University Challenge 2019-20: Round 1: Match 5: Wolfson vs St John's

Evening all. And after last week, can we please try and keep the strong language to a minimum please? A second Oxbridge match in this still young series, and two teams whose last appearance before tonight was as series runners-up, despite both having been tipped by many to triumph. Winners tonight would go through to the second round, as would the runners-up if their score was good enough.

Wolfson College Cambridge is one of the university's newer colleges, founded 1965; its short list of noted alumni include Hong Kong chief exec Carrie Lam, Tory peer Andrew Tyrie, and the legend that is Eric Monkman, who captained them in that afore-mentioned run to the final three series ago. Their only other BBC appearance besides that was a first round exit in 2003-04. This year's foursome were:
Tom Greig, from Leeds, studying English
Erin Spike, from Sydney, studying Public Health
Captain: Ryan Rhys Griffiths, from Kilkenny in Ireland, studying Physics and Machine Learning
Tommy Lee, from Norwich, studying Classics

St John's College Oxford is a lot older, established in 1555, and, like it's Cambridge namesake once was, is now the university's richest college; it's longer list of alumni include former PM Tony Blair, BBC stalwart Evan Davis and noted quiz host Victoria Coren Mitchell. It is something of a nearly-institution as far as UC is concerned, finishing runners-up three times under Paxo, most recently in 2015-16. This year's quartet were:
Sam Burns, from London, studying History
Isabella Morris, from London, studying English Language and Literature
Captain: Ashley Leeks, from London, studying Evolutionary Biology
Aaron Soor, from London, studying Maths

Off we set again then, and Mr Burns won the buzzer race to say 'Michelle Obama' as soon as Paxo said the trigger word 'Becoming'; a solitary bonus from the opening set followed. A penalty from St John's allowed Wolfson to get off the mark, Mr Lee correctly offering 'Spurs' just before the inevitable football clue came; alas, the Cambridge side got nothing from their first bonus set. Mr Leeks atoned for his earlier error and gave St John's their lead back, again, though, just one bonus followed. The first picture round, on island nations with a large amount of shipping traffic, went to Wolfson, who, again, took just a sole bonus, which put the sides level on 25-each.

Not for long though, as Mr Greig was penalised for buzzing wrongly just as Paxo was finishing the question; St John's couldn't capitalise. Another penalty cost Wolfson another five, and, again, St John's failed to pick up. Mr Soor correctly offered 'Iran' for the next starter though, and they took full advantage with a full bonus set on Rococo architecture. Mr Burns increased the advantage further, giving his side a classic UC bonus set on words differing in the addition of 'VI' at the start; two were taken.

The music starter was, much to Paxo's disgust(!), dropped by both sides; the bonuses, on classical pieces commonly played at weddings, eventually went to St John's (despite them dropping five on a prior replacement starter that Wolfson didn't get either). None of the bonuses were taken, and more grumbling from the host followed as they mistook Bach for Britten! ("You barbarians!") St John's nonetheless led 75-15, but the lead decreased slightly as they lost another five; Wolfson couldn't capitalise again, succeeding only in making Paxo hit the roof again by suggesting Robert the Bruce fought against the invading Romans! Wolfson did get back into the game on the next starter though thanks to Mr Lee, but just the one bonus followed again. Back came St John's thanks to Mr Burns again, and, again, just the one bonus followed from a set on physics. Another two starters was dropped, though Mr Griffiths was unlucky with one to come up with half the answer, but not the other. Mr Leeks finally got one right, and bonuses on 20th century French women named Simone gave them one correct answer to take them into double figures.

The second picture round, on paintings rejected by the Salon but later part of its 'des Refuses' exhibition, went to Wolfson; no correct bonuses followed though, leaving them trailing 100-40 with very little time left to pull back.

Neither side knew 'solitary' to be the last adjective in Milton's 'Paradise Lost'; another very complex starter about monarchs and chemical elements also escaped both teams. Mr Soor took the next starter for St John's, pretty much wrapping up the win, and, once again, just the one bonus followed. And that was the gong; St John's won 115-40.

Well, it was an entertaining game, I'll give it that, credit to both teams for that, but, alas, I must report it as the lowest scoring game of the BBC era thus far, eclipsing the record set back in the 2004-05 second round. Unlucky Wolfson, but thanks very much for playing. Well done St John's though, and best of luck in the second round!

The stats: Mr Burns was the best buzzer of the night with four starters, while Ms Spike and Mr Lee both got two each for Wolfson. On the bonuses, Wolfson managed just 2 out of 12 (with two penalties), while St John's managed 10 out of 24 (with three penalties).

Next week's match: Edinburgh vs Birkbeck of London, back for the first time since their series victory in 2002-03