University Challenge 2020-21: Round 1: Match 5: Reading vs Birkbeck

Good evening folks, and welcome back to my new slightly streamlined series of UC blogs, somewhere in between those I wrote back when I started this blog and those you've got used to over the past few years. Speaking of the old days of this blog, I've found myself drawn back towards Deal or No Deal recently following Weaver's Week's series of posts on Noel Edmonds' life and career; it helps that there are a lot more eps online than there used to be. Will maybe come back to that on here at some point. For now, though, on with UC...

 

Reading University has appeared on five previous BBC series, always reaching the second round until its last appearance in 2015-16, when they went out in the first round. This year's team were:

John Wilson, from Maidenhead, studying Teaching

Rosie Mammatt, from Pembrokeshire, studying Physics of the Environment

Captain: Lesley Rees, from Boston in Lincolnshire, studying Speech and Language Therapy

Elizabeth McCall, from Reading, studying Economics

 

Birkbeck of London were regulars in the first nine years of the BBC series, winning in 2002-03, before then disappearing until last series, when they lost in the first round to Edinburgh. This year's quartet were:

Jonathan Taylor, from London, studying Environment and Sustainability

Nicky Clarke, from Leicestershire, studying Early Modern History

Captain: Jonathan Williams, from London, studying Classics

Joshua Mutio, from St Helen's, studying PPE

Off we set again then, with Mr Williams opening the scoring for the night with 'Goethe'; the London side took two bonuses from their first set. The Londoners dominated the early exchanges, Mr Williams and Ms Clarke taking two of the first four starters each; their record of two bonuses from each set ended on the fourth set, with just one. Reading opened their account with the first picture round, on national coats of arms with animals supporting both Dexter and Sinister; they took one, which left the scores at 75-15.

 

But Birkbeck kept up their dominance of the buzzer race, with Messrs Mutio and Taylor ensuing all four of their players had contributed a starter. Their bonus rate was hit somewhat when they failed to take any from a set on freshwater fish. Not that it mattered: when Ms Clarke correctly answered 'Swahili', they already had a 100+ lead. After the second music round, on pop songs featuring Bobbye Hall on percussion, the Londoners led 155-15.

 

Paxo felt the need to tell Reading there was plenty of time left, a sure sign that something is wrong. Mr Wilson did at least respond with a second starter, and the Royals took two of the ensuing bonuses on trees. But it proved a one-off, as Birkbeck duly resumed their buzzer work, having already surely amassed enough points to come back even if Reading did catch them. A full set of bonuses on Shakespeare's Julius Caesar took them to 200 points, and, after the second picture round, on Jewish entertainers who performed in the Borscht Belt resorts, they led 245-35.

 

It had long been game over, now it was just a question of how high both teams could get. Mr Williams had another Birkbeck starter, giving them a bonus set on members of Mr Trump's first cabinet, of which they knew all the names but could only recall one. Ms Mammatt did take another starter for Reading, and two bonuses lifted them out of the Sub 50 club. Birkbeck had the final starter, but fell just short of 300. At the gong, Birkbeck won 295-50.

 

A very one sided contest, but still an enjoyable half hour. Very well done to Birkbeck, who look a pretty solid outfit, well balanced with all four players contributing, could be one to watch later on. Credit too to Reading, who I suspect would've done better against another opponent and must be a reasonable team to have made it onto the show.

 

The stats: Mr Williams was the best buzzer of the night with six, while Mr Wilson was best for Reading with two. On the bonuses, Reading managed 5 out of 9 (with the night's one penalty), while Birkbeck managed 29 out of 45.

 

Next week's match: Balliol Oxford vs Clare Cambridge