University Challenge 2015-16: Round 1: Match 2: Liverpool vs St Peter's

Evening all. Hope you weren't caught out by the rain delay. Naturally, the Twittersphere wasn't very impressed. At least it meant I could watch EastEnders first. Lets just hope the weather behaves itself for the rest of the series. Anyway, as Paxo pointed out, we had a rematch on our hands tonight.

Liverpool University was founded in 1881 as a university college, becoming a university in 1903. Alumni include Stella Rimington, former head of MI5, and Chris Lowe out of the Pet Shop Boys. They sent a good team last year, who went out in the QFs to Durham, following an earlier loss to, er, St Peter's! Hoping for payback tonight were this year's foursome of:
Jenny McLoughlin, from Leeds, studying Biological and Medical Sciences
Jack Bennett, from Lancaster, studying Law
Captain: Robin Wainwright, from the Wirral, studying Biological Sciences
Ed Bretherton, from Bampton in Devon, studying Medicine

St Peter's College Oxford is one of the newer Oxford colleges, founded as a hall in 1929 and becoming a college in 1961. Alumni include director Ken Loach, foodie Hugh Fearnley-Whitingstall and the Reverend W. Awdry, creator of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. After beating Liverpool in the quarter-final last year, they lost to eventual runners-up Magdalen in the semis. Hoping to go one further than that were this year's quartet of:
Isaac Kang, from Sutton in Surrey, studying Medicine
Jeremy Thundow, from Herne Bay in Kent, studying Physics
Captain: Nathan Gower, from Lewes in East Sussex, studying Ancient History
Yaroslav Sky Walker, from Little Chalfont in Buckinghamshire, studying Theology

Off we set again then, and Liverpool got off to a better start, taking the first starter and two bonuses. St Peter's bit straight back, but only managed one bonus from their first bonus set, on wizards. Liverpool took two bonuses from their second set as well. The first picture round was on maps, with three countries highlighted, along with the distances from their capitals to another, unmarked capital. Yeah, me neither. Nor the teams. Even Paxo thought it was tricky. Liverpool eventually got the bonuses, but, unsurprisingly, none of them followed. Still, they led 50-15 at this point.

Liverpool carried on their apparent momentum by taking the next starter, but no bonuses from a tricky physics set followed. St Peter's, in contrast, took their second starter, and got all three bonuses on disputed Chinese territories. Liverpool responded immediately though, as they took the next starter, and a full bonus set followed. Liverpool's better buzzing skills were proving the difference so far.

The music round, on songs by artists found by YouGov to be popular among UC fans (yes, really), went to Liverpool, who took one bonus, and provoked Paxo somewhat by missing a couple of, what he considered, sitters! The Merseysiders led 100-40 at this point, but St Peter's began a fightback at this point, taking two starters in a row, missing all of the first bonus set, but taking two of the second. A third starter in a row for the Oxonians followed, but no bonuses went with it. Liverpool gave themselves more room to move, taking the next starter and one bonus.

The second picture round, on depictions of poets by Blake, went to St Peter's, who very quickly swept up all the bonuses to close the gap to 115-105. Liverpool quickly doubled their lead by taking the next starter, but just one bonus followed. Paxo was a bit unfair to have a go at St Peter's for a guess of 'limerick' when 'poetry' was what he sought; he wasn't that far off. Liverpool took the next starter, and a very topical bonus set on Lib Dem leaders (RIP Charles Kennedy) gave them a clean sweep and a potentially match winning lead.

St Peter's kept themselves in the game by taking the next starter, but just one bonus followed. And when Liverpool took the next starter and all three bonuses, that looked like game over. Liverpool knew, as did I, that Ben Hur was based on a work by Governor Lew Wallace (thank you QI). I claimed a second correct starter in a row, this time accompanied by St Peter's, but they missed all the bonuses. Liverpool took the final starter, struggled through two of the bonuses, and then came the gong. Liverpool won 205-130.

Not much to say about that match, except the better team probably won. Unlucky St Peter's, who were a decent enough team as well, with Paxo reckoning they were better than the scoreline suggests, and I suspect will just miss out on the repechage, but good work anyway. Well done Liverpool on a good first outing, and we shall see you again in the next round!

Jack Bennett was best buzzer of the night, with six, while Nathan Gower was best for St Peter's with four. On the bonuses, Liverpool converted 17 out of 35, while St Peter's managed 10 out of 24. Not great rates, though there were no penalties, which is good.

Next week's match: Kent vs Newcastle

I've decided to keep reviewing new Only Connect on here, even though our friend Dave Clark has returned now. And I will, of course, try to finish off my Series 1 retro-reviewing at some point.