Evening all. Well, here we are: the last (regular) UC of the 2010s; can still remember watching St John's of Oxford beat Girton of Cambridge in the first of the decade back in the big freeze of January 2010. I am still planning my Review of the Decade, but have decided to hold it off until this current series is over, and cover the ten series recorded this decade. For now, though, on with tonight's show, with the winners fighting to be on the top row for the first QF preliminary (if past years are anything to go on).
Huddersfield, appearing on UC for the first time, won a low scoring first round tie against the Open University 145-125 on the last correct starter of the match. They were the same foursome as that time around:
Sean Fisher, from Huddersfield, studying History
Rebecca Wilson, from Leeds, studying Chemistry
Captain: Andy Cook, from Walsall, studying History
Aaron Cahill, from Norwich, studying Drama
Manchester ran out winners by 185-145 in their first match against Jesus of Oxford, a team good enough to survive to the play-offs and go on to reach the QFs. Hoping to join them were the also unchanged quartet of:
Jack Rogers, from Cheshire, studying Maths
Melissa Johnson, from South Africa, studying Economics
Captain: James Green, from the Wirral, studying Modernist Literature
Adam Booth, from Greenford in London, studying Physics
Off we set again then, and Mr Cook picked up where he left off last time around as he identified the derivation of the term 'Cold War' for the first starter; bonuses on breeds of donkey gave the Terriers one correct answer. A penalty dropped Manchester into negative equity, but Huddersfield failed to capitalise, though they were unlucky to, as Mr Cook got all the information right, but not what was asked of him. Mr Green pulled his side back to 5 by identifying Wes Anderson for the next starter, and the Mancunians also managed one correct bonus. Mr Booth then lost another five for buzzing wrongly just as the question was finishing, but, again, Huddersfield, didn't pick up. Another penalty reset Manchester's score to nought; Mr Cook did pick up this time, and his side duly took two bonuses on the work of Rachel Whiteread. The first picture round, on cities that have hosted the main conference of European Maritime Day, went to Manchester; no bonuses followed, which left them trailing 35-10.
Mr Rogers duly got them moving in the right direction again as he took the next starter, and one bonus from a tough set on physics went with it. Ms Johnson then ensured all four Manchester players already had a starter to their names; bonuses on German cities proved more to their liking, a full set, and with it the lead. With the bit now between their collective teeth, Mr Green quickly identified the word 'Kompromat' for the next starter; one bonus followed, as did another starter for Mr Rogers, and two bonuses on astronomy.
Neither side identified Rossini's Barber of Seville for the music starter; the music bonuses, on works completed in a relatively short time, went to Manchester, who took the sole bonus they needed to get into triple figures, now leading 100-35. And on they powered as Mr Green took the next starter, which gave them a classic UC bonus set on words differing in their first letter only, of which they took two. Mr Cook finally reawoke Huddersfield by taking the next starter; one bonus on nuclear physics ensured they wouldn't be joining the Sub 50 club. Back came Manchster as Mr Rogers quickly identified Charles Fourier as the coiner of the term feminism; bonuses on suspension bridges gave the Mancunians one correct bonus. A second starter in a row went to Mr Rogers, and two correct bonuses followed this time.
The second picture round, on artworks donated to the New York Museum of Art by Lillie Bliss, went to Manchester; one correct bonus took their lead to 170-50. The game was now all but over as a contest, as confirmed when Mr Green took the next starter, and a full set of bonuses on South American deserts.
Still, Huddersfield went out on a high, as Mr Cook identified the play 'The Ferryman' for the next starter, and a full set of bonuses on anatomy was banged out in short order. The Terriers captain took a second starter in a row, but just the one bonus on the work of dramatist John Webster followed this time. Mr Green took the last starter of the game, identifying Helvetica as the font derived from the native name of Switzerland, but they were gonged before they could answer the first bonus. At the gong, Manchester won 205-90.
A rather slow contest, but an enjoyable one between two pleasant teams, good on them for clapping each other at the end. Unlucky Huddersfield, but, as Paxo said, a respectable performance for a first time entrant institution, thanks very much indeed for giving it to us. Well done Manchester though, and best of luck in the quarter-finals!
The stats: Mr Green was the best buzzer of the night with seven starters, while Mr Cook was best for Huddersfield with all five of theirs. On the bonuses, Huddersfield converted 8 out of 15, while Manchester managed 18 out of 37 (with three penalties).
And that's it for this year, and indeed this decade! Christmas UC starts next Monday and runs weekdaily for two weeks. The student series will return on the 6th of January.
Only Connect is also now pausing for some festive specials, which start two weeks today; tonight's last regular match of the year, and decade, between the Endeavours and the 007s, ended in a comfortable win for the latter, 26-15.
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