Evening all. Another second round match, and one that presented a big dilemma for me: two teams, both with blog readers among them, one of whom follows me on Twitter. Why oh why did these two have to meet in the knockout round? My opposition to the QFs being the group phase is still the same as it has been since the discussion we had this time last year, so I need not go on again here.
Southampton lost their first match to St Catharine's College Cambridge 165-135, but recovered with a comfortable 235-120 win over Queen Mary London in the play-off, notable for being the final match before OC's controversial change of time. They were still the same four as before:
Will Cable, from Swindon, studying History
Sarah Stock, from Cardiff, studying Chemistry
Captain: Tricia Goggin, from New Ross in Ireland, studying Biomedical Engineering
Roland Sadler, from London, studying Biology
Liverpool won their first match comfortably, beating St Peter's College Oxford 205-130 back in July, in a match notable for being shunted back half an hour due to the golf overrunning (and thus annoying anyone who had set the match to be recorded!). They too were the same four as before:
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
Off we set again then, and Mr Sadler picked up where he left off by taking the first starter for Southampton; a full set of bonuses followed, a sure sign of intent. A second starter to the Solent team followed, and two bonuses on types of penguin followed. Mr Wainwright took Liverpool's first starter, and their second, with just two of the six bonuses coming with it. The first picture round was unluckily narrowly missed by both sides; the bonuses, on Indian premier league cricket teams, went to Liverpool, who didn't take any bonuses, and thus, despite having taken one starter more than their opponents, trailed 45-40.
The Merseysiders took the lead with the next starter, however, and a full set of bonuses on Central Asia showed a big improvement. Southampton fought back instantly, however, with two bonuses leveling the score. Blog reader Jack Bennett took his first starter of the match, and another full set of bonuses suggested his side had hit their stride now. But Southampton bit back again, with blog reader and Twitterer Tricia Goggin taking the next starter, and one bonus followed. Good match so far.
The music round, on trios of bands and the record labels they signed to, went to Southampton, who only managed one of the bonuses, but had snuck back into the lead 95-90. Liverpool immediately retook it with the next starter, and took one bonus on poetry. Miss Goggin fought back immediately for Southampton again, keeping the match in check. A very good quick buzz by Mr Bennett gave Liverpool the lead back again, and two bonuses gave them a slightly better lead. Still anyone's game.
The second picture starter was dropped; the bonuses, on authors who wrote in English when it wasn't their first language, went to Liverpool, who took one and upped their lead to 140-110. It was around this time in their first game that they hit a late run and began to pull away. And when Mr Wainwright took the next starter, and a full set of bonuses on film followed, you began to think that could be happening again. Indeed, another starter and one bonus gave them a potentially match winning lead.
And when Mr Wainwaight took the next starter, they may have just put things out of reach, even though all the bonuses were missed. But Southampton weren't going to give up, as Miss Goggin took the next starter, and two bonuses on caves followed. Another starter went to Southampton, but no bonuses followed, though they were unlucky to miss one. The final starter went to Southampton, one bonus followed, and that was that. At the gong, Liverpool won 190-155.
Another good close match between two good teams. Unlucky Southampton, but three very respectable performances and nothing to be ashamed of, so well done and thank you very much for playing. Well done to Liverpool though; another good performance against strong opposition, and best of luck in the QFs!
Mr Wainwright was the best buzzer of the night, with six starters, while Miss Goggin was best for Southampton with four. On the bonuses, Southampton converted 13 out of 26, while Liverpool managed 16 out of 33, and there were no penalties all night.
Next week's match: don't know, but will keep an eye on Twitter.
Only Connect carried on with the penultimate group phase match tonight; I'll go into it later in the week, as well as carrying on my Deal retrospective.
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