University Challenge 2018-19: Play-Off Quarter-Final 1: Edinburgh vs Bristol

Evening all. So, we're into the last five matches of this year's contest, and then we can all have a much needed rest before the quizzing resumes in the summer. Now, 364 days ago, these two institutions met each other in the first play-off QF of the last series, and it was a rather one sided contest. Would things align the same way tonight, with the two sides now on opposite rows?

Edinburgh have very quietly amassed a third impressive run in a row, with wins over Sidney Sussex of Cambridge and U.C.L. in the first two rounds, and Manchester in the prelims, but they lost their qualifier match to Durham. Hoping lightning would strike twice after last year and they'd reach their third semis in a row were: 
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

Bristol reached the group stage via wins over Queen's of Belfast in the first round, and Warwick in the second, before winning their prelim against Darwin on a tie-breaker, but their qualifier against St Edmund Hall saw them narrowly defeated late on. Hoping to rewrite history after last year and reach their first semis of the Paxo era (correct me if I'm wrong) were: 
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 Mr Fitz-James opened the scoring with a quick buzz of 'Alexander Pope'; the premiere bonuses, on the life and work of Sir John Everett Millais, gave them two correct answers to start with. A slip-up allowed Bristol to follow them off the mark though, and one bonus was sufficient to put them level. Mr Sumner then gave the Avonsiders the lead, but, again, just the one bonus accompanied it. Back came Edinburgh via their captain again, giving them a very complicated bonus set on powers of ten and standard model particles, of which they took an impressive full set. The first picture round, on royal seats of Anglo Saxon kingdoms, went to Bristol, who took just the one bonus again, but it was enough to give them back the lead, 45-40.

Mr Campbell Hewson duly reclaimed it for Edinburgh though, and pushed the advantage further with a full bonus set on the work of historian Cecil Woodham-Smith. A rare buzzless starter followed (thought those got cut nowadays), before Mr Fitz-James gave his side more room to breath with 'Herodotus'; a classic UC bonus set on Canadian province abbreviations and UK postcode areas followed, of which they took just the one. Mr Iredale duly brought his side back into the game, but none of the resulting bonuses went with it; at this stage, the bonuses were proving the difference between the sides.

The music round, on classical work dedicated to Winnaretta Singer, went to Bristol, who took two correct this time, which reduced the gap to 80-75. That gap disappeared when Edinburgh slipped up on the next starter, but Bristol couldn't take the opportunity. Mr Campbell Hewson did take his opportunity to put Edinburgh in front again, and bonuses on Ancient Athens gave the Scots side two correct bonuses. Mr Iredale (and I) knew George Canning to be the foreign secretary who was briefly PM in 1827; bonuses on astronomy gave the Avonsiders one correct starter to pull them back with five. And when Edinburgh lost a further five on the next starter, and Ms Le Maistre picked up the drop, Bristol took the lead; bonuses on UN official languages gave them just the one bonus again.

The second picture round, on direct carving sculptures, went to Edinburgh, who took a full house, and retook the lead, 115-105. Still either side's game heading into the home straight, and Mr Booth made it advantage Edinburgh with 'Klimt'; bonuses on film directors didn't provide any further points though, meaning Bristol still had a chance to catch them.

Mr Iredale kept them in the contest, and Paxo encouraged them not to be so despairing, as there was still time left to catch up! Once again, just a single bonus went with it. A wonderful starter then asked which novel's title equates to the number of days in October times the number of squares on a chess board; Mr Campbell Hewson appeared to be quissing with '1984', but was right, and put his side within sight of victory. Two correct bonuses put one collective foot over the line. Bristol needed the next starter, but neither they not their opponents got it. You fancied that was game over, and Mr Campbell Hewson confirmed it back taking the game's final starter. At the gong, Edinburgh won 155-120.

A solid contest, despite the low scores, that could've gone either way until the very final stages. Unlucky Bristol, but a fine performance capping off a fine series of performances, thanks very much indeed for taking part! Very well done Edinburgh though, and best of luck in the semis!

The stats: Messrs Fitz-James, Campbell Hewson and Iredale were all the joint best buzzers of the night, with four each for their respective teams; Mr Iredale ends the series Bristol's best buzzer, with 24 over five games. On the bonuses, Edinburgh converted 16 out of 25 (with three penalties), while Bristol managed just 8 out of 27; that's where the game was won and lost.

Next week's match: Manchester vs Darwin, for the last place in the semi-finals.

Only Connect is nearly done for the series as well, with its final, I believe, due on the same day as UC's; review of tonight's show on Wednesday night I hope.