University Challenge 2017-18: Qualification Quarter-Final 1: Newcastle vs St John's

Evening all. No lighting issues this week, but the heating is on full pelt in preparation for the cold snap on its way later this week. Well done, BTW, to blog reader Jack Bennett, of UC and OC fame, who won the first heat of this year's Brain of Britain this afternoon, beating top opposition in the form of Andy Tucker (BoB, Mastermind and OC finalist) and Sanjoy Sen of the Wanderers from OC. On with tonight though, with the first place in the semis at stake.

Newcastle won a low scoring first round match over Sheffield Hallam, but have improved in their two matches since, first beating Southampton in the second round, and then Bristol in their first quarter-final, 225-130. Hoping to carry on this upwards spiral were the unchanged four of:
Jack Reynard, from Leeds, studying Medicine 
Molly Nielsen, from London, studying Medicine 
Captain: Jonathan Noble, from Newcastle, studying for a PGCE 
Adam Lowery, from Sunderland, studying Chemistry

St John's breezed through the early rounds with comfortable wins over St Andrews and Corpus Christi of Cambridge, before beating Ulster in their preliminary, surviving a second half fightback to win 185-135. Hoping for more of the same tonight were the also unchanged line-up of:
John-Clark Levin, from Los Angeles, studying Politics and International Studies  
Rosie McKeown, from Kingston-upon-Thames, studying French and German  
Captain: James Devine-Stoneman, from Southall in London, studying Superconducting Spintronics  
Matt Hazell, from Ringwood in Hampshire, studying Veterinary Medicine

Off we set again then, and an immediate penalty from Newcastle gave St John's the first starter of the night; two bonuses on film biographies kicked off the night's scoring. Mr Noble took his side back into positives straight away, but the Tynesiders could only take on of their first bonuses. Ms Nielsen put them on level pegging, and bonuses on astronomy gave them the lead. The first picture round, on lists of an artist's work in their original language, went to Newcastle, who took just the one bonus again, giving them a lead of 50-20.

Another penalty knocked five off the lead, but St John's couldn't get close enough to the right answer to pick up. Ms McKeown reawoke her side with the next starter though, just the one bonus following, sufficient to put them ten behind. Mr Levin took the next starter to put them level, and a full bonus house gave them the lead back. Back bit Newcastle though, Mr Noble doing the honours with 'Miller', and they retook the lead with two bonuses. St John's then proceeded to incur three consecutive penalties, none of which Newcastle were able to pick up, though their lead did increase times four in the process. Mr Levin finally broke the rot with 'Thailand', and the side quickly recouped the lost points with a full bonus set, also giving them the lead back. And a second St John's starter in a row maybe suggested they would be starting to shift into gear now; one bonus followed.

The music round, on palindromic classical pieces, went to St John's, who took just the one bonus again, nonetheless increasing their lead to 100-65. That lead increased when Mr Reynard's answer of 'succeeded a dead president' was harshly but fairly disallowed when the question asked what event preceded a list of presidents taking office; Mr Levin picked the points up with 'the assassination of their predecessor'. The bonuses were on US politics too, specifically shutdowns (no mentions of the two we've had this year!), and two were taken. Ms Nielsen finally brought Newcastle back into the game, and a full bonus set on Anglo-Saxon kings showed they certainly weren't out of it yet.

The second picture round, on paintings commissioned by the British War Memorials Committee, went to St John's, who took one bonus, increasing their lead to 135-85. Still up in the air, as proven when Mr Reynard identified 'pheasant' for the next starter ("Watch out Mr Pheasant, get back in the hedge!", as my Mum used to say when one strayed into the road!"); one bonus was sufficient to take the Tynesiders into triple figures and set up a grandstand finale.

Mr Noble kept their hopes alive with 'De Valera', and one bonus was taken on events mentioned in Billy Joel's 'We Didn't Start the Fire', the other two being, as Ken Bruce would say, 'ONE YEAR OUT!' When Mr Reynard took the next starter though, the Tynesiders had a chance to take the lead should they take a full set; they could only manage two (I got the one they didn't), sufficient to put them level. Ms McKeown blinked first on the next starter, giving St John's the lead back, and one crucial bonus was taken via the 'give the same answer three times' trick. And when Ms McKeown took the next starter, that was game over; the gong went during the bonuses, St John's won 160-135.

An excellent match between two very evenly matched teams, up for grabs until literally right at the end. Unlucky Newcastle, but a brave effort nonetheless, very best of luck in the play-offs. Very well done St John's though, and very very best of luck in the semi-finals!

The stats: Ms McKeown was the best buzzer of the night, taking her series total thus far to 20, while Ms Nielsen and Mr Noble were joint best for Newcastle with three each, Mr Noble their current top scorer with 14. On the bonuses, Newcastle converted 14 out of 24, while St John's managed 15 out of 28, with both sides incurring three penalties, so, once again, it was a match won on the buzzer. Well played both, enjoyed that match!

Next week's match: Bristol vs Ulster

Only Connect reached its final preliminary tonight, a blog of which I hope to do this week, circumstances permitting.