University Challenge 2018-19: Round 2: Match 5: Goldsmiths vs Glasgow

Evening all. So, the last regular match of the year, before we pause for the festive fortnight, and the traditional series of Christmas specials, which start next Monday. Slight complications arising next week when one match is on a day later in Scotland, and the next match two days later as a result, but, if I get my calculations right, I should be able to cover everything reasonably undisrupted. Anyway, let's do this...

Goldsmiths College London won an entertaining if low scoring contest against the University of London's Paris Institute, leading throughout, and ultimately coming home 180-55 winners. Hoping for more of that tonight were the unchanged foursome of:
Kesheva Guha, from Bangalore, studying Creative and Life Writing 
Ieuan Cox, from Halifax, studying PPE 
Captain: Diana Issokson, from New Orleans, studying History 
Jamie Robinson, from Belfast, studying History

Glasgow came through a somewhat closer first round contest against Emmanuel of Cambridge, pulling ahead and just holding out in the final minutes for a 200-175 win, though their opponents survived to the play-offs and are already through. Hoping to join them were the also unchanged foursome of:
Lewis Barn, from Airdrie, studying Professional Legal Practice
Freya Whiteford, from Bonybridge near Falkirk, studying Physics with Astrophysics
Captain: James Hampson, from Helsby in Cheshire, studying Medicine
Cameron Herbert, from Burley-in-Wharfedale in West Yorkshire, studying Sociology and Quantatitive Methods

Off we set again then, and Goldsmiths started the match in unfortunate fashion with a penalty; Ms Whiteford picked up for Glasgow and two of the opening bonuses went with it. Mr Hampson very quickly came in on the next starter, but just the one bonus went with it this time, with Ms Whiteford claiming she'd get killed for not getting another of them! A third starter went to the Scots side, and another single bonus went with it. The first picture round, on actors CVs showing their track records at the Academy Awards, went to Glasgow, who, again, took just the one bonus (they'd have got another if they'd simply repeated their opponents' wrong answer to the starter), giving them a lead of 65-(-5).

Another unfortunate penalty dropped Goldsmiths back further, but Glasgow didn't quite get the question either. Mr Hampson resumed his side's buzzer dominance; a single bonus followed again, but, the way they were dominating on the buzzer at this point, this profligacy didn't look like it would matter that much. Mr Herbert's offer of 'the Soviet Union and Japan' furthered their advantage, but nothing came from the resulting bonuses. What looked like an educated guess of 'bluebell' gave the Scots a bonus set on 'literature and substance abuse', of which they, again, took just a single correct answer.

The music round, on music analysed by Susan McClary in her book Feminist Endings, featuring possibly the first ever appearance of Beethoven and Madonna in the same round(!), went to Glasgow, who took another sole correct bonus, giving them a 120-(-10). Yet another slip-up meant Goldsmiths had now equaled the record for lowest score reached on UC under Paxo, matched by New Hall of Cambridge in 1997-98 and Imperial three series ago. Ms Issokson finally got them going in the right direction though when she answered 'moss' to the next starter; two bonuses moved them back into positive scoring. Indeed, the Goldsmiths captain took a second starter in a row, and the London side took another two bonuses with it. The next starter was dropped, the next went to Mr Guha; one bonus followed this time, and when Mr Cox took the next, and the side claimed the first full bonus set of the night, on bears, they suddenly had pulled back to within touching distance.

The second picture round, on works from the Modern Art museum in Venice, went to Glasgow, who took one of the bonuses, increasing their lead to 135-65. Goldsmiths now seemed to have the momentum with them though, as Mr Guha was next to correctly answer a starter, and they pulled a second full house in a row out of the hat, and suddenly you sensed they might just pull this off.

Another penalty set them back though, Messrs Guha and Hampson both unlucky to offer 'gums' and 'the mouth' when 'teeth' was what Paxo was after. It didn't deter Mr Guha though, as he pulled his side closer still on the next starter, two bonuses took them into triple figures. Another started to Mr Guha, another pair of bonuses, and they were just ten behind! Paxo managed to fully ask the next starter, but that was the gong! Glasgow won 135-125!

A most exciting match, I don't think anyone saw that second half coming! Unlucky Goldsmiths, most unfortunate to fall just short, especially after THAT recovery, but no shame in going out on that performance, and another entertaining one as well, thanks very much for playing! Well done Glasgow though, and very best of luck in the group stage!

The stats: Messrs Guha, Hampson and Herbert were joint best buzzers of the night, with four each. On the bonuses, Goldsmiths converted a very decent 15 out of 21 (with four damaging penalties), while Glasgow managed just 9 out of 27.

And that's it for regular UC for now; Christmas UC starts Monday, regular series resumes on January the 7th I'd imagine.

OC had its first eliminator match tonight, and its festive specials start tomorrow. Review of tonight on Wednesday I hope.