, so we could well see them again, which would be fair. Well done Selwyn though; beating Manchester is no easy task! Best of luck next time!

The stats: Joshua Pugh Ginn was the best buzzer of the night, getting six starters, while Matthew Stallard's six was Manchester's best tally. Manchester converted 16 out of 27 (with two penalties), while Selwyn managed 18 out of 27.

Next week's match: Oxford Brookes vs Jesus College Oxford