University Challenge 2017-18: Preliminary Quarter-Final 2: Fitzwilliam vs Merton

Evening all. After a good strong start to the QF process last week, another high quality match was expected this week, between two sides who both beat aside two very decent teams on the way to this stage. Winners would, I would imagine, play Newcastle for a place in the semi-finals, runners-up would play Bristol for the right to stay in the contest.

Fitzwilliam College Cambridge were very consistent in their matches thus far, scoring 200 on both occasions, firstly against the 105 of Leicester, and then in the second round against the 155 of Magdalen of Oxford. Hoping for more of the same this time were the unchanged four of:
Theo Tindall, from Bristol, studying Russian and Arabic
Theo Howe, from Oxfordshire, studying Japanese Studies
Captain: Hugh Oxlade, from South Woodford in London, studying History
Jack Maloney, from Harpenden in Hertfordshire, studying Medicine

Merton College Oxford began the QFs as joint favourites, having comfortably dispatched the good King's of London side 285-110 in the first round, and then the very good Oxford Brookes team in the second round just two weeks ago, 255-175. Hoping for more of that tonight were the also unchanged line-up of:
Edward Thomas, from Kent, 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

Off we set again then, and a slip-up from Merton (to be fair, I think a few would have made the same mistake) handed Mr Oxlade the first starter of the night, and his side kicked the night off with a full bonus set on history. Mr Tindall was next in for the Cambridge side, and a second full bonus set followed, giving them an early advantage. A third starter in a row went the Cambridge side's way, but just the one bonus followed this time. Mr Wiberg finally took his side back into positive figures, and bonuses on the opening lines of Dickens novels gave them two correct answers. The first picture round, on definitions from French dictionaries, went to Merton, who took an impressive full set, reducing their arrears to 65-40.

And when Mr Wiberg took the next starter, you sensed the Oxonians had built up a head of steam, , as if to confirm this, a full bonus set put them on level pegging. Mr Peplow came in his 'Holst's 'The Planets'' to give his side the lead, and they increased it via two bonuses on genetics. Mr Maloney broke back for Fitzwilliam, but a tricky bonus set on the ages at death of biblical figures provided them with just one correct answer. A quick buzz from Mr Wiberg awoke his side again, and they set hard to work with two bonuses, with the third unluckily nearly missed.

The music round, on outstanding lyrics award winning musicals, went to Merton, who took two correct answers, giving them a lead of 125-80. And that lead was just increasing as Mr Peplow took the next starter; bonuses on granite buildings saw both them and me take the same correct answer, Aberdeen! (Thumbs down to Paxo's literal pronunciation of Marischal College, it's pronounced 'Marshall' Jez! I should know, I stay but a few minutes walk from it!) Another starter to Mr Wiberg, a full bonus set, and Merton were within sight of game over. The Merton right-winger took the next starter too, and the resultant bonuses on the Adriatic Sea gave the Oxonians a 100+ lead, and the way they were going, that was surely game over. Mr Peplow picked up the quizzer's question, on how Costa Rica is the only nation currently with no army; a tough bonus set nonetheless gave his side one correct answer.

The second picture round, on female composers featured in the music syllabus, went to Merton, who only identified Bjork, nonetheless enough to increase their lead to 215-80. A (non-interruption) penalty handed Fitzwilliam a chance to get back into the match, but they failed to take it. Mr Peplow was in quickly again, and bonuses on the River Severn handed them another two correct answers.

Mr Maloney finally awoke Fitzwilliam from their slumbers, and two bonuses on chemical elements deservedly took them into triple figures, with only a mishearing from Mr Oxlade denying them a full set. Another narrow buzzer race winning from Mr Peplow followed; just the one bonus followed this time, but it didn't matter by now. Mr Maloney took another for Fitzwilliam, but they couldn't do any better, also managing just one. Mr Wiberg ensured another starter for Merton, and a full bonus set came with it this time. Mr Tindall took the final starter, but there was no time for bonuses; at the gong, Merton won 270-125.

A good high quality match from both sides, as we expected, with slightly quicker buzzing winning Merton the match. Unlucky Fitzwilliam, but a very decent performance in the circumstances, and you should reach the semis too if you carry on like that, good luck in the eliminators. Well done Merton though, another top performance against good opponents, must surely make them the team to beat thus far, good luck in the qualifiers!

The stats: Mr Wiberg was, just, the best buzzer of the night, with seven starters to Mr Peplow's six, while Mr Maloney was Fitzwilliam's best with four. On the bonuses, Fitzwilliam converted 11 out of 18, while Merton managed 28 out of 42 (with two penalties); both good rates those, so it was on the buzzer that the match was won, but well played both sides.

Next week's match: St John's vs Ulster, followed by Emmanuel vs Edinburgh.

Only Connect began its QF stage tonight, review of that, I hope, coming up by the end of the week.