University Challenge 2017-18: Round 2: Match 4: U.C.L. vs Edinburgh

Evening all. You'll be pleased to know I finally seem to have got my heating to acceptable settings, so, for the first time in a few weeks, I am doing this review in a comfortable heat. And with what sounds like a cracking EastEnders to catch up on later on, as things finally get somewhere after nearly a year of slowness, I need to get a move on with tonight's show, as two more teams, both of whom frankly deserve a place in the group stage, fight it out for one. Runners-up highly unfortunately go home.

U.C.L. were narrowly defeated by Trinity of Oxford in their first match 160-145, but survived to the play-offs, where they pulled off a highly impressive demolition of the fancied St Hugh's of Oxford side 315-45, the highest score for a couple of series. Hoping for more of the same were the unchanged foursome of:
Tom Allinson, from Whitchurch in Hampshire, studying History
Charlie Dowell, from Chelmsford, studying Neuroscience
Captain: Robert Gray, from Kingston-upon-Thames, studying Cell Biology
Omar Raii, from Kabul, studying Maths

Edinburgh last graced us with their presence back in the first match of the series, where they beat out our friends Ulster 165-160, who also survived to the play-offs and are now in the group stage, so no mean feat. Hoping to join them and avoid becoming the first team in six series to go less far in the contest than the team they beat in the first round were the also unchanged line-up of:
John Heaton-Armstrong, from Edinburgh, studying Russian and History
Stanley Wang, from Edinburgh, studying Speech and Language Processing
Captain: Innis Carson, from Glasgow, studying Chemistry
Philippa Stone, from Oxford, studying Biology

Off we set again then, and Mr Wang opened the scoring for the night by spotting 'red' to be the colour linking, among others, supporters of Garibaldi; the Scots side took one bonus, but were unlucky to miss another. (I got the other other) Mr Dowell opened U.C.L.'s account for the night, and they promptly took the lead with two bonuses on the song Waltzing Matilda, familiar to me only through the commentary of Jonathan Pearce! Mr Raii, and myself, identified the people listed in the next starter as Agatha Christie murder victims, but just the one bonus followed this time. Ms Stone was next in for Edinburgh, and bonuses on mammals gave them one bonus to put them five behind. The first picture round, on the locations of museums, went to U.C.L., who were unable to take any bonuses, which nonetheless put them ahead 45-30.

Mr Carson took, what looked like, an educated guess on the next starter, and his side were rewarded with a bonus set on years with at least three identical digits, such as 1999, of which they took two. A good quick buzz from Mr Dowell on a starter that was apparently also asked on the Xmas UC repeat that was on BBC4 just before tonight's match(!) gave U.C.L. back the lead, and they took a full set of bonuses on regions of India. Mr Heaton-Armstrong made sure all four Edinburgh players had a starter to their name, and two bonuses on physics gave them the lead again. A slip-up from their opponents the Scots side a bonus set on Eleanor Roosevelt, which they promptly took all three of.

The music round, on power ballads, went to U.C.L., who took two of the bonuses which reduced their arrears to 95-85. Good match so far, and it took another twist as Mr Allinson gave the next correct answer to a starter, thus making sure all eight players had a starter under their collective belts, and the Londoners retook the lead with a full bonus set on countries hidden within other words, such as the frankly brilliant 'pyROMANIAc'! Hope the OC question setters were taking notes! Mr Carson, who unusually has been on that show before UC (it's usually the other way around), took a good starter asking which is the only UK regnal name to also be that of an SI unit (Henry), and a full bonus set of their own gave them the lead again. The Edinburgh captain then took another starter, and his side now had a bit of breathing room as another full bonus set came with it.

The second picture round, on historical figures and the currencies they appear on, went to U.C.L., who took two bonuses, unluckily missing the third, which cut the gap to 140-130, setting up another grandstand finish. This remained firmly on as Mr Gray took the next starter, and bonuses on humanist philosopher saw his side pull off the old trick of giving the same answer, Erasmus, to all three bonuses and getting it right on the last one!

That put them level pegging again, and Mr Raii then gave them the lead with the next correctly answered starter; the bonuses would be crucial in such a close match, and they took two. The next starter was dropped just to add to the tension; Mr Heaton-Armstrong took the next starter, but the Scots side really needed the bonuses. They took just one, but it mattered not, as Ms Stone took the final starter just in time to sneak them in front at the gong. Edinburgh won a good close match 170-165!

Another thrilling match, well played in great spirits by both sides. Unlucky U.C.L., just pipped at the post, but nothing to be ashamed of at all, a fine series of performances, thanks very much for giving us them. Well done Edinburgh though, another good performance against, and close win over, good opponents, and very best of luck in the group stage!

The stats: Messrs Dowell, Raii and Carson ended the night joint best buzzers with three each. On the bonuses, U.C.L. converted 16 out of 27 (with one penalty), while Edinburgh managed 16 out of 24, so it really was fine margins that decided the match. Well played both sides though, frankly a travesty that this is a second round match and one of these teams is out for good.

No show next week as Nigella's Christmas special requires the timeslot, so we're, hopefully, back in two weeks, though whether with a regular show or the first of the Christmas specials, I don't know yet. So if this is indeed the last regular UC of the year, thank you and good night!

Only Connect back from it's sabbatical on Friday, and will definitely finish it's second round before Christmas; back on Sunday with Friday's match.