University Challenge 2018-19: Qualification Quarter-Final 2: Bristol vs St Edmund Hall

Evening all. Hope most of you weren't thrown by the change of time tonight. Most inconvenient for me, as I had to miss the Simpsons so I could take my shower before the quiz hour started! Never mind it was one I've seen many times before, it doesn't feel right having to miss it! Never mind, we'll be used to it next week I suppose. Anyway, on with the show, and the second qualifier quarter-final.

Bristol won a low scoring first round contest against Queen's of Belfast, then had a higher scoring win over Warwick in the second round, and in their first quarter-final, pulled off a minor upset against Darwin, winning on a 105-each tie-break. Hoping to continue this resurgence were the unchanged foursome of: 
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

St Edmund Hall Oxford reached this stage with three comfortable wins, over York in the first round, Clare of Cambridge in the second, and Emmanuel in the preliminaries, with their captain dominating the show all three times. Hoping to continue in the same vein tonight were the also unchanged foursome of: 
Agastya Pisharody, from India and Basel, studying Material Science 
Marceline Bresson, from the Netherlands, studying Economics and Management 
Captain: Freddie Leo, from Berlin, studying History 
Lizzie Fry, from Worcestershire, studying Geography

Off we set again then, and Mr Iredale set the ball rolling for the night with 'China'; the Avonsiders hit the ground running on all fours with a full bonus set on poet Elizabeth Bishop. Mr Iredale won the buzzer race again on the next starter, asking for the shortest and longest named elements, 'Tin and Rutherfordium', a nice chestnut worth knowing that. Two bonuses followed this time. Mr Leo, the joint best buzzer of the series thus far heading into this contest, attempted to get his side going on the next starter, but his answer of 'Sculpture' was not acceptable for 'Architecture', losing them five. Bristol didn't pick up, but did take the next starter, and one bonus, unfortunately missing another after Ms Le Maistre misheard her colleague; harsh, yes, but consistent with similar adjudications before. The first picture round, on cities that lie on the confluences of rivers, went to Bristol, who took a full set, giving them a lead of 85-(-5).

And up it went again, as Mr Sumner took the next starter, and one bonus took the Avonsiders into three figures. St Edmund Hall had a chance to get going with the next starter after Mr Basu slipped up, but Ms Bresson shot wide of the mark offering 'Spring' instead of 'Autumn', with Paxo harshly rubbing it in somewhat harshly. Finally, Mr Leo got them going in the right direction again, and a pair of bonuses accompanied it. Having seemingly found his range, Mr Leo took a second starter in a row, but no bonuses followed this time.

The music round, on pop songs featuring Carol Kaye on bass, went to St Edmund Hall, who, again, managed just the one bonus, reducing the deficit to 95-40. And they were getting closer by the minute (metaphorically), as Mr Leo took the next starter; one bonus on works based on Shakespeare plays followed, with a nice bit of logical deduction providing them with the answer. Mr Iredale reawoke his side on the next starter, taking them back into three figures, and two bonuses on astronomy went with it. Ms Bresson moved St Edmund Hall closer again on the next starter though, and a timely full bonus set meant it was still either team's game heading into the final quarter.

The second picture round, on people who have delivered the Jefferson Lecture, went to St Edmund Hall, who took two bonuses, taking them into triple figures, and reducing the gap to 115-100. Next starter asked for a regnal number, Ms Le Maistre buzzed first, but was wrong; Mr Leo buzzed, and let out a considerable pause before correctly answering. Lenient, yes, but I have seen him allow answers after similar length pauses before (including one by Alex Guttenplan many years ago). One bonus put the sides on level pegging.

With not much time left, Mr Leo swooped in on the next starter to give his side the lead, and a timely full set of bonuses was banged out in no time. Mr Iredale kept his side in the game with a good buzz to identify three South American countries south of the Equator; a full set of their own would take them level, but they could only manage the one. And when Mr Leo took the next starter, that was game over. Indeed, no time for bonuses; at the gong, St Edmund Hall won 150-130.

An absorbing contest, well played by both sides. Unlucky Bristol, unfortunate to lose after that flying start, but still a fine performance, and best of luck in the play-offs. Very well done St Edmund Hall though, and very best of luck in the semi-finals!

The stats: Mr Leo was, once again, the best buzzer of the night, albeit only just this time, with seven to Mr Iredale's six. On the bonuses, Bristol converted 13 out of 21, while St Edmund Hall managed 13 out of 24, with both sides incurring one penalty, so it was a game narrowly won on the buzzer.

Next week's match: Darwin vs Emmanuel, with the winner playing Manchester in the play-offs, where Bristol will play Edinburgh

Only Connect began its quarter-finals tonight, also with a close game; blog coming up on Wednesday I hope.