University Challenge 2018-19: Round 1: Match 8: Edinburgh vs Sidney Sussex

Evening all. So, we're halfway through this year's first round heats, and it's a decent second round line-up this far, and a strong play-off line-up as well. I'd probably say Emmanuel are safe, as are at least one of the two teams on 150. Whoever won, or indeed lost, tonight though, would add to that collective. So, on with the show...

Edinburgh University is the fourth oldest in Scotland, founded by James VI/I in 1583, at a time when England just had Oxford and Cambridge. Alumni include writers Walter Scott and JM Barrie, Portsmouth's first goalkeeper Arthur Conan Doyle, politicians Ruth Davidson, Amber Rudd and Gordon Brown, and my Dad (who, as I type, is listening to the Scotland game I am trying to avoid!). After a four year absence from the show, it has reached the semi-finals of the last two series. This year's foursome were:
Matt Booth, from Bristol, studying Maths
Marco Malusa, from Italy, studying Economics and Politics
Captain: Max Fitz-James, from Burgundy, studying Cell Biology
Robbie Campbell Hewson, from Edinburgh, studying Maths

Sidney Sussex College Cambridge is of a similar vintage, founded by Lady Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex (aunt of the poet Sir Philip), in 1596. Alumni include TV maths genius Carol Vorderman, political writer Andrew Rawnsley, and politicians David Owen and Sir David Lidington, the latter of whom captained the side that won UC in 1978, their second win, the first in 1971. It hasn't appeared very much in the revivial however, its most recent appearance being a second round hammering three series ago. This year's quartet were:
Ranu Thomas, from the West Midlands, studying History
James Delaney, from Fleetwood, studying Maths
Captain: Jay Vinayak Ojha, from India, studying Law
Isabel Ollard, from London, studying Natural Sciences

Off we set again then, and Ms Ollard set the ball rolling for the night with 'snout'; bonuses on heraldry provided them with one correct bonus, and an unlucky miss on another. Mr Booth set Edinburgh off the mark promptly with 'water', and the Scots side also took a single bonus, on English rivers. A penalty and a pickup allowed Sidney Sussex to reclaim the lead, and, once again, a single bonus, on women who played male characters in Shakespeare, went with it. The first picture starter was dropped, the bonuses, on characters in Russian novels, written in Cyrillic, went to Edinburgh (with their opponents also incurring a penalty in the process); two bonuses were taken this time, giving Edinburgh a 30-25 lead.

A low scoring game so far, and another dropped starter added to this mood. But it soon lifted, as Mr Malusa took the next starter, and another pair of bonuses, on particle physics, followed. Mr Fitz-James then made sure all four Edinburgh players had a starter to their name as he took the next starter, and, once again, two bonuses went with it. The Edinburgh captain took a second starter in a row, on the work of Wilfred Owen (a documentary about whom, hosted by Paxo, I remember watching during English at school!); for the fourth set in a row, the Scots side managed a pair of bonuses.

The music starter was Mr Fitz-James identify Genesis; the bonuses, on acts with books of the Old Testament in their names, only provided one correct answer this time, but Edinburgh had now opened up a lead of 105-25. A slip-up, which Sidney Sussex didn't pick up, looked like just a blip, as Mr Booth provided 'The World Series' for the next starter, and his side picked up a full set on the native names of European countries (two of which I knew thanks to Panini football sticker albums!). Edinburgh's left winger took a second starter in a row, and an amusing bonus set on the book Twitterature (which I may decide to seek out after this!) provided his side with two correct bonuses. The Scots side now had a 100+ lead, but Ms Ollard finally stopped the rot for Sidney Sussex; one bonus on 'spots' in art followed.

The second picture round, on paintings depicting Autumn (very appropriate), went to Sidney Sussex, who drew a blank on them alas, leaving them trailing 145-55 entering the final straight. And when Mr Booth took the next starter, you fancied Edinburgh were safe now. The bonuses on the polymath Thomas Young saw me do something I normally avoid doing and leave for my parents to do: predict the answer to a bonus! Thanks to our friends Monkman and Seagull, plus a famous bad answer from Fifteen to One, I just knew 'The Rosetta Stone' would be an answer, and it was! In fact, it was the only one Edinburgh took from that set. (Monkman and Seagull's new TV show starts next Monday at 8 BTW)

A prompt buzz from Mr Thomas brought more points to Sidney Sussex, and two much needed bonuses took them closer to three figures and respectability. That was all they could do though, as Edinburgh ran up the rest of the starters, Mr Campbell Hewson identifying 'Caesium' as one of the acceptable elements. One bonus followed, but it didn't really matter now; Mr Fitz-James took the next starter, and another single bonus, the same one I knew, went with it. There was enough time for one final starter, and for Edinburgh to take the two bonuses there was time for. At the gong, Edinburgh won 210-75.

A rather slow scoring match at first, but things picked up later on and it was still a very watchable contest. Unlucky Sidney Sussex, who never really got into gear, but thanks very much for taking part. Very well done Edinburgh though, and very best of luck next time!

The stats: Mr Fitz-James was, just, the night's best buzzer, with five to Mr Booth's four, while Ms Ollard was best for Sidney Sussex with three. On the bonuses, Edinburgh converted a decent 20 out of 36 (with two penalties), while Sidney Sussex managed 6 out of 15 (with one penalty).

Next week's match: Bristol vs Queen's University Belfast