OK, here we go with the final match of the OC group phase. Playing for the final place in the knockout phase were the Athenians, blog reader Jon Stitcher, Amber Marshall and Ben Holmes, who defeated the Road Trippers but lost to the Scientists, and the Bookworms, Katy Bateman, Dave Knapp and Tristram 'viking o'neill' Cole, who lost to the Wayfarers but defeated the Headliners.
Round 1. The Bookworms kicked the match off with Water: 'The Cradle Will Rock', then 'The Pilgrim's Progress', then 'The New Statesman' and finally 'The Mr. Men'. They didn't know it, but their opponents did: their names all correspond to their characteristics. For their own first question, the Athenians chose Twisted Flax, and got the picture set: we saw a helter skelter, then a cheese grater, then a walkie talkie and finally a gherkin. They offered 'nicknames of London buildings', which was correct for a point. The Bookworms chose Eye of Horus next: 'Uma Therman: Mother', then 'Steve Martin: Parent', then 'Ellar Coltrane: Boy', and finally 'Noel Clarke: Kidult'. They offered 'films with 'hood' on the end and the stars of them'; correct for a point. The Athenians chose Two Reeds next: 'Henry Hudson', then 'Ambrose Bierce', then 'Jimmy Hoffa'; at this point, they offered 'people who disappeared', and were correct for two points. The Bookworms chose Lion next: 'Chair of Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution', then 'Chancellor of City University London', then 'Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City', and finally 'First Lord of the Treasury'. They offered 'titles by which they are not usually known', which was correct for a point. (The First Lord of the Treasury is also the Prime Minister) Left with Horned Viper, the Athenians got the music question; only recognised the final track, which was Beyonce's 'Crazy in Love'. They guessed 'crazy', and were right for a point! So, at the end of the first round, the Athenians led 5-2.
Round 2, What Comes Fourth? The Bookworms kicked the round off with Two Reeds: '11 + 12 + 20 = 6', then '3 + 7 + 8 = 5', and then '4 + 5 + 9 = 4'. They didn't get it, their opponents did: '1 + 2 + 6 = 3' completes the set. They are the lowest three numbers that have the '=' amount of letters in their name, if that makes sense. For their own question, the Athenians chose Water: 'Punjabi', then 'Indo-Aryan', and then 'Indo-Iranian'; they offered 'Indo-European', and were correct for two points. They are the language family trees in order of size. The Bookworms chose Twistexd Flax next: '1954: Hungary', then '1974: The Netherlands', and then '1990: Argentina'; they offered '2014: Argentina', which were correct for a point. They are the teams that lost to Germany/West Germany when they won the World Cup. The Athenians chose Lion next: 'Zaireeka', then 'Sandinista!', and then 'Songs in the Key of Life'; they offered '19' by Adele, which was acceptable. They are albums with 4, 3, 2 and 1 disc(s). For their final choice, the Bookworms chose Eye of Horus: '4: Trianon (Hungary), then '3: Neuilly (Bulgaria), and then '2: Saint Germain (Austria)'; they offered '1: Versailles (Germany)', and were correct for two points. They are the WWI peace treaties in reverse order of signing, and the nations they were with. Left with Horned Viper again, the Athenians got the picture set, and saw three trees in their pictures, a birch, then an oak, and then a pine. They didn't get it, partly due to misidentifying the second picture, and nor did their opponents. They are the most common British trees, and the spruce completes the set. At the end of the second round, the Athenians led 10-6.
On to the Walls once again then. The Athenians went first, and chose the Lion wall. They quickly unraveled the first two sets: 'Taff', 'Dee', 'Wye' and 'Usk' are Welsh rivers, while 'Eye', 'Pop', 'Deed' and 'Level' are palindromes. They spent a great deal of time examining the remaining clues, and eventually had them resolved: 'Sea', 'Poppy', 'Shuttle' and 'Pea' can all precede 'cock', while 'Shag', 'Swift', 'Twite' and 'Jay' are British birds. A well worked out completed wall, so a full ten points.
The Bookworms were left with the Water wall. They too quickly got their first set: 'Boyle', 'Henry', 'Avogadro' and 'Gay-Lussac' are scientists who gave their names to gas laws in physics. After unsuccessfully playing with the other clues for a while, they worked out a second set: 'Dettori', 'Knuckles', 'Vaughan' and 'Avalon' are famous Frankies. The final groups soon followed suite: 'Shangri-La', 'Atlantis', 'Asgard' and 'Shambhala' are mythical places, while 'Compact', 'Eldorado', 'Triangle' and 'Crossroads' are defunct British soap operas. Another well resolved full wall, so ten points there as well, which meant the Athenians led 20-16 going into the final round.
So, once again in, what has been, a fine series of OC, Missing Vowels would decide the match. 'Black and white things' went to the Bookworms 4-(-1), giving them the lead. 'Song titles advanced by one season', such as 'SUMMERTIME FOR HITLER', went to the Bookworms 3-0. 'Sisters' went to the Athenians 2-(-1), and that was the end of the match. The Bookworms had, again, come from behind to sneak through 22-21!
Another fine half hour of quizzing, and a very close one too. Unlucky Athenians, but you've played very well and have been unjustly unlucky twice, so well done on a good run. Well done to the Bookworms though; another brave effort, and we'll see you again in the QFs!
Next week's match: the Scientists vs the String Section in the first knockout match.
And, yes, Series 1 will eventually be sorted. Maybe after this series is over. We'll see. I'll be back tomorrow to carry on my Deal retrospective.
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