University Challenge 2015-16: Round 1: Match 1: Glasgow vs Peterhouse

Evening all. We're back! The first match of a new series of University Challenge, hyped by BBC2 alongside Only Connect as 'Quizzy Monday'! Coupled with both of these was the welcome return of Fifteen-to-One 2.0 this afternoon, giving Deal a much needed break. Speaking of which, a member of the (Deal) forum has revealed that he is going to be on UC this series! I will make sure he get's a mention on here when his match comes. Anyway, let's go!

Glasgow University is one of the four ancient Scottish universities, founded in 1451. Alumni include Nicola Sturgeon and the late Donald Dewar. They fielded a team last year, who defeated Bath and were unlucky to lose to Liverpool. This year's foursome were:
Andrew Davidson, from Stranraer, studying Medicine
Vitali Brejevs, from Riga, studying Maths
Captain: Evelyn McMenamin, from North London, studying Geography
Ollie Allen, from Edinburgh, studying Maths

Peterhouse Cambridge is even older, founded in 1284. Alumni include Lord Kelvin, hovercraft inventor Christopher Cockerell and celebrity husband David Mitchell. They last appeared two series back, where they won a great first round match against Balliol College Oxford, and were unlucky to draw our old friends Trinity in the second. This year's quartet were:
Thomas Langley, from Newcastle, studying Chemistry
Oscar Powell, from York, studying Geological Sciences
Captain: Hannah Woods, from Manchester, studying History
Julian Sutcliffe, from Reading, studying History

Off we set once again then. The first starter of the series was taken by Mr Langley of Peterhouse, but no bonuses followed. Glasgow got their first starter immediately afterwards, and did better by taking one bonus. Not a promising start, though Peterhouse soon made up for it by taking a full set of bonuses from their next set. Glasgow did likewise. The first picture round was on maps depicting national trails; Miss Woods was rather lucky to have the 'Pennine Trail' accepted for the Pennine Way. The Cambridge side took one bonus, which gave them a narrow lead of 50-40.

Peterhouse began to pull away now though, as they took the next two starters, though just one bonus from each set accompanied them. Mr Brejevs tried to get his side a foothold back in, but instead incurred the first penalty of the series. Peterhouse took the next starter, and two bonuses from a set on the works of Graham Greene.

Neither side recognised Monteverdi for the music starter; the bonuses, on classical pieces inspired by the Orpheus legend, went to Glasgow after a replacement starter, but they didn't take any of them. They thus trailed 100-45. The Scots took a second starter in a row, and a set of bonuses on the 2014 Winter Games provided the comedy moment of the week, when Mr Brejevs tried to give an answer in Russian! Peterhouse took the next starter, and got one bonus from a troublesome set on Scottish monarchs. A second starter followed, and, again, just one bonus followed. The Cambridge side had had the better of the buzzer race, and that was what was proving the difference here.

The second picture round, on illustrations by Doré, went to Glasgow, and the gap was down to 130-85. The Scottish side still weren't out of contention yet, but when Peterhouse took the next starter, and all three bonuses followed, it looked like they'd have to work for it. An unlucky penalty for the Cambridge side helped, but another starter and two bonuses didn't.

With the four minute warning, though, came a fightback from Glasgow, as the Scottish side, Mr Brejevs in particular, found their buzzer fingers, and began to eke into the lead. They took three starters in a row, and a good haul of bonuses, including the old chestnut of Eleanor of Aquitaine's husband. The gap was now down to 25, but when Peterhouse took the next starter, that was game over, even though they struggled with the bonuses, on Italian football grounds. Glasgow did get the last word, taking the final starter, and then came the gong; Peterhouse won 185-155.

A good match well played by two good sides to start the new series. Unlucky Glasgow, but, as Paxo said, I suspect we'll be seeing you again in the repechage, which you would totally deserve on the evidence of tonight. Well done to Peterhouse, though; we'll definitely see you again, and best of luck when we do.

Mr Brejevs was the best buzzer of the night, with six starters, while Miss Woods was Peterhouse's best with four. On the bonuses, Glasgow converted 14 out of 25, while Peterhouse managed 16 out of 33, and both sides incurred one penalty each.

Next week's match: Liverpool vs St Peter's College Oxford, a rematch of a quarter-final from last series

Only Connect was back too, of course, tonight. I'll save comment on that for my full review, which I will hopefully do within the next two days. I will, of course, finish my Series 1 retro-reviews as well, when I get the time.