University Challenge 2014-15: Round 2: Match 1: Leicester vs Trinity

Evening all. So, the first second round match. If there's one thing that past years have taught us, it's that we can never know what to expect from it. So, what would this year's second round have to offer?

Leicester defeated the Open University in their first match 245-190, and had one of the best bonus rates of all time in their match. Hoping for an equally good performance tonight were the same short-wearing four as before:
John O'Doherty, from Portsmouth, studying Medicine
Adam Brown, from Solihull, studying Mechanical Engineering
Captain: Robert Greenhill, from Leicester, studying Humanities and Arts
Nadal Abdul Nasir Muhammed Kalil Mahmud al Masri, from Leicester, studying History

Trinity College Cambridge defeated St Andrews 150-100 the following week in a rather sluggish first round match; Paxo accidentally credited them with 145 for some reason. Hoping to do better tonight were the same four as before:
Matthew Willetts, from London, studying Physics
Claire Hall, from Greenwich in London, studying Classics
Captain: Hugh Bennett, from London, studying Chemistry
Aled Walker, from Birmingham, studying Maths

Off we set again then, and Trinity got off to a much better start than last time, with Miss Hall, who was in a buoyant mood as she made sure we all knew she wasn't wearing shorts(!), taking the first three starters of the night, giving her side an early advantage. Robert Greenhill finally stopped her in her tracks, taking Leicester's first starter and single-handedly taking one of the two bonuses the side got. The first picture round, on maps showing the locations of Shakespeare plays, went to Trinity, and they had opened up a rather surprising lead of 75-20.

Indeed, Trinity were playing much better on the buzzer than before, as they kept taking starters, although their bonus rate was variable again, it was enough to give them a good lead. Robert Greenhill had something to say about that, though, as he broke back in and took two starters in a row; he also single-handedly answered two bonuses with no consultation! Indeed, Leicester were, again doing superbly on the bonuses, which meant they could close Trinity's lead with few starters.

Mr Greenhill identified Olivia Newton-John for the music starter; the bonuses, on pop songs that reference mythical locations, allowed Leicester to cut Trinity's lead to 110-80. A fourth starter in a row for Mr Greenhill, and a full set of bonuses meant Trinity's lead had now dropped to just five points, having previously been at 95. Step in Hugh Bennett, who bought Trinity back into the game. This seemed to wake the Cambridge side up again, as they now seemed to resume their buzzer dominance and pull away agin.

Claire Hall identified a picture of Charles Dickens with his dog for the second picture starter, which opened up a complex bonus set on illustrations from his works depicting dogs; in each case, they needed the name of the work and the dog! (Yes, really) They resorted to making up generic dog names for their answers! Never mind, they now led 150-105. And that lead was now getting bigger again, as they seemed to be getting the starters, and Leicester weren't.

Soon, Trinity's lead had reached three figures, and that was game over. But Leicester were going to go out with a bang, with Robert Greenhill taking a late starter and the side converted all the bonuses. Another late starter went to Leicester, but they could go no further than that. At the gong, Trinity won 220-140.

Paxo was right in saying Leicester weren't on as good form tonight; not on the buzzer at least, as they did, as before, get the bonuses near perfect when they did get them. Well done to them anyway on two very respectable performances. Well done to Trinity, though, who seemed much more at ease this time, and best of luck to them in the quarter-finals!

The game was won on the buzzer: Robert Greenhill got six starters for Leicester, and Claire Hall likewise for Trinity, but Miss Hall was supported by her colleagues who got seven between them, whereas Mr Greenhill's only one. On the bonuses, Leicester converted a superb 14 out of 19, and Trinity a respectable 20 out of 39 (with two penalties).

No word on who's playing next week yet; my advice is to keep an eye on Twitter and/or UniversityChallengeCrush.

Only Connect took a break from its regular series tonight for a Children in Need special, with celeb participants including my mother's old schoolmate Robert Peston! (Yes, really)