Evening all. Thanks to Innis Carson on Twitter for revealing this week's fixture for us on Saturday. Another potentially good match in prospect too, against two teams who, like last week, are unfortunate to be playing each other in the sudden death round, thus ensuring one wouldn't reach the group stage. It really is time the second round draw was properly seeded I think.
Hertford College Oxford, like Emmanuel last week, appearing for the second time in three weeks, were narrowly beaten first time out by Clare of Cambridge, but made up for it with an impressive 215-165 over Exeter in their play-off. Hoping to carry on that momentum and ensure both play-off survivors reached the group stage for the first time since 2011-12 were the unchanged four of:
Stefi Woodgate, from South London, studying Biology
Pat Taylor, from Warwick, studying Physics
Captain: Richard Tudor, from Stourbridge, studying History
Chris Page, from Orpington in London, studying English Literature
Manchester (The Team Everyone Wants to Beat) came straight through after winning a low scoring but enjoyable first round match against East London, where the lead went back and forth before a well time spurt saw the four time champs win 155-135. Hoping to reach the group stage for the first time in five series were the also unchanged foursome 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 Mr Tudor picked up where his side left off last time, offering 'bureau' in such a way that caused Paxo to tell him off for being 'so dismissive'! The Oxonians set their stall firmly out with a full bonus set on unbuilt cities. What looked like an educated guess from Mr Page added to that score, but, in sharp contrast, no bonuses from set no 2 followed. Mr Hanson opened the scoring for Manchester with 'Mexico City', and they too kicked off with a full bonus set, a classic UC set on chemical symbols and US postcodes. Back came Hertford with Mr Page doing the honours again, and two bonuses followed. The first picture round, on maps of the world with the countries sizes altered to denote how prolific a certain fuel source is, went to Manchester, who took a pair of bonuses, cutting their arrears to 55-45.
Mr Page was most unfortunate on the next starter, asking for the name that linked, among others, the actor who played John Book in the film Witness; he offered 'Ford' instead of 'Harrison', then instantly realised his error. Mr Ross took the pickup, and the Mancunians took the lead with a solitary bonus. Two starters in a row were then dropped, before Mr Page reignited proceedings by identifying 'Sandwich' as the Kent town that linked the various clues. One bonus was enough to give the Oxonians the lead back. Manchester promptly reclaimed it with Mr Antao supplying 'B and R' as the only consonants in the names of, amongst others, a soft French cheese (Brie) and a fictional elephant (Babar); a full bonus set was duly taken in what was proving a good back and forth contest.
The music starter was dropped; the bonuses, on pieces by students of Nadia Boulanger, went to Hertford; one correct was enough to tie the game at 80-each. To add to the resulting tension, three starters in a row were dropped; this standoff ended when Mr Antao came in with 'Zoroastrianism', and his side took two bonuses from the obligatory Shakespeare set of the week. Now into triple figures, Manchester had the momentum with them, as Mr Ross very promptly snapped up the next starter; again, two bonuses were followed, including a good piece of captaining from Mr Ross, who overruled a suggestion from a teammate that he thought was wrong, and was right to do so!
The second picture round, on self portraits of the artist at work, went to Manchester, who took a sole bonus this time, but had now opened up a lead of 135-80. Hertford promptly awoke from their slumber with Mr Page doing the honours; two bonuses took them into three figures, and set up a tense final straight.
A second starter in a row went to Mr Page, but Hertford only took a single bonus on British exploration in Africa. Mr Antao then moved Manchester a step closer to victory, but the side failed to add to their score with the bonuses. A second starter in a row went to their left winger though, and one bonus on Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, with another unluckily missed, pretty much secured the win. An excellent trick question followed, asking how many cardinal numbers between 2 and 10 were spelt the same in Spanish and Italian; the answer, which neither team got, being none! Manchester's win was confirmed for sure when Mr Antao took the next, and a full bonus set on African capitals just ran up the score and margin. At the gong, Manchester won 185-115.
Another good game, well played by both sides, unfortunate that one must go at this stage. Unlucky Hertford, but nothing to be ashamed of in that performance, thanks very much indeed for playing! Well done to Manchester though, on a good performance and well earned win, and best of luck in the group stage!
The stats: Mr Antao was the best buzzer of the night with six, while Mr Page was best for Hertford with five. On the bonuses, Hertford converted 10 out of 21, while Manchester managed 18 out of 30, and both sides incurred one penalty; so both sides more or less equal on the bonuses, it was a game won on the buzzer.
Next week's match: again, I don't know yet, but I shall enquire.
Only Connect continued tonight as well with a match notable for two very tough walls; review of that on Wednesday hopefully.
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