Evening all. So, the final second round match of the series tonight. Whoever won would take the final coveted place in the QFs, and, presumably, will play St Catharine's in two weeks' time, with York vs Peterhouse next week. Both won through comfortably against decent opponents who just missed out on the repechage.
St John's College Oxford won the final first round match, beating Bristol 255-125 with one of the highest scores of the round, doing well on the buzzer and the bonuses. They were the same four as before:
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
Queen's University Belfast defeated Sussex 195-125 in their first match on the August bank holiday (except in Scotland), coming good on the buzzer late on and doing OK on the bonuses. They too were unchanged from before:
Alistair Mallon, from Belfast, studying Irish Studies
Jethro Waldron, from Ripley in Derbyshire, studying Irish Literature
Captain: Jack Ruddy, from Dorset, studying History
Charlie Shimmins, from the Isle of Man, studying International Politics and Conflict Studies
Off we set again then, and an unlucky slip-up from Queen's allowed St John's to take the first starter and all three bonuses on British art. Queen's made no mistake on the second starter, but just one bonus on apps. Another starter went to the Northern Irelanders, but no bonuses followed this time. The first picture round, on migration routes across the Roman Empire, went to Queen's, who took two bonuses, and eked into a 40-25 lead.
St John's had the chance to retake the lead when Mr Clegg took the next starter, but had to let it pass as no bonuses followed. They did go back in front by taking the next starter, but, again, no bonuses followed, thus suggesting this would be a low scoring night. The Oxonians finally managed to take two bonuses on cities on the Rhone river, which accompanied their next starter.
The music round, on pop acts performing traditional songs, went to St John's, who took one bonus (and outraged Twitter by mistaking Nirvana for Bon Jovi!), which increased their lead to 80-40. Another starter went to the Oxford side, but just one bonus followed from a confusing bonus set on authors whose surnames contain other words. A very good piece of out-working from Mr Harries added to his side's score, and was enough to take them into triple figures. Another starter went to St John's, all three bonuses followed, giving them a 95 point lead, and Paxo felt the need to offer Queen's assurance that there was still time to recover.
The second picture round, on paintings purchased from Mr John Julius Angerstein for the Nattional Gallery, went to St John's, who took two bonuses, and now led 155-40. Queen's finally managed to break back into the match thanks to Mr Waldron, and two bonuses on first names followed. A second starter in a row was taken by Mr Waldron, but just one bonus followed this time. Mr Sowood steadied the St John's ship by taking the next starter, and two bonuses gave them a 95 point lead again, and surely saw them safe.
Or maybe not, as Mr Clegg slipped up, though Queen's couldn't pick up. They did take another starter, but got nothing from a bonus set on animal histology. St John's didn't do any better on a set on Russian rivers, and then lost another five through another slip-up; Queen's picked it up this time, and one bonus deservedly took them into triple figures. The final starter went to St John's, but there was no time for any bonuses. At the gong, St John's won 180-100.
A slow scoring match, with both sides struggling with the bonuses throughout. Unlucky Queen's, who were simply outplayed on the buzzer in the middle of the match, but nothing to be ashamed of, so well done them and thanks for playing. Well done to St John's though; another respectable effort, though not as imperious as before and I feel they'll need to up the ante in the QFs; best of luck to them for then!
Messrs Clegg and Waldron were joint best buzzer of the night, with six each for their respective teams (the difference being Mr Clegg's colleagues managed six between them, Mr Waldron's just one). On the bonuses, St John's converted 14 out of 33 (with two penalties), while Queen's managed 7 out of 21 (with one penalty); both low-ish rates, but by no means bad.
Next week's match: the first quarter-final! As I said above, York vs Peterhouse is my best guess, then St Catharine's vs St John's the week after.
Only Connect reached it's second semi-final tonight, and if you thought last week's was tense... well, I'll say no more until I watch it back tomorrow.
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