University Challenge 2022-23: Round 1: Match 8: Sheffield vs U.C.L.

Good evening again friends, and welcome back to Quizzy Mondays! The last for at least a fortnight, as Rugby League World Cup coverage is getting priority next Monday; so, OC and UC will air 23 hours later than usual at 7 and 7:30 next Tuesday (25th) and Mastermind will be on at 7:30 on Wednesday (26th). How I'm going to cover everything with such a scattered schedule I don't yet know, but I'll work something out I'm sure. On with tonight in the mean time...

Sheffield University has appeared on 14 previous BBC series, reaching the final once, in 2007-08, where they lost to Christ Church of Oxford, and the semis twice in 2002-03 and 2010-11 (with blog readers and UC alumni Tris Cole and Hugh Bennett in the team). Its last team three series ago were unlucky to lose both their first match and their subsequent play-off. This year's foursome were:

Rachel Haw, from North Yorkshire, studying Evolution and Behaviour

Andrew Fisher, from Sheffield (originally Newcastle), studying Pure Maths

Captain: Lewis Jones, from Haverhill in Suffolk, studying Journalism

Danny Lardner, from Blackpool, studying Geography

 

U.C.L. is also appearing for the fifteenth time in the BBC era tonight; it also had two semi-final appearances to its name, and two runners-up in grand finals, one of them captained by Dennis from OC last week. Its last appearance was last year, where they were also unlucky to lose their first round and play-off, the latter especially after an epic late fightback. This year's quartet, including the show's first ever mother and son duo, were:

Rachel Collier, from West London, studying the History of Ancient Greek

Michael Fleetwood-Walker, from the West Midlands, studying Urban Studies

Captain: James Salmon, from Bristol, studying Planetary Science

Louis Collier, from London, studying Maths and Physics

 

So off we set once again, and Mr Fisher, who you may remember captained the Steelers in the last series of OC, took the first starter of the night; a full set of bonuses was a strong start, but just the one followed from their second set. Mr Salmon took U.C.L.'s first starter, making up for an earlier penalty, and they also started with a full set. They also took the first picture round, on cities built on rias, and took a full set on that as well, which gave them the lead, 45-40.

Mr and Ms Collier took the next two starters, ensuring all four of their team had already contributed at least one starter; no bonuses came from the first set, but a third full house came from the second. A fifth in a row and fourth full set took the London side into three figures, before Mr Fisher finally reawoke Sheffield, but they only got one from their resulting bonuses. They did also take the music round though, on jazz albums to have received a Crown rating in every edition of the Penguin Guide to Jazz; another sole bonus reduced the gap to 105-70.

A very quick buzz from Mr Fleetwood-Walker put the London side further in front, and their bonus record of getting either all three or none ended as they took two on indiginous peoples. A starter to Mr Fisher yielded no bonuses for Sheffield; one to Ms Collier gave U.C.L. just the one. Another starter to Mr Fisher gave his side a full bonus set however, and took them into three figures. The second picture round, on buildings that inspired Lego sets, went to Sheffield; one bonus meant they had pulled back to 140-120.

And a penalty to U.C.L. and picked by Mr Lardner put them within five points, and two bonuses meant they now had the lead. But Mr Collier immediately took it back, and a full set of bonuses on chemical elements kept them in the driving seat. But in what was now a straight sprint for the finish, Mr Fisher blinked next and put his side level again with two bonuses on Upton Sinclair. Mr Salmon gave his side the lead again, but they took just one bonus on French capitals, unluckily giving the wrong of two mentioned answers for one. Next starter would win it for them... but they lost five instead! Mr Lardner took it again... and that was the gong! A 170-each tie!

So, our first tie-breaker since the 2019-20 QFs. Mr Fleetwood-Walker was first to buzz in, and was correct! U.C.L. had the win!

A great game, between two excellent teams, very well played both. Well done U.C.L. and best of luck in the second round! Hard lines to Sheffield, but they'll surely be back as well in the repechage; best of luck to them there!

The stats: Mr Fisher was the best buzzer of the night with six, while Mr Salmon was U.C.L.'s best with three. On the bonuses, Sheffield managed 14 out of 27 and U.C.L. 19 out of 27 (with three penalties), so it was a very well matched contest; well done both teams, very much enjoyed it!

Next week's match, at 7:30 on Tuesday the 25th: Oriel Oxford vs Christ's Cambridge

Only Connect’s final first round match was contested by the Croot Family, Rob, Emma and captain Liam Croot, and the Irregulars, Nash Zvogbo, Phoebe Watts and captain Jonathan Paxton. The latter led 5-2 after the first round, but the former took the lead 9-7 after the second. A better wall saw that lead increase to 19-14, and they just about hung on in Missing Vowels to win 21-19. (Next match Tuesday 25th at 7pm)

 

Mastermind was won by Holly Franklin, who provided a crossover with OC in the form of her SS, the brilliant sitcom Ghosts, and ran out winner with 24 points, four clear of second placed Lisa Sedge. Steve Brown and David Drury also competed, finishing with 14 and 18 respectively. (Next episode Wednesday 26th at 7:30)

 

Brain of Britain’s final first round match was won by Marianne Fairthorne (Mastermind winner, OC semi-finalist, UC quarter-finalist), who took a strong lead in the second round and duly ran out an easy winner with 20 points, 9 clear of second placed Helen Blackburn, whose score, I can confirm as Mr Davies wasn’t that sure, is enough to bring her back as a highest scoring runner-up. John Webley finished a close third with 10, while Hadrian Jeffs also did pretty well with 8. (First semi usual time next Monday)