University Challenge 2014-15: Round 1: Match 2: Oxford Brookes vs Jesus

OK people, Week 2 of the new series. After last week's great match and shock result to start the series, what would happen next?

Oxford Brookes began life as a small school of art before expanding and becoming a polytechnic in 1970; it was given university status in 1992. It last sent a team in 2010-11, where, under the coaching of then Brain of Britain Ian Bayley, they reached the quarter-finals, going out to York after a great game. This year's quartet were:
Simon Joyce, from North Oxfordshire, studying Spatial Planning
Paula Ayres, from Hertfordshire, studying the History of Medicine
Captain: David Ballard, from Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, studying Politics and International Relations
Stephen Mayes, from Canterbury, studying History

Jesus College Oxford was founded in 1571, the only Oxford college founded during Elizabeth I's reign; it has close ties with the Welsh in tribute to the Welsh churchman who aided its founding. The college last sent a team two years ago, where they went out in the second round after a good match with U.C.L.. Tonight's team were:
Beth Roberts, from Barnoldswick in Lancashire, studying English
Louisa Thompson, from Huddersfield, studying English
Captain: Alex Browne, from Buckinghamshire, studying Chemistry
Jonathan Clingman, from Finchley in North London, studying Physics

So, an Oxford derby, but not within the university. An interesting match looked in prospect.

Jesus got off the mark first, Oxford Brookes quickly followed, and both sides took a bonus each. Jesus had the better of the early exchanges, bettering the buzzer race, but not converting many bonuses, not getting any from a tricky set on Wikipedia editors. The first picture round, on Nadsat words and their translations, went to Oxford Brookes; one bonus saw them reduce the gap to 40-30.

Jesus promptly hit back, and took two bonuses to increase their lead. The next starter, on the great auk, was one I knew because I'd heard it on the show before! Oxford Brookes knew it too, though hopefully not for the same reasons! Two bonuses bought the gap back to 10. Two more starters went to Jesus, including the music starter; the bonuses, on performances from fictional bands in films, saw them raise their lead to 100-50.

Oxford Brookes hit back, but got nothing from a bonus set on lasers, raising mild amusement by repeating a wrong answer from their first bonus set (it was wrong again). A slip-up from David Ballard went un-picked up on by the opposition, and two further starters were then dropped. Simon Joyce finally got one right, and two bonuses bought Oxford Brookes back within touching distance.

Neither side took the second picture starter, David Ballard riling Paxo by mistaking Chekov for Dickens! The bonuses, on authors who have written books with fruit in the title, went to Jesus, and afterwards their lead now stood at 115-75. Still within touching distance, and David Ballard took the next starter; though just one bonus followed, it still closed the gap to 25 points.

Into the home straight, a slip-up from Beth Roberts allowed Oxford Brookes to sneak through, and level the scores on 110-all. And then Paula Ayres took the next starter to take the side into the lead. Two bonuses gave them room to breath. Miss Roberts took the next starter for Jesus, closing the gap to 10 points, but there was just time for one bonus, which they didn't get. And that was it; at the gong, Oxford Brookes had snuck from behind to win 130-120.

A low scoring match, but still a very close one nonetheless. Bad luck to Jesus, who lead almost all the way through, and who I suspect won't have done enough for the repechage, which is a shame, as they were a reasonable enough team. Well done to Oxford Brookes, though I feel they may need to play better next time if they are to progress further; best of luck to them for that next time!

Fairly scattered on the buzzer front tonight, with all eight players getting at least one right; Paula Ayres was best for Oxford Brookes with three, and Beth Roberts and Jonathan Clingman got three each for Jesus. On the bonuses, Oxford Brookes converted 11 out of 24, while Jesus managed just 9 out of 22, meaning that Oxford Brookes' slightly better bonus showing was what won the game. Both sides incurred one penalty.

Next week's match: Bristol vs the Courtauld Institute of Art