Evening all. You join me as I try to distract myself from the immense frustration of hearing fireworks banging outside, but being unable to actually see any from my window! Thankfully, Quizzy Mondays provided the perfect way of doing just that, as we set off with the first play-off. Both teams led for large portions of their first match and gave good accounts of themselves in their eventual defeats. A good match in prospect then. We hope.
Emmanuel College Cambridge, appearing for the third series in a row, were beaten 200-175 by Glasgow in what was probably the best match of the first round, and they only really lost it in the final minute. Hoping to make up for that tonight were the unchanged foursome of:
Connor MacDonald, from New Brunswick, Canada, studying Politics
Vedanth Nair, from Kings Lynn, studying Economics
Captain: Daniella Cugini, from Warwick, studying English
Ben Harris, from Bath, studying Geology
King's College London, appearing for a second successive series, lost a local derby against U.C.L., starting strongly, then fading somewhat, then recovering late on, finishing behind by 180-145. Also hoping to redeem themselves were the also unchanged quartet of:
Liam Tsang, from Wanstead in London, studying Medicine
Rhian Jones, from Wrexham, studying Early Modern History
Captain: Anthony Chater, from Surrey, studying Music
Katie Heath, from Bedfordshire, studying Midwifery
Off we set again then, and Emmanuel opened the night's scoring with Ms Cugini identifying a quote from 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. One bonus was taken from their first set, before Mr MacDonald gave them a second starter and their second bonus set, on English composers, was more to their liking, a full set. Mr Tsang opened the London side's account, and King's also took a full set of their first bonus set. A second starter went to King's, but none of their second bonus set went with it. The first picture round, on North American railway routes, went to Emmanuel, who took a full house, giving them a 65-35 lead.
Mr MacDonald increased that lead with 'sugar cane', and a bonus set on 2017 films provided two correct bonuses, and the night's main comedy moment in a suggestion that Truro is in Yorkshire! Another starter and full bonus set to the Cambridge side, and already they had broken triple figures and were looking on imperious form. Mr Harris then made sure all Emmanuel players had a starter to their names, and a third full bonus set out of four gave them a 100 point lead. The next starter was dropped, the next was taken by Ms Cugini, a good bonus set on the names of duos (including a very welcome mention of Laurel and Hardy!) gave them another two points.
The music round, on MGM musical films, went to King's, who took two correct bonuses; I got the second, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, thanks to Who Wants to be a Millionaire, which, funnily enough, took its name from the song from High Society that was the third bonus! (It all comes round in the end!) The score now stood at 155-55, and it increased when Mr Harris made a slight error, and was pedantically docked five for it too; Ms Heath took the points for King's, and bonuses on famous men called Englebert provided them with another two correct answers. Mr Harris made up for his error by taking the next starter, and bonuses on craters provided Emmanuel with one correct bonus. Ms Jones then took the next starter, ensuring, for the first time in a while, all eight players had a starter to their names; two bonuses followed. The next starter saw Mr Nair identify Malala Yousafzai as the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner but, oddly, refer to her by her surname only, whereas most know her only by forename. Two bonuses restored Emmanuel's 100 point lead.
The second picture round, on photos of figures in the women's suffrage movement, went to Emmanuel, who took one bonus, giving them a lead of 210-95. Mr Chater deservedly took his side into triple figures by taking the next starter, and the obligatory Shakespeare bonuses gave his side two correct answers. Mr Nair then pretty much made sure his side were home and dry by taking 'Baku' for the next starter; his side took one bonus from a tough set on English trails.
Mr Tsang offered up 'osteroblasts' for the next starter, but King's took nothing from a bonus set on fictional spacecrafts. Emmanuel moved further ahead again when Mr Nair took the next starter; no bonuses from a tricky set on Pele's World Cup career followed, but it didn't really matter at this point. Mr Chater took the final starter of the night, and his side just fell short of equaling their first round score, taking one bonus. At the gong, Emmanuel won 235-140.
A very good match indeed, high quality performances from both teams, thanks very much both of them! Unlucky King's, but a fine performance to go out on, thanks very much indeed for playing. Well done Emmanuel though on another very good showing against strong opponents, and very best of luck in the second round!
The stats: Mr Nair was the best buzzer of the night with five, while Mr Chater was best for King's with four. On the bonuses, Emmanuel converted an impressive 24 out of 36 (with the night's one penalty), while King's managed an also respectable 12 out of 24, and, as I said earlier, all eight players ended the night with starters under their belts. Good stuff that; again, well played both teams, probably the best game of the series so far IMO!
Next week's match: Hertford vs Exeter
Only Connect was high quality tonight as well, plus I now know one stage of the contest that rogue Radio Times picture isn't from! Review on Wednesday I hope.
A high quality match indeed! King's were a good team but Emma are clearly something else and steamrollered their way into the top tier of teams going forward. It was nice to see everyone contribute - to my mind that bodes well for Emma's future games and I was rather impressed at the command ability of their captain, Dani Cugini (now here at Oxford apparently)
ReplyDeletePaxman's pronounciation of Bequia was very very far off. That was a good sneaky question I thought, St Vincent is a bit off the West Indies tourist trail and isn't really that well known outside sailing circles, with the notable exception of the royals playground, Mustique.
I was a bit disappointed the young folk didn't get the Futurama question..