Evening all. So, we're into the final four first round matches, meaning that the repechage slot battle is hotting up. As of tonight, we start learning the teams that will be making the play-offs. Tonight, losing with 195 or more would give a team a definite play-off place; 145 or more would at least put them on the board.
University College London, or U.C.L., is the largest college of the University of London, founded in 1826. Alumni include Alexander Graham Bell, Christopher Nolan and all of Coldplay. It has regularly sent teams in the revived series, last sending a team two years ago, who finished runners-up to Manchester. Hoping to go one better this year were:
Bethany Drew, from Surrey, studying English Literature
Andrew Brueton, from London, studying Law
Captain: Thomas Halliday, from Edinburgh, studying Vertebrate Paleantology
Harold Gunnarsson, studying Geomatic Engineering
Exeter University began life in the 19th century, and became a university in 1955. It has three campuses, two in Exeter, one in Falmouth in Cornwall. Alumni include JK Rowling and Will Young. It last sent a team to UC last year, losing a low scoring first round match to Cardiff; two years ago, they also lost in the first round to, er, U.C.L.. Hoping for revenge tonight were:
Harry Heath, from Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, studying History
Katie Barry, from Epsom in Surrey, studying Biochemistry
Captain: Jeffrey Sage, from Louisville, Kentucky, studying Arab and Islamic Studies
Rick Harmes, from Looe in Cornwall, studying Politics
Off we set again then, and things flew pretty evenly first, with Harold Gunnarsson quickly getting the first starter, and Harry Heath getting the second equally promptly. The teams swapped a second pair of starters, and got two bonuses from each set. The first picture round, on national emblems depicting landscapes, went to Exeter after the starter was dropped; this gave them a lead of 55-45.
U.C.L. took the next starter, and took two on a set of bonuses on the Noughties, unluckily missing the third. Exeter were unlucky with their next set of bonuses, not giving the answer they gave for the first bonus for the second, when it was right! They made up for it by taking the next starter. At this stage, both the starters and the bonuses seemed to be falling well for both teams.
The music round, on tracks by composers who served in World War One, went to U.C.L., which allowed them to level the scores 85-all. Andrew Brueton, who had been quiet for the first half of the match, now began a good run on the buzzer, which saw him get six starters in a row! The bonuses seemed to be falling for the side too, and they began to open up a big lead. Jeffrey Sage was right to try and jump in early on the next starter, but all he did was lose his team five points, and hand Mr Brueton a fifth starter in a row.
The second picture round, on paintings depicting weddings, went to U.C.L., and they had now opened up a lead of 190-80. Jeffrey Sage finally broke Exeter back into the game, and the side took a full set of bonuses which bought them up to three figures, and into the hunt of the repechage. A second starter and one bonus bought them within 25 points of a place on the board.
Andrew Brueton bought U.C.L. back into the game, and through 200, which meant they'd pretty much won. Now, it was just a case of whether Exeter could reach the repechage. A slip-up didn't help, but then two starters in a row bought them within five, and two bonuses bought them on to the board. The final starter of the game saw Exeter lose five points again and fall onto the sidelines, and that was the gong; U.C.L. won 230-140.
A very pleasant match between two very pleasant teams. Well done to U.C.L., and best of luck in the next round! Bad luck to Exeter, who did very respectably, and are now on the repechage sidelines with L.S.E. on 140 each; which of the two will survive in the event of a tie is anyone's guess, both achieving their total via nine starters, and the number of starters needed is usually the breaker. We shall have to wait and see if such an adjudication is needed; it will be the first time in years if one is.
Andrew Brueton's great buzzer run saw him finish the night with seven starters, while Jeffrey Sage was best for Exeter with four. On the bonuses, U.C.L. converted a very good 24 out of 33, and Exeter a respectable 13 out of 27 (with three penalties).
Safely through to the repechage: Open (190)
Next week's match: Brasenose College Oxford vs Durham
As for Only Connect, who was on it tonight, but our old friend Filip Drnovsek Zorko! I won't spoil how well he and his colleagues did, but good to see our man on screen again!
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