Evening all. Apologies once again that I didn't get around to covering OC last week, but I'm happy to report that I will definitely be catching up with my backlog this week, tomorrow and Wednesday/Thursday nights. But on with more important matters: the second UC SF qualifier, tonight's winners join Emmanuel in the penultimate round, the runners-up get a second go at making it, presumably against Warwick in two weeks' time. (IIRC, Mr Hutchings has confirmed this on Twitter)
Edinburgh have very quietly racked up a very good series of performances to get here, winning a good close first round match against Durham, sneaking past Open on a tie-breaker in the second round, and then bulldozing Birmingham late on to win 220-125 in their preliminary. They were the same four as those times:
Luke Dale, from York, studying Late Antique, Islamic and Byzantine Studies
Euan Smith, from Aberdeen, studying Classics
Captain: Joe Boyle, from Brighton, studying Ecological and Environmental Science
Emily Goddard, from Wilmslow in Cheshire, studying Chemistry
Wolfson College Cambridge also have a tie-breaker win under their belts, against SOAS in the first round, before wins over Jesus of Cambridge and Balliol of Oxford, the latter 165-135, put them through to here tonight. They too were unchanged from those occasions:
Justin Yang, from Vancouver, studying Public Health and Primary Care
Ben Chaudhri, from Cockermouth in Cumbria, studying Natural Sciences
Captain: Eric Monkman, from Oakville, Canada, studying Economics
Paul Cosgrove, from Cookstown in Northern Ireland, studying Nuclear Engineering
Off we set again then, and a slip-up from Wolfson handed Edinburgh possession straight away; the Scots side took two bonuses on Scottish philosophers, one of which they didn't even wait to be finished! (Clearly learning from Open's mistakes in their second match) Mr Monkman, Twitter's favourite, made up for his mistake by taking his side off the mark, but they took just one bonus on former French overseas territories. The Cambridge side then took the lead with another starter and single bonus, but Mr Boyle swiftly reclaimed it for Edinburgh, and a full bonus set restored their solid advantage. The first picture round, on states of India and their primary languages, went to Wolfson, who took two bonuses this time, putting the teams level, 45-each.
Mr Smith, Edinburgh's top buzzer in the earlier rounds, took his second starter of the night to give his side back the lead. No bonuses followed, but Miss Goddard moved them further ahead, and a full bonus set on the Santa Croce church accompanied. Miss Goddard then took a second starter in a row, an old-fashioned UC style question asking for five three letter words with the same two consonants. Two bonuses on astronomy followed, taking them into triple figures, as did a fourth Edinburgh starter in a row, from Mr Smith. A tricky bonus set on European countries and their land masses gave them an impressive full house.
The music round, on classical dances of death, went to Wolfson, who missed all the bonuses, leaving them trailing 125-55. The Cambridge side now had their feet back in the door though, as Mr Chaudhri, eventually, took the next starter (much to Paxo's relief, as he thought it easy!); the work of Susan Sontag gave them one correct bonus. Mr Monkman came in promptly on the next starter, and was correct this time; two bonuses on human anatomy meant they had now halved their music round deficit. Mr Boyle then increased it though by identifying the jaguar; films that includes names of food grains was a nice UC style bonus set, of which Edinburgh took two. Mr Smith then took what looked like an educated guess on the next starter, and was correct; the mention of Lake Titicaca in the bonuses produced some light giggling of which Paxo was not impressed by! Two were taken.
The second picture round, on scientists who give their names to elements, went to Wolfson, who guzzled down the bonuses, reducing the gap to 160-115. Mr Chaudhri didn't seem certain when he came in quickly on the next starter, but he was right. Needing to get a move on, Wolfson took one bonus, before Mr Monkman came in with another prompt correct buzz. They too took to interrupting the bonuses as they took two to reduce the gap to just 10 points.
Anyone's game going into the final minutes. Neither side knew the precise month Edward VIII abdicated on the next starter, before Mr Chaudhri put Wolfson on level pegging. Just one bonus was taken, but it was enough to give them a narrow lead. Mr Smith quickly snatched it back on the next starter though, and a much needed full bonus set on English counties put them within one starter of victory. Mr Monkman zigged with the clarinet, Mr Smith zagged with the flute, and that was game over. A dropped bonus set proved immaterial, as did Mr Monkman getting in a muddle on the final starter and dropping five. At the gong, Edinburgh won 195-160.
Another excellent high scoring match as this most unpredictable series takes another twist. Unlucky Wolfson, who did well to recover from that half-time deficit, and who are still certainly very much in the running for the semis, so good luck to them in their play-off. Very well done Edinburgh though; yet another confident effort against good opponents, and very best of luck in the semis!
Mr Smith was, just, the best buzzer of the night, with six starters to Mr Monkman's five, both men taking their respective series totals to 26. On the bonuses, Edinburgh converted a decent 19 out of 30, while Wolfson managed 14 out of 30 (with two penalties); that's where the match was won then. But well played both sides, another fine match.
Next week's match: Birmingham vs Balliol, followed, I'm guessing, by Warwick vs Wolfson the week after.
Tune back in tomorrow and Wednesday/Thursday night as I (try to) catch up with Only Connect; see yous then.
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