University Challenge 2018-19: Round 2: Match 8: Warwick vs Bristol

Evening all. The final second round match tonight, between two teams who were narrow winners in their respective first round contests. The winners would take the final coveted place in the group stage. It's been a hard-fought round so far; no double digit scores and some decent teams have fallen by the wayside, so hopefully another good one to finish it off tonight.

Warwick were the winners of the first show in the series way back in mid July (the day after the World Cup final!), where they narrowly defeated play-off survivors Exeter 165-150. Playing their reserve tonight, their slightly tweaked foursome were: 
Emily Wolfenden, from Dereham in Norfolk, studying Maths 
Yifei Painter, from Nottingham, studying Maths and Physics 
Captain: Ben Beardsley, from Settle in North Yorkshire, studying Maths 
Robert Gowers, from Market Harborough, studying Neuroscience

Bristol won a rather low scoring first round match against Queen's of Belfast in mid-September (can't remember what happened the day before it), recovering from a sluggish start to ultimately triumph 140-110. Their foursome were untweaked from before: 
George Sumner, from South London, studying Physics
Owen Iredale, from Hadleigh in Suffolk, studying Biology
Captain: Anne Le Maistre, from Adelaide, studying History
Pushan Basu, from Newcastle, studying English Literature

Off we set again then, and Warwick's substitute Ms Painter wasted no time in scoring with her first buzz of the series; one bonus on 2017 Booker Prize nominees was taken. A Bristol slip-up handed the Coventry side a second starter, and they took full advantage with a full house of bonuses. It was then their turn to drop five, but the Avonsiders couldn't capitalise; they did when the same thing happened on the next starter though, and they also took a full set, on portaits by Holbein the Younger. The first picture round, on cities named after historical figures, went to Bristol, who took two bonuses, and unluckily missed the other by offering the wrong King George (offering just 'King George' producing the inevitable response of 'WHICH ONE?!'!); this gave them the lead, 40-30.

Another Warwick penalty, a technical one albeit, cost them another five, and handed Ms Le Maistre the correct answer for the points; another full house, a classic tough UC set on towns hidden in words, went with it. Warwick finally got their score going the right way again thanks to Mr Gowers, and one bonus meant they had now recouped all their earlier lost points. A second starter in a row went the Coventry side's way, and two bonuses put them back within five points. A penalty put the sides level, but Bristol promptly reclaimed the lead courtesy of Mr Sumner; no further points came from the bonuses though.

The music round, on film scores whose composers have won both a BAFTA and Academy Award for them, went to Warwick; one correct bonus was enough to give them the lead, 75-70. Again, Bristol very quickly took it back, with Mr Basu coming in with 'Hegel'; one bonus was taken. Warwick promptly drew level again, and then went ahead again thanks to a single bonus on France. A second starter in a row for Warwick meant they broke triple figures first, and bonuses on 'demons' gave them two correct answers. Back came Bristol with Mr Iredale in very promptly on the next starter, and they took the sole bonus they needed to break three figures too.

The second picture round, on recipients of Harvard's WEB Du Bois medal, went to Warwick, and the appearance of Pam Grier during the bonuses provided this week's crossover with OC; they didn't get her, but did know the other two, giving them a lead of 130-100. Mr Sumner then proved he knows his early QIs, as he knew 'sepia' to derive from the Greek for 'cuttlefish' (that particular episode was on Dave the other day!); two correct bonuses put them ten behind as we headed into the home straight.

Another prompt intervention from Bristol, this time Mr Basu, put them on level pegging; one bonus from a tough set on chronology was enough to put the Avonsiders in front. Next starter asked for three counties which border Wales; Ms Wolfenden had two correct, but mistakenly offered Worcestershire in lieu of Herefordshire. Mr Iredale made no mistake, and two bonuses on events of 1962, including Alf Ramsey's Ipswich Town, put the Avonsiders within sight of victory. And when Warwick slipped up on the next starter, and Mr Sumner took the points, and two bonuses on director Josie Rourke followed, that was game over. Mr Sumner made sure by taking the next starter, but the bonuses were interrupted by the gong. Bristol won 190-125.

Another good game, close until the very final minutes, well played both teams there. Unlucky Warwick, a decent team, another unlucky to go out at this point, thanks very much for playing! Very well done Bristol though, and very best of luck in the group stage!

The stats: Messrs Sumner and Iredale were joint best buzzers of the night with four each, while Messrs Beardsley and Gowers were joint best for Warwick with three each. On the bonuses, Warwick converted 13 out of 24 (with four penalties), while Bristol managed 18 out of 32 (with two penalties).

Next week's match: the first quarter-final! Past years' fixtures suggests the first two will be Glasgow vs Durham and Darwin vs Bristol, but we shall see. A fuller review will follow on Friday.

Only Connect carried on with its qualification round tonight; blog of that coming up on Thursday at the earliest.