University Challenge 2018-19: Round 2: Match 3: Edinburgh vs U.C.L.

Evening all. So, a year ago tomorrow, these two institutions played each other in the second round of last year's contest, and it proved a cracking contest, ultimately won by five points on the last starter of the game. 364 days later, they played again in this year's second round. Same situation as before, winners go out, losers unfortunate to go home this early.

Edinburgh comfortably defeated Sidney Sussex of Cambridge in their first round match, despite a rather slow start, they picked up the momentum in the later stages and ultimately won 210-75. Hoping for more of the same tonight were the unchanged four of:
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

U.C.L., appropriately given last night's football fixtures, played a derby against neighbours King's of London in their opener, surviving a late barrage by their opponents to win 180-145; so a lower score, but achieved against a team good enough to survive to the play-offs, a close match looked to come again tonight. They were also the same foursome as before:
George Mitkov, from Warwickshire, studying French and German
Sophia Walker, from Boulder, Colorado, studying Translation
Captain: Robert Johnstone, from Worcester Park in Surrey, studying Medical Imaging
Feiyu Fang, from Leicester, studying Physics

Off we set again then, and U.C.L., who lost this fixture last season, opened their account first with Mr Johnstone identifying 'work' as the thing various authors were describing (I knew it from the Jerome K Jerome quote); one bonus on business terms went with it. Mr Fang took a second in a row, and fruit in poetry proved more to the Londoners' liking, a full set. A third came from Ms Walker, their top player first time around, but a complicated astronomy bonus set didn't add to their score. Mr Fitz-James did the right thing and had an early punt on the next starter, but only managed to drop five; U.C.L. did the honours, and bonuses on the band X-Ray Spex gave them two right answers. The first picture round, on that old UC staple word clouds, of major philosophical works this time, took Edinburgh off the mark; a full set reduced their arrears to 70-20.

A prompt buzz from Mr Johnstone reasserted his side's control though; bonuses on two classic quiz staples, Shakespeare and chemical elements, gave the London side two correct again. The U.C.L. captain then proved he knows his famous Chase questions, knowing the lammergeier to be a vulture; another two bonuses took the side within sight of a three figure lead. Mr Malusa brought Edinburgh back into the game though, taking the next starter, but no bonuses went the Scots side's way.

Mr Fitz-James recognised 'Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay' for the music starter, making that this week's tie-in question with OC! And the crossing over wasn't done there, as one of the bonuses, on whistling in pop music, was 'Walk Like an Egyptian', which was on I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue in Pick Up Song this evening! Edinburgh took a much needed full set of those, cutting the gap to 110-55. Another twenty was taken off it in short order as U.C.L. incurred two penalties in a row, and Mr Fitz-James picked up the second of them; another full set, and his side were suddenly just twenty behind. Mr Fang decided that was enough of that and recouped his side's lost points; one bonus was taken. Another slip-up dropped the lead back again, and a very impressive prompt buzz from the Edinburgh captain, plus yet another full set, cut the gap to just five points. Up it went again though, Mr Johnstone offering 'clarinet', and a full bonus set of their own went with it.

The second picture round, on paintings from the first impressionist exhibition, went to Edinburgh, who took yet another full house, setting the gap back to 135-130 and setting up a grandstand finish. Ms Walker blinked first, and offered 'motif' to move her side ahead again; bonuses on the Joshua Tree provided two correct answers, and no mention of U2 or Pointless either!

Back struck Edinburgh with Mr Malusa identifying regions of Norway; bonuses on biology provided the Scots side with yet another full set, putting the sides on level pegging. Mr Fitz-James' answer of 'proteins' gave his side the lead for the first time of the night, but they failed to hammer home this advantage, only taking a single bonus on ninth symphonies. Back fought U.C.L. with Mr Johnstone doing the honours, but his side were unable to reclaim the lead, missing all the bonuses, leaving them five behind. Next starter would win it surely. Ms Walker buzzed first... but was wrong! Mr Fitz-James swooped... and was right! And that was the gong, Edinburgh won 180-160!

A cracking contest, well played by both sides, most unfortunate that this is a sudden death match. Unlucky U.C.L., who, as Paxo said, just didn't quite make it over the line, but a respectable performance to go out on nonetheless, thanks for playing! Very well done Edinbugh though, an excellent recovery and another strong performance, and very best of luck in the group stage!

The stats: Mr Fitz-James was, just, the best buzzer of the night, with six starters to Mr Johnstone's five. On the bonuses, Edinburgh converted a very good 19 out of 24 (with one penalty), while U.C.L. managed an also respectable 16 out of 30 (with four penalties), so it was on the buzzer, but also largely on the bonuses, that the game was won.

Next week's match: according to a few contestants on Twitter, Clare vs St Edmund Hall

Only Connect continued its high quality of the series so far tonight, review of that on Wednesday I hope.