University Challenge 2017-18: Round 2: Match 8: Oxford Brookes vs Merton

Evening all. So, the final second round match tonight, and the final place in the ground stage up for grabs. So, so far, Cambridge have three teams through to the QFs, all of them very decent outfits. Oxford have none through yet, but with two playing tonight, would be guaranteed one, but would it be a college team or a university team?

Oxford Brookes won a low scoring first round match over the Courtauld Institute, leading from the off and comfortably ahead at the gong 185-75. Hoping for similar fortune tonight were the unchanged line-up of:
Inigo Purcell, from Chiswick, studying English
Pat O'Shea, from Oxford, studying Film
Captain: Thomas De Bock, from Liege, studying Motorsport Engineering
Emma-Ben Lewis, from Woodford Green, studying Psychology

Merton College Oxford ran up the highest first round score, beating a promising King's College London side 285-110, also leading throughout. Also hoping for a similar outcome tonight were the also unchanged foursome of:
Edward Thomas, from Kent, studying Ancient and Modern History 
Alex 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

Off we set again then, and Mr Peplow opened the night's scoring with 'Egypt'; his side carried on where they left off taking a full bonus set. An almost carbon copy followed, Mr Peplow taking the starter and all the bonuses, on classical music, going with it. Already looking on top form, Merton's score rose as Ms Woodland took the third starter, and only a slight chink was shown with two bonuses on protected animals. Mr Peplow was back on the next starter, and another bonuses went with it. The first picture round, on fictional family trees, allowed Oxford Brookes to set off the mark, and they took two of the bonuses, unlucky not to get the other; Merton still led 90-20.

The relentless Mr Peplow resumed regular service for Merton, bringing up his side's century already, and a further ten points came from the bonuses. Mr De Bock, Oxford Brookes' leading buzzer first time around, had a good quick buzz on the next starter, but just the one bonus came with it. Neither side could provide two correct US states for the next starter, and Oxford Brookes lost five as well. Back came Mr Peplow once more, and a full bonus set on overseas territories established a 100+ lead. It didn't last long though, as Ms O'Shea took the next starter, and her side took two bonuses.

The music round, on 'phantoms of the opera', or phantoms in opera to be more accurate, very quickly went to Merton, who took two of the bonuses, taking their lead to 155-50. Mr De Bock fought back though by identifying the station from where Tim Peake left for space; his side took all three bonuses on parts of the brain, one of which I knew thanks to an old CD game I'm sure I still have somewhere. The Oxford Brookes captain took a second starter in a row, and one bonus put his side within sight of three figures. Mr Wiberg was in first next though, adding another ten to Merton's score and ten more came from the bonuses. Mr Peplow, who'd gone somewhat quiet, reawoke on the next starter, and his side had a rare off bonus set, taking just one. Mr De Bock took the chance to take his side into three figures, and a full bonus set took them well over the mark.

The second picture round, on paintings depicting 'the erotic metamorphoses of Zeus' (sounds like something the Simpsons would watch!), went to Merton, who took another two bonuses, taking their lead to 210-115. Ms Purcell added her two cents to the score on the next starter, and also provided the one correct bonus that came with it. Another starter went Oxford Brookes' way with Mr De Bock, once again, doing the honours, and his side took all three bonuses on the work of Ken Loach. They were still just about in this match, but they'd need to run the show from here on in.

Ms O'Shea did her best, identifying Constable for the next starter, and the side took a further two bonuses. That was as close as they could get though, Ms Woodland confirming her side's victory with a very quick buzz of 'tin', and two bonuses only added to their score. Mr Peplow added the last two starters of the night to his haul, and one of the bonuses from the set there was time for went with them. At the gong, Merton won 255-175.

A high quality match, with both sides performing very well on the buzzer and the bonuses, well done to both of them. Unlucky Oxford Brookes, but a very decent performance that you can be pleased with, and thanks very much for playing. Well done Merton though, on a second impressive win over strong opponents, marks them down as one of the favourites to take the title; best of luck in the group stage!

The stats: Mr Peplow was the best buzzer of the night, with NINE(!) starters to his name, while Mr De Bock was, again, best for Oxford Brookes with six. On the bonuses, Oxford Brookes converted a decent 18 out of 27 (with the night's one penalty), while Merton managed a very good indeed 25 out of 36; great stuff that, well done both sides on a fine night's work!

Next week's match: the first preliminary quarter-final, Bristol vs Newcastle, followed, presumably, by Fitzwilliam vs Merton the week after.

Only Connect is nearly at its group stage too, with the first second round play-off tonight, which I will hopefully recap here before the working week is out.