Evening all. Another first round match tonight, as two more teams aimed to make an early impact on this year's series. For tonight's runners-up, a losing score of 140 or more would give them a definite place in the play-offs.
Clare College Cambridge is the second oldest college of the university, founded in 1326, and known by its current name since 1856. Alumni include broadcasting legend Sir David Attenborough and wartime poet Siegfried Sassoon. It last sent a team to UC two years ago, who had a good run to the QFs before unluckily losing to Queen's of Belfast. This year's foursome were:
David Tremain, from Chelmsford, studying English Literature
Sarah Binney, from London, studying Physics
Captain: Olivier Grouille, from Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire, studying Strategy and Counterterrorism
Ellie Warner, from Pulborough in West Sussex, studying Chinese Studies
Warwick University is a plate glass uni founded in 1965, and based just outside Coventry, its name coming from the county rather than the town. Alumni include comedy performers Stephen Merchant, Ruth Jones and Frank Skinner. It last sent a team three years ago, who defeated Aberdeen in the first round before losing a tense second round match to our old friends King's College Cambridge. This year's quartet were:
Hugh Osborn, from Norwich, studying Astronomy
Emily Stevenson, from Oxford, studying English Literature
Captain: Ashley Page, from Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire, studying Chemistry
James Leahy, from Shrewsbury, studying French and History
Off we set again then, and Clare got off the mark first, with Miss Warner taking the first starter, and two bonuses followed. A second starter and two bonuses went to the Cambridge side, before Warwick opened their account, and they too took two bonuses. But they then lost five to a slip-up, allowing Clare to pull further ahead. The first picture round, on flags of English counties, went to Warwick, who took just the one bonus, and thus trailed 50-30.
Westward Ho! in Devon was the giveaway that exclamation marks was what the next question sought after, and Mr Leahy obliged; his side missed all the bonuses, though they were unlucky to miss one. A slight allowance from Paxo gave Warwick a third starter in a row; they only managed one bonus, unluckily missing another again, but it had given them a small lead. A slip-up drew the sides level, but Warwick recovered by taking the next starter. Again, just one bonus followed; they weren't doing particularly well on the bonuses, but their buzzer work was proving sufficient thus far.
The music starter was missed by both sides; the bonuses, on operatic excerpts sung by characters in disguise, went to Warwick. They missed all the bonuses too, but still led 75-50. Another starter fell Warwick's way, and a much friendlier set of bonuses on moons of the Solar System gave them two correct answers. Clare finally broke back into the match courtesy of Mr Tremain; no bonuses went with it, but they were still very much in the game.
The second picture round, on stills from animated films produced by the Japanese Studio Ghibli, fell right into the hands of Miss Binney of Clare, who took the starter and all three bonuses, cutting her side's deficit to 95-85. But Miss Stevenson halted their momentum by taking the next starter for Warwick, and all three bonuses on chemical elements followed. Another starter fell to Warwick, and two bonuses followed this time, suggesting they had finally got into the swing. A third starter, and two more bonuses to Warwick, and they might just have put the game out of reach.
Miss Binney just about kept Clare in the game by taking the next starter, but just one bonus followed, though it did deservingly take them to triple figures. Neither side took the next starter, both unlucky to miss it, but when Warwick took the next starter, that was game over. They took two bonuses and another starter just to make sure of it. At the gong, Warwick won 195-100.
A somewhat slow match early on that woke up somewhat in the second half. Unlucky Clare, who managed a respectable effort, and I suspect could've beaten another team, but thank you for playing anyway. Well done to Warwick though; a decent first effort, but I feel they'll need to play better next time to progress; we'll see you again when that next time comes!
Mr Page was the best buzzer of the night, with six starters under his belt, while Mr Tremain and Miss Binney were joint best for Clare with two each. On the bonuses, Clare converted 8 out of 18, while Warwick managed 17 out of 36 (with two penalties); they'll need to improve on that next time, I think.
Next week's match: Queen Mary London vs Nuffield College Oxford
Another good half hour of Only Connect to compliment nicely as well tonight; I'll go into that either tomorrow or Wednesday.
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