University Challenge 2019-20: Round 2: Match 3: Courtauld vs Glasgow

Evening all. So, as was pointed out in a comment on last week's blog, thus far, we've seen the two play-off survivors procede to the second round, the first time that's happened since the 2011-12 series. Two more regular matches after tonight, then we pause for the usual Christmas celebrity fare. On paper, one could be forgiven for thinking tonight's result a foregone conclusion. No such thing as that on UC though...

The Courtauld Institute of Art won a specialist London derby against the LSE in their first outing, taking a low scoring contest 145-90. They were unchanged from that match: 
Ash Silver, from North London, studying History of Art
Morgan Haigh, from Cardiff, studying History of Art
Captain: Harry Prance, from Winchcombe in Gloucestershire, studying Middle Byzantine Eucharistic Objects
Nancy Collinge, from Blackpool, studying History of Art

Glasgow won the first match of the series back in July, taking a strong early lead against Lancaster and ultimately seeing it home 230-95, which was the highest score of the round until Imperial bettered it in the penultimate match of it. They were also unchanged from that time:  
Ben Whitcombe, from Northwich, studying History and Film & TV studies 
Cat McAllister, from Glasgow, studying Physics Education 
Captain: Finlay McRobert, from Aberdeen, studying Maths 
Ben Whitworth, from Ashton-under-Lyne, studying Education

Off we set again then, and the first starter of the match asked after the term 'millennial'; Ms Collinge was in first to correctly offer it, and the London side took one bonus on seaside towns with multiple words in their names. Neither side took the next starter, Mr Prance very quickly took the next, and his side took full advantage with a full bonus set on directors noted for music videos. The Courtauld captain took a second starter in a row, but their fortunes swung back the other way, no bonuses this time. Mr Whitworth took Glasgow off the mark with 'Afghanistan', giving his side a bonus set on Norwegian literature, of which they took two. The first picture round, on titles of novels in French, went to Courtauld, who took another full set, which gave them a lead of 80-20.

And it increased again as Mr Prance took the next starter, and two bonuses took them already to 100 points. Mr Whitworth came back in for Glasgow with 'woodpecker', and, again, the Scots side took a pair of bonuses. A second starter in a row went to Mr Whitworth, but a set of bonuses on canals proved not to their liking, none taken.

The music round, on concept albums of this decade just finishing (weird to think that!), went to Courtauld, who took two bonuses, one of which provided this week's Only Connect crossover answer in 'Kate Tempest', which gave them a lead of 120-50. It increased when Mr Whitworth gave an answer he realised was wrong just as soon as he interrupted to say it; Mr Prance duly did the pick up, giving his side a bonus set on works in the Brera Gallery in Milan, of which they, again, took two. Mr McRobert brought Glasgow back into the match with 'bone marrow', but, again, his side got nothing from a bonus set on animals of the weasel family. Ms McAllister won the visible race to the buzzer when it became apparent 'needle' was the word being sought by the next starter; one bonus from the obligatory Shakespeare set followed. Back came Courtauld with Mr Prance again doing the honours; bonuses on meteor showers saw the Londoners employ the popular tactic of saying the same answer, in this case 'Perseids', three times and getting it right on the third go! Mr Whitworth quickly shot in on the next starter with 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' though, and two bonuses just about kept them within touching distance.

The second picture starter saw Mr Whitworth beat the art specialists to the buzzer to identify the work of Lucien Freud; the bonuses, on nude self portraits, gave the Scots side two correct bonuses, which took the scores to 155-110. Still just about closable if they could get a run together, but when Mr Prance took the next starter, the job became a lot harder; one bonus followed.

A slip-up from the Courtauld captain gave Glasgow a chance to break back in, but they had to let it pass. The next starter was dropped too, with suggestions that the Caribbean and the Red Sea are in the Pacific only resulting in laughter! A third starter in a row was dropped, but when Mr Haigh took the next, that was game over; one bonus on the life and work of VS Naipaul followed. Glasgow went out with a flourish, as Mr Whitcombe ensured all eight players had contributed a starter, and another pair of bonuses followed. Ms McAllister took the last of the game, and one of the two bonuses there was time for followed. At the gong, Courtauld won 180-145.

A good contest, the result of which I doubt many could have seen coming. Unlucky Glasgow, but a fair performance to go out on nonetheless, thanks for playing! Very well done Courtauld though, and very best of luck in the quarter-finals!

The stats: Mr Prance was the best buzzer of the night with seven starters, while Mr Whitworth was best for Glasgow with five. On the bonuses, Courtauld converted 17 out of 30, while Glasgow managed 12 out of 26, with both sides incurring one penalty each.

Next week's match: again, don't know, watch my Twitter feed, will retweet as soon as I see anything.

Only Connect began its qualifier matches tonight with the Lexplorers vs the Suits; after a very tough contest, with two especially hard walls, the Lexplorers came from behind in the Missing Vowels to win 13-9.