University Challenge 2017-18: Round 1: Match 14: Merton vs King's

Evening all. Hope you all made it at the earlier time for tonight's show. So, here we are at the final match of what's been a rather interesting first round that started a bit unbalanced with some rather one sided matches, but which has caught fire in recent weeks with some good high scoring matches. So, for tonight's teams, a score of 140 or more will guarantee a return win or lose.

Merton College Oxford is one of the university's oldest, founded by Walter de Merton in 1264. Alumni include the poet TS Eliot, library founder Sir Thomas Bodley and the athlete Roger Bannister. It won the series in 1980, beating Stephen Fry's Queens' College Cambridge team to the title; its last foray was a second round exit in 2011-12. This year's foursome were:
Edward Thomas, from Oxford, studying Ancient and Modern History
Alexander Peplow, from Amersham in Buckinghamshire, studying Medieval Studies
Captain: Leonie Woodland, from Cambridge, studying Physics
Akira Wiberg, from Sweden and Japan, studying Molecular and Cellular Medicine

King's College London was founded by George IV in 1828 as an alternative to UCL. Alumni include the poets Keats, the archbishop Desmond Tutu and the comedy performer Rory Bremner. For a reasonably high profile institution, it has only sent two teams to UC in the Paxo era, in 1997-98 and 2009-10, both of whom exited in the second round. This year's quartet were:
Marta Varela, from Lisbon, studying Academic Practice
Richard Senior, from Lincolnshire, studying 18th Century Studies
Captain: Caroline Spearing, from London, studying 17th Century Latin Poetry
Lochlan Pryer, from the Wirral, studying Geography

Off we set again then, and Merton got off the mark first with Mr Thomas recognising a bio of Fidel Castro. The side put their feet firmly down by taking a full set of bonuses on religion. Mr Wiberg took a second starter for the Oxonians, but bonuses on the World Cup proved less to their liking, taking just the one. (I got one of the ones they didn't, Senegal) A third bonus set on the names of diseases proved a bit more fruitful, with just the one bonus going Merton's way again. The first picture round, on Shakespearean sonnets with words missing, went to King's, who took two of their first bonus set, reducing their arrears to 60-20.

Mr Peplow reasserted Merton's authority on the match, and another two bonuses added to their score. Miss Woodland then made sure all four Mertonians had a starter to their name, and another two bonuses on historians took them into triple figures. It was then Mr Wiberg's turn, and this time Merton took a full set of bonuses on 19th century magazines. Another starter from Miss Woodland, one bonus on astronomy, and Merton had enough points to come back win or lose.

The music starter, Edwin Starr's classic 'War', was missed by both sides (offers of T-Rex and Tom Jones did NOT go down well on the Twittersphere!); the bonuses, on songs banned during the Iraq war, went to King's, who took all three, which cut the gap to 140-45. A second starter in a row went the Londoners way, as did a second full set of bonuses, suggesting they still had plenty more to offer. Back came Merton with Mr Wiberg doing the honours, and political terms provided them with two correct bonuses. Another starter and pair of bonuses restored the 100+ lead Merton had lost only briefly. Ms Spearing did exactly what you must do in this situation, and go for it; alas, all that came for it was a penalty. Mr Peplow did the honours, bonuses on cavalier poetry gave them just the one correct answer this time.

The second picture round, on figures noted for spying, went to Merton, who took just the one bonus, unluckily mistaking Philby for Blunt (I knew it wasn't him, didn't know who it was though), which took their lead to 210-65. A very prompt buzz from Miss Woodland provided them with two correct answers. (My Dad got the last one via the old trick of saying the same answer three times!) Bonuses on income tax provided the Oxford side with a full house and they remained on track for the highest score of the series thus far.

Mr Peplow edged them closer with the next starter, two bonuses putting them one starter away from it. Back came King's though, with Ms Varela doing the honours, but despite a full bonus set on film taglines, it was probably a bit late to pull off a late sprint for the play-offs. Ms Spearing did take a second starter in a row for the Londoners, and two bonuses deservedly took them into triple figures. (Again, my Dad got the last one by saying the same thing thrice!) That was as far as they could get though, Miss Woodburn taking the final starter. At the gong, Merton won 285-110.

Another high quality high scoring match to end the round. Unlucky King's, who just got outplayed on the buzzer, and most definitely would've beaten another team, but a very good effort, and thanks very much for playing. Very well done Merton though, a storming first performance against strong opponents, and one that suggests they may be able to outbuzz anyone; definitely a team to watch, very best of luck in the next round!

The stats: Miss Woodland ended the night's best buzzer, with five starters, while Ms Varela was best for King's with three. On the bonuses, Merton a decent converted 27 out of 43, while King's managed a very good 13 out of 15 (with the night's one penalty); good rates those, well played both sides!

Next week's match: the first play-off! Don't know for sure, but I am informed it is Ulster vs St Anne's in two weeks' time, so my guess in St Hugh's vs U.C.L..

I'll be back tomorrow with my review of Friday's Only Connect, my reviews of which will be returning to Tuesdays now that Robot Wars has returned.