Evening all. Here we are at the final first round match of the series. The aim for today's teams: win, or failing that, lose with a score of 135 or more. In which case, for the second series running, we'd have a tie-break for the final play-off place, between two pleasant teams both of whom deserve the second chance.
St John's College Oxford was founded in 1555, and is the richest college in Oxford. Alumni include writers AU Houseman and Robert Graves and quiz show host Victoria Coren Mitchell. It last sent a team two series ago, who went out in the first round, but previous teams have finished runners-up in the grand final twice in the BBC series. This year's foursome were:
Alex Harries, from South Wales, studying History
Charlie Clegg, from Glasgow, studying Theology
Captain: Angus Russell, from Mill Hill in North London, studying History and Russian
Dan Sowood, from Uxbridge in Middlesex, studying Chemistry
Bristol University began life as a university college, and eventually became a proper uni in 1909. Alumni include Simon Pegg, Matt Lucas, David Walliams, and writer David Nicholls, author of the excellent novel-turned-film Starter for Ten. As Paxo reminded us, its team last year reached the QFs, before losing to Magdalen. This year's quartet were:
Vanessa Lynn, from Tonbridge in Kent, studying English
Robert Hayman, from Leigh in Lancashire, studying Chemistry
Captain: Andy Saxon, from Bristol, studying Evolutionary Biology
Benjamin Crawshaw, from Kettering, studying Medicine
Off we set again then, and St John's kicked off first courtesy of Mr Clegg, and took two bonuses on dungeons and dragons in literature. Mr Clegg then slipped up on the next starter, but Bristol failed to pick up, Mr Saxon realising his answer was wrong after he buzzed, and not saying it. Mr Clegg made up for his error with another starter, which led to a full bonus set. Miss Lynn took Bristol's first starter, and two bonuses followed. The first picture round, on word clouds of books of the Bible, went to St John's, who swept the board, and thus led 65-20.
Mr Harries took the next starter, and two bonuses on September 3rd showed his side weren't letting up. Miss Lynn took Bristol's second starter of the match, and, again, two bonuses accompanied it, thus suggesting they could get back into the match if they could get a buzzer run going. St John's still seemed to be on top in terms of buzzing though; they took the next two starters, though only one bonus accompanied each. With the lead they had though, it didn't matter, for now.
The music starter was dropped by both sides; the bonuses, on classical pieces that were slated by critic Eduard Hanslick, went to St John's, who, again, only managed one bonus. They still led 130-40 though, and and a good quick buzz from Mr Clegg, increased it. Two bonuses on seas of the Pacific Ocean followed. Mr Saxon provided a good buzz to bring Bristol back into the procedings, but a tough bonus set on embryology added no further points to their tally.
The second picture starter saw Mr Clegg somewhat luckily get away with a noticeable pause after buzzing; the bonuses, on depictions of the beheading of Holofernes, gave them a full house, a lead of 175-50, and they were most likely home and dry. Bristol kept themselves in the game by taking the next starter, and two bonuses followed. A second starter fell Bristol's way, and two bonuses suggested they weren't out of repechage contention yet. A third starter to Bristol, and a full bonus set on anatomy put them just 20 short of the play-offs.
St John's secured their victory with the next starter, and a full bonus set took them through the 200 barrier. They weren't finished there though; two more starters fell their way, and half the bonuses that went with them. A fourth starter in a row went to the Oxford side, and they had now accumulated one of the highest scores of the series so far. Bristol managed one more starter, leaving just ten short, but the gong cut them off during the bonuses. St John's won 255-125.
A pretty decent match between two pretty decent teams. Unlucky Bristol, who have unluckily fallen just short of the play-offs, but well done anyway on a very respectable effort. Very well done to St John's though; one of the better first round performances we've seen so far this series, and the potential for a good run if they get a favourable draw in the next round. We look forward to seeing them then!
Mr Clegg was best buzzer of the night, with six starters, while Miss Lynn was best for Bristol with three. On the bonuses, St John's converted a good 26 out of 39 (with one penalty), and Bristol a decent 11 out of 20.
So, the four repechage teams are: Glasgow (155), Southampton (135), Queen Mary and St Peter's (both 130).
Next week's match: the first play-off. Presumably Glasgow vs Queen Mary or St Peter's.
Only Connect was actually pretty tricky tonight. I'll go into it in more detail later in the week. I'll do my usual first round summary later in the week as well.
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