Evening all. Before we get on to tonight's show, a word about last week's: as you're not doubt aware should you read WW and the UC Review blog, one particular member of last week's winning team was on the end of some rather vulgar commentary on Twitter. I won't dare repeat any of it here, but suffice to say, comments like them are the reason why many young and intelligent individuals, especially women, are put off trying for the show. I've said this before, and I may well go into more detail again at some point in the near future. Anyway, on with tonight: Cambridge vs Oxford for the final place in the group stage.
Peterhouse Cambridge led Queens' of Cambridge throughout their first match, though a worrying late slump saw their lead whittled down to just ten points at the gong, 160-150. Hoping to repeat that or better it tonight were the unchanged foursome of:
Ephraim Jacob Jacobus Levinson, from North London, studying English
Oliver Sweetenham, from Hinksey in Oxfordshire, studying English Literature
Captain: Natasha Voake, from New York, studying Linguistics
Xiao Lin, from Newcastle and Belfast, studying Chemical Engineering
Corpus Christi College Oxford also narrowly defeated a Cambridge college in their first match, winning a good match against Jesus College 200-175. Also no doubt hoping for more of the same or better were the also unchanged quartet of:
Tom Fleet, from Pendoggett in Cornwall, studying English
Emma Johnson, from North London, studying Medicine
Captain: Nikhil Venkatesh, from Derby, studying PPE
Adam Wright, from Winnersh in Berkshire, studying Physics
Off we set again then, and Mr Venkatesh, who Dave Clark suspects may be a Junior Mastermind alumnus, opened the scoring for the night, and his side set their ambitions straight as they took all three bonuses. Indeed, the Oxonians took the second and third starters too, and missed just one bonus from the six; one bonus from a set on WW2 propaganda Mr Venkatesh knew thanks to Dad's Army! (Good man!) Peterhouse then opened their account thanks to Mr Lin, and showed they were more than up for it too with two bonuses on the French Revolution. The first picture round, on word clouds of Shakespeare title characters, went to Peterhouse, who took two again, unluckily offering Juliet instead of Romeo for the other, which cut the gap to 70-40.
Miss Johnson stopped the Cambridge revival in its tracks by taking the next starter, and a third full bonus set, on scientific units, reestablished a clear authority. But Peterhouse weren't to be outdone, and a full bonus set of their own put them right back in the hunt. And when Miss Voake took the next starter, and her side took two bonuses, they were just ten behind. A Corpus Christi slip-up reduced it to just five, but Peterhouse had to pass up their chance to take the lead. Another dropped starter later, Mr Venkatesh made amends for his error; just one bonus followed, had now quadrupled.
The music starter was dropped; the bonuses, on classical pieces inspired by rail travel, went to Corpus Christi, who only took one bonus, but it was enough to up the gap to 120-85. It decreased when Mr Sweetenham took the next starter; one bonus was enough to put his side into three figures. A second starter in a row went to Mr Sweetenham, and two bonuses put them on level pegging, 120 points a piece. A slip-up then gave Corpus Christi a five point lead, which became a thirty point one when Mr Wright took the starter and all three bonuses on German prepositions followed.
The second picture round, on works by artists who taught at the Working Men's club, went to Corpus Christi, who took just one bonus, which put their lead at 160-115. A third starter in a row went to the Oxford side, but no bonuses were converted for the first time of the night. Mr Levinson kept his side in the game with a good quick buzz on the next starter, and two bonuses on marine zoology accompanied.
An unlucky slip-up reduced Corpus Christi's score by five, but Peterhouse couldn't pick up. Mr Sweetenham did take a very quick buzz on the next starter though, and just one bonus on Burns Night supper (typical English not knowing much about that!) reduced their deficit to just fifteen. With the match right in the balance, the next correct starter would be crucial. Well, the next starter was dropped. And the next. Miss Johnson broke the rot by taking the next, and that was game over. No time for any more answers; at the gong, Corpus Christi won 175-150.
A good close match between two good evenly matched teams. Unlucky Peterhouse, but no shame in that performance at all, and thanks very much indeed for playing this series. Well done Corpus Christi though; another good win over strong opponents, and good luck in the group phase!
Mr Sweetenham was the best buzzer of the night, taking five starters for Peterhouse, while Miss Johnson and Mr Venkatesh were joint best for Corpus Christi with three each. On the bonuses, Peterhouse converted a decent 15 out of 24 (with one penalty), while Corpus Christi managed an also good 17 out of 27 (with two penalties), and, for the first time this year, all eight players answered at least one starter correctly.
Next week: the group stage kicks off! Smart money is on Wolfson vs Balliol to be the first match, followed by Bristol vs Corpus Christi the week after, but lets play it by ear and see who shows up.
As for Only Connect, I have decided, after last night, to move my reviews back to Tuesday night, so Friday's match will be reviewing next Tuesday.
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