Greetings friends, and Happy New Year! So, time to look back at the second week of the Christmas series of UC just finished. A pretty good series I thought, and the standard of the matches this week, especially the semi-finals, was pretty decent too. So, let's do this...
Monday 26th: U.C.L. vs Aberdeen
U.C.L.: Jess French, Ken Follett, Ria Lina, Susan Collins
Aberdeen: Margaret McCartney, Neil Fachie, Jon Baird, Lorna Dawson
Aberdeen started the stronger, but U.C.L. recovered nicely later on and it proved a close affair in the end. Aberdeen just about won out 115-85 in the end, a score not good enough for a return.
Tuesday 27th: Bristol vs Cardiff
Bristol: Nigel Marven, Georgie Twigg, Dominic Waghorn, Nizar Ibrahim
Cardiff: Rachel Burden, Heather Knight, Adam Price, Dan Saladino
Bristol led from the off and quickly pulled away, and, though Cardiff did eventually get some points on the board, they were second best throughout. Bristol soon put themselves one starter and bonus away from the semis, but Cardiff denied them those points with an impressive late rally which saw them close the gap right up. Bristol still won 125-105, but, again, not enough for a return.
Wednesday 28th: York vs Hull
Ms Kind was unable to return due to work, so James Mooney came in to replace her. York led at first, but Hull seized the initiative in the second half and, with an impressive late rally, won the game 155-100.
Thursday 29th: Balliol vs Exeter
This was a seriously good contest, between two very good teams, neither of whom deserved to go out now in all honesty. Exeter led at first, but, again, Ballioll recovered strongly in the second half and ran away in the final minutes to 215-125. Special mention to Mr O'Neill for his very impressive haul of NINE starters.
Friday 30th: Hull vs Balliol
Another substitution, with Sarah Peverley coming in for Hull to replace Mr Graham. Balliol were the favourites for this match, and duly delivered, though their performance was much more of a team effort this time. Hull didn't disgrace themselves, but were a clear second best. Balliol won the game, and the series, 165-70.
Another fine Christmas series; thanks to all the teams who took part, and well done again to Balliol, worthy winners! And special mention to Paxo too, for whom the final was, canonically as the rest of the regular series was filmed first, his final game in charge! An occasion which he marked with a very snazzy Xmas jumper in lieu of his usual suit! Thanks once again to him for his many years of service, and all the best to him on his retirement!
Regular series resumes tomorrow night with the first second round match, which we now know will be between St Andrews and Royal Holloway, and OC and Mastermind return to business as usual too. Back with my usual write-up tomorrow night; until then, sayonara...
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