University Challenge 2018-19: Round 1: Match 13: East London vs Manchester

Evening all. Here we go again, after our week off last week, and we have Only Connect back alongside UC as well! We rejoin the contest at a crucial stage, with just two first round matches left, and thus the play-off race hotting up too. Tonight's runners up would need 155 or more to guarantee a return, though 150 would give them a very good chance, two teams already on that.

The University of East London began life as the West Ham Technical Institute, later became East London Polytechnic, and became a university when those were abolished in 1992. Alumni include Turner prize nominees Jake and Dinos Chapman, Labour MPs Rupa Huq and Kate Osamor and musicians Tinchy Stryder and Roger Taylor. This is its second appearance on the revival; its first team two years ago, including our friend Chris Ducklin of the Quizzy Mondays podcast, went out in the second round. This year's foursome were:
Chloe Knecht, from Exeter, New Hampshire, studying Computer Science
Stephen Harvie, from Wishaw in North Lanarkshire, studying English Literature
Captain: Chris O'Mahony, from Bandon in County Cork, studying Clinical Psychology
Scott Danielsen, from East Renfrewshire, studying Public Health

Manchester University, founded in its current form in 2004 having been around in various forms since 1824, is UC's joint most succesful institution, winning the title in 2005-06, 2011-12 and 2012-13, as well as being retrospective awarded the 2008-09 series. Between 2004-05 and 2013-14, they never failed to reach the semi-finals, earning them the nickname 'The Team Everyone Wants to Beat'. Since the following year, however, its hit a slump somewhat, going out in the second round that series and the first round in the next two. Hoping to recapture its former imperious form were this year's quartet of:
Alex Antao, from Chingford in London, studying Mathematical Logic
Georgia Lynott, from Burnley, studying Applied Maths
Captain: James Ross, from Coventry, studying Classics and Ancient History
Joe Hanson, from Gravesend, studying Data Intensive Science

Off we set again then, and Ms Lynott opened the scoring with, appropriately for Manchester, 'gig'; the side took two of their opening set of bonuses. A repeat performance followed, as Ms Lynott took the second starter and another two bonuses were taken. Neither side worked out a rather tricky piece of arithmetic for the next starter; Mr Danielsen identified 'Argentina and Chile' for the next starter, and they too took a pair of bonuses. A penalty then cost Manchester five, allowing Mr Danielsen a second starter in a row, but a bonus set on words differing only in the addition of 'at' at the start didn't add to their score. Neither side recognised the outline of Panama for the first picture starter; the bonuses, on locales which give their names to hats, went to Manchester, who, again, took two of them, giving them a lead of 55-30.

Another slip-up dropped another five off that lead, and gave East London the points; again, though, the bonuses, on astronomy, did not add to their score. Mr Hanson got Manchester's score ticking the right away again with the next starter; only one bonus followed this time though, though they did provide an amusing wrong answer to the first. Those five points were then lost to another penalty though; East London failed to pick up, but Mr Harvie identified the character played by Keira Knightley in The Duchess, a film available to buy on DVD in almost every Aberdeenshire charity shop. One bonus on English furniture designers was taken, putting them within five points.

The music starter was dropped; the bonuses, on recordings by Rachmaninoff of other composers' work, went to East London, who took a full house, giving them a lead of 80-60. A good prompt buzz from Mr Ross with 'First Secretary of State' quickly got Manchester up and running again, and yet another pair of bonuses put the sides level again. Mr Harvie gave the Londoners the lead again, and two bonuses were sufficient to take them into three figures first. Mr Danielsen upped the lead further with 'Salvador', and one bonus on WW2 theatre followed.

The second picture round, on stills from 20th century TV dramas, went to Manchester, who took two bonuses once again, which reduced their arrears to 115-100. Mr Antao took a second starter in a row for the Mancunians, and two bonuses took them back into the lead, setting the scene for a close finish.

Mr Antao zigged on the next starter, Mr Harvie zagged to give his side the lead again, and his side took two bonuses on world leaders who took office in 1999 (I got a full set there). Back but Manchester though, Mr Antao offering 'magnesium'; the bonuses, also on elements, more recent post Tom Lehrer ones, gave them a full house, and put the match back in their hands. And when Mr Antao took the next starter, that was likely the game won. Indeed, the gong went during the bonuses; Manchester won 155-135.

A good enjoyable close match, even if it was slightly on the low scoring side. Unlucky East London, but a respectable effort and score to go out on, thanks very much indeed for playing. Well done Manchester though, and best of luck in the second round!

The stats: Messrs Antao, Harvie and Danielsen were the joint best buzzers of the night, with four each. On the bonuses, East London converted 11 out of 24, while Manchester managed 16 out of 26 (with three penalties), so it was one extra starter plus a slightly better bonus rate that won them the game.

Next week's match: the last first round match, Keble College Oxford vs East Anglia

Only Connect returned tonight with a good match, which featured two UC alumni in the form of Bob De Caux and Matt Loxham, who you may remember were part of the Southampton team that reached the 2013-14 QFs alongside blog reader Richard 'Cromarty(IV)' Evans. Review hopefully later this week, Wednesday or Thursday.