University Challenge 2015-16: Round 1: Match 4: Manchester vs York

Evening all. My write-ups will be a bit later from now on, as I've decided to wait until after Only Connect is over before starting writing. I hope this will mean I can put more effort into them and not rush to try and finish before OC is over. The moving of Classic Millionaire on Challenge to a later slot helps too. On to tonight's show.

Manchester has developed a formidable reputation on UC in past seasons, reaching at least the semi-finals every series between 2004-05 and 2013-14 (except 2010-11, which they sat out). That bubble burst last season, when they were knocked out by eventual champs Caius in the second round. No doubt hoping to reestablish their reputation were this year's foursome of:
James Haughton, from Manchester, studying Maths and Physics
Osnat Katz, from North London, studying Physics with Study in Europe
Captain: Graham Abbott, from Bolton, studying Theology
Jacob Roberts, from Oldham, studying History

York University was founded in 1965 as a plate glass uni, and is nowadays well known for its many duck inhabitants! Human alumni include football chairman Greg Dyke and authors Graham Swift and Anthony Horowitz. Its most successful UC team was the one that came second in 2010-11; last year's team were unlucky to lose to Durham in the second round, and recently popped up on OC as the Yorkers. This year's quartet were:
Barto Joly de Lotbiniere, from London, studying History
Sam Smith, from Guernsey, studying Chemistry
Captain: David Landon Cole, from Yeovil, studying Politics
Joseph McLoughlin, from Oldham, studying Chemistry

Off we set again then, and York got off the mark first, with Mr Joly de Lotbiniere taking the first starter, and all three bonuses from the first set showed they meant business. Mr Cole very quickly took the second starter, but just one bonus followed this time. Manchester got going courtesy of Miss Katz (who may or may not have been Manchester's reserve last year), but no bonuses from a tough set on hedgerow fruits followed. The first picture round, on outlines of island nations, went to York, who swept up all three bonuses, and upped their lead to 65-10.

Manchester fought back with the next starter, and provided an amusing moment when Mr Roberts asked to be nominated, but then forgot what his answer was! They took one of the other two. A second starter in a row for Manchester followed, and a full bonus set on sporting trophies bought them back into contention. Mr Cole took the next starter for York, though, and a third full set of bonuses went with it. Three slip-ups in a row followed, one for Manchester, one for York, and then a second for York, which Manchester picked up. They took two bonuses.

The music round, on classical excerpts involving swans in some sort of peril (yes, really), went to York; comedy moment of the night was Paxo's slight chuckle at the notion of a swan being roasted on a spit! (Try typing that without corpsing!) York took one bonus, and thus lead 95-65. Manchester bit back with the next starter, but no bonuses from a set on sweeteners followed. Mr Joly de Lotbiniere took his second starter of the night, and two bonuses on German battleships followed. Another starter and two bonuses for York followed, giving them a 60-point lead, and Manchester had a hard mountain to climb.

The second picture round, on celebs who have appeared in the Archers, went to York, who took two bonuses again, and upped their lead to 155-75. Manchester showed that maybe they weren't beaten yet, as Mr Haughton made a very impressive buzz that even Paxo was caught out by! One bonus on world heritage sites followed. Mr Smith took the next starter for York, and they took all three bonuses on the work of Teddy Roosevelt, including the short lived Bull Moose party. A very quick buzz from Mr Smith followed, as did another full bonus set, and that was game over for Manchester.

So now it was just a question of whether Manchester could rally and rack up a good repechage score. Mr Cole didn't seem to want to let them though, as he took the next starter, and two bonuses followed. The next went to Mr Smith, who recognised Cambridge as the starting point of Stage 3 of last year's Tour de France. Once again, two bonuses followed. A final starter for York and another couple of bonuses, and the gong finally brought the match to a close. York won, 265-90.

Well, I don't think many people would have predicted that scoreline that way round. Unlucky Manchester, who were simply outplayed by a better side, and could well have done better against another team, but well done anyway. Very well done to York though; a very strong performance on the buzzer and the bonuses, and we shall look forward to seeing you in the next round!

Mr Smith was the best buzzer of the night, with six, while Mr Houghton was Manchester's best with three. Again, the bonus rates were telling: Manchester converted just 7 out of 18 (with one penalty), but York managed a superb 29 out of 39 (with two penalties). These chaps look like a team to watch, methinks.

Next week's match: Swansea vs Nottingham

I'll try to see if I can review OC either tonight or Wednesday night. It may be harder, given that I've already seen it tonight.