Evening all. So, we've arrived at the interminable QF process. We begin the phase with a rematch of a QF from 2010-11, and two teams, one of whom started the process as favourites to progress, the other who also have a good chance of progression provided they get the right teams at the right time.
York defeated Manchester (the Team Everyone Wants to Beat) in the first round, and Christ's College Cambridge in the second, both times winning by large margins against decent opponents. They were still the same four as before:
Barto Joly de Lotbiniere, from London, studying History
Sam Smith, from Guernsey, studying Chemistry
Captain: David Landon Cole, from Yeovil, studying Politics
Joseph McLoughlin, from Oldham, studying Chemistry
Peterhouse Cambridge defeated Glasgow in a close first round match, and St George's London in a more one-sided second, impressing on the buzzer in both their matches and rather relying on it to win. They too were unchanged from hitherto:
Thomas Langley, from Newcastle, studying History
Oscar Powell, from York, studying Geological Sciences
Captain: Hannah Woods, from Manchester, studying History
Julian Sutcliffe, from Reading, studying History
Off we set again then, and York hit the ground first, with Mr Joly de Lotbiniere winning the race to the buzzer, and all three bonuses on museums followed, a sure sign of intent. A second starter in a row went to Mr Joly de Lotbiniere, but just the one bonus followed this time. Another starter and bonus went York's way, before Peterhouse finally opened their account thanks to Mr Langley, and they too took all three bonuses. The first picture round, on musical staves depicting intervals, went to York, after the starter was dropped, and they took all three bonuses, giving them a lead of 80-25.
Mr Powell, who I have to thank for confirming my prediction about this week's fixture on Twitter, took the next starter, and one bonus followed. Mr Sutcliffe waited his moment on the next starter, asking for a US president, identifying William Taft after hearing he later became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. No bonuses followed though. Another couple of starters to Peterhouse, accompanied by a slip-up from York, and the scores were level, though Paxo was awfully harsh to mock Miss Woods' apologetic 'we don't know' on the bonuses! Another unlucky miss from York allowed Peterhouse to take the lead, and all three bonuses (on Mr Powell's least favourite subject, biochemistry!) gave them some breathing space.
The music round, on pieces conducted by Mr Leopold Stokowski, went to York, who took two bonuses, but still trailed 100-95. Peterhouse moved further ahead though thanks to Mr Powell, and all three bonuses followed again. Another starter went to Peterhouse, plus two bonuses, which gave them a fifty point lead going into the final straight.
The second picture round, on portraits of Roman Catholic cardinals, went to York, who swept the board clean, and thus cut the gap to 145-120. Peterhouse weren't going to let their lead slip, though, Mr Powell timely intervening again, though just one bonus on AONBs followed. Another starter went to Peterhouse, and the side took one bonus by using the old trick of saying the same thing three times and it being right on the final one!
But York weren't going to give up, and a very good buzz from Mr Smith took them back into the game. But no bonuses accompanied it, and Mr Cole then fell victim to one of those borderline interruptions. It didn't phase them though, as Mr McLoughlin pounced on an amusing error from Miss Woods, and the side quickly gobbled up the bonuses. Another starter to York, one bonus, and the gap was down to just ten. Neither side took the next starter, Mr Sutcliffe took the next, and that was the gong! Peterhouse won, 185-165.
A real cracker of a match between two excellent teams, and thankfully that contentious penalty didn't affect the outcome. Unlucky York, but we shall see you again of course, and best of luck to you in your eliminator match. Well done Peterhouse, though, on another good showing, and very best of luck in your qualifier match!
That final starter made Mr Sutcliffe the best buzzer of the night, with four; Messrs Joly de Lotbiniere and McLoughlin were joint best for York with three each. On the bonuses, York converted a very good 17 out of 27 (with two unlucky penalties), while Peterhouse managed a decent 15 out of 30, and all eight players ended the match with at least one starter to their name, which is always good to see.
Next week's match: unconfirmed, but I would imagine St Catharine's vs St John's
Only Connect reached its eleventh grand final tonight, with the pleasant bonus of a string quartet providing the between-round music riffs. I'll get on to that tomorrow night. I hope.
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