University Challenge 2017-18: Round 2: Match 3: Warwick vs Ulster

Evening all. It's freezing again in my flat tonight, so once again, the heating is going on early, and probably staying on after it usually turns itself off as well! That's the last time I turn it off when I go visit my parents for the weekend! Amidst all this coldness, we have the small matter of UC to deal with; the third second round match, winners stay on for group stage, runners-up go home.

Warwick had a fairly easy first round victory over York, leading from the off, and eventually coming home 240-80. They were the same four as that occasion:
Flora Jackson, from York, studying English with Creative Writing 
Daniel Arribas, from Madrid, studying Maths 
Captain: Ben Salter, from Wiveliscombe in Somerset, studying Maths 
Charlotte Symons, from the Welsh Borders Area, studying Writing

Ulster were beaten in their first match by Edinburgh, buy just five points 165-160, but survived to the play-offs where they defeated St Anne's of Oxford 175-90. They too were unchanged from before:
Cathal McDaid, from Buncrana in County Donegal, studying English Literature 
Kate Ritchie, from Waringstown in County Armagh, studying Fine Art 
Captain: Ian Jack, from Peterhead, studying Pharmacy 
Matthew Milliken, from Comber in County Down, studying Education

Off we set again then, and Mr Jack, as is customary when his side play, took the first starter, identifying the literary work of Winston Churchill; two bonuses on regions of France were taken, though they incurred the wrath of Robot Wars fans everywhere by not getting Vercingetorix! Mr McDaid was in quickly with 'assassin' for the second starter, and a bonus set proved very much to his side's liking, as they took all three. Ms Jackson opened Warwick's scoring for the night, and the Coventry side took two bonus set on works of thought. Both Mr McDaid and myself had 'plimsoll' for the line on the side of a cargo ship on the next starter, but the bonuses yielded just the one correct answer this time. The first picture round, on coats of arms of German state capitals, went to Ulster, who took just the one bonus again, which took their lead to 75-20.

Ms Jackon was in quickly again for Warwick on the next starter; two bonuses followed, and the other provided a good comedy moment as Mr Salter decided he might as well give an answer, as 'pass' will certainly be wrong. The Warwick captain took the next starter himself, but bonuses on French physics provided them with just five further points. Those points were lost when Mr Salter slipped up on the next starter; Ms Ritchie took the points for Ulster, but no further points came from the bonuses. An unlucky slip-up from Mr Arribas, who provided the original German Ubermensch instead of the English translation Superman; Mr McDaid picked up, but no bonuses on astronomy followed again.

The music round, on classical pieces inspired by the work of ETA Hoffmann, went to Warwick, who took one correct bonus, reducing their arrears to 95-60. The gap increased again when another slip-up occurred, but Ulster could not take possession this time. Ms Jackson was in with Guyana for the next starter though, and bonuses on women born in 1917 provided them with two correct answers. The next starter was dropped, Mr Milliken took the one after, and rock star's autobiographies provided Ulster with two correct answers. Mr Jack took 'REM' for the next starter, before any mention of that band could come out(!), and a timely full bonus set put all the pressure on Warwick going into the final phase.

The second picture starter was dropped, the bonuses, on depictions of St George, went to Warwick, who just the one, which left them trailing 140-90 entering the final straight. Mr Arribas took the next starter, lifting the Midlands side into triple figures, and one bonus was taken with it. And when Ms Jackson took the next starter, and one bonus on Rabbie Burns went with it, they were now just one starter and full bonus away from the lead!

That starter came in the form of a spectacularly quick buzz from Mr Salter; two bonuses put them on level pegging, but they were denied the lead when, torn between two answers for the third, they chose the wrong one! Next starter might just win it; to add to the tension, the next starter was dropped! Ms Jackson was first in on the next, but was wrong; Mr McDaid came in with the right answer, and two bonuses on phobias put Ulster within sight of the group stage. And when Ms Ritchie took the next starter, that was game over. At the gong, Ulster 170-140.

A cracking match, very well played both sides, shame one of you must miss out on the group stage; bravo to both for clapping each other over the credits. Unlucky Warwick, who so very nearly pulled it off after trailing from the off, but nothing to be ashamed of there, thanks very much indeed for playing. Very well done Ulster though, and best of luck in the group stage!

The stats: Ms Jackson was the best buzzer of the night, ending the match with five, while Mr McDaid was Ulster's best with four, his colleagues all getting two each. On the bonuses, Warwick converted 13 out of 27 (with three penalties), while Ulster managed 14 out of 29; similar rates there, suggesting the match was won and lost, narrowly, on the buzzer.

Next week's match: don't know yet, but my guess is U.C.L. will be involved; will tweet anything I find.

Only Connect still on its football sabbatical, so, unless I decide to talk about something else about it and UC in the meantime, back next Monday, same time.