University Challenge 2022-23: Round 2: Match 2: Robert Gordon vs Courtauld

Good evening again friends, and welcome back to JOW! The second quizzing week of the new year saw the second second round match of this year's UC. Returning tonight were two teams who I probably wouldn't have paired together, given that they were both impressive in different ways in the first round. The winners would join Royal Holloway in the QFs, while the runners-up could consider themselves unlucky to go out now.

Robert Gordon University were comfortable winners over fellow 'new' university Roehampton in their first round match, dominating on the buzzer throughout and winning 210-90. They were unchanged from that game: 

Samuel Fregene, from Nigeria, studying Analytical Science

Donald Anderson, from Aberdeen, studying Accounting and Finance

Captain: Emily Cullen, from Clonroche, County Wexford, studying Pharmacy

Faye Cooke, from Stockport, studying Professional Legal Practice

 

The Courtauld Institute of Art played the previous week, and were more narrow winners, 175-160, over Newnham, who were good enough to return in the play-offs and make it to the second round too. They were also the same four as before: 

Oliver White, from Guildford, studying the Art of Renaissance Italy

Alice Dodds, from Birmingham, studying the History of Art

Captain: Ryan McMeekin, from Hertfordshire, studying Circum-Atlantic Visual Culture of the late colonial period

Lizzie Mackarel, from Liverpool, studying 20th-century Russian Art

 

So, off we set once again then, and Mr Anderson picked up where he left off as he took the first starter for Robert Gordon; bonuses on the Villa Rotonda gave them one correct bonus to start off with. Courtauld followed them off the mark, and then took the lead with two correct bonuses on chemistry, only for Robert Gordon to immediately take it back with the next strater; just one bonus went to the Scots side again. The first picture starter was dropped; the bonuses, on locations of the World's oldest still-operational lighthouses, went to Courtauld, who also took just one bonus, which gave them back the lead, 35-30.

Only for Mr Anderson to take a third starter for Robert Gordon to give them back the lead again; just the one bonus went with it again, but Courtauld then lost five for a 'just an' interruption, and this allowed the Scots side to take a second starter in a row, which they followed up with, yep, just one bonus again. Starting to build up a head of steam on the buzzer, Mr Anderson quickly identified Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as the former leader of Liberia; bonuses on record labels saw them finally end their run with two correct. They also took the music round, on songs partially written in 5/4 time; another two correct bonuses, including, what looked like, a guess of Taylor Swift, meant they now led 100-30.

Courtauld finally got some points on the board again through Mr McMeekin, but they got nothing from a bonus set on Indo-European langauges. A penalty from Robert Gordon allowed the Londoners a second starter in a row, but, again, the bonuses didn't fall for them, none taken. Back came Robert Gordon via Ms Cullen; just one bonus accompanied again, but, if they could keep up their buzzer dominance, it probably wouldn't matter. The second picture round, on paintings depicting women and parrots, also went to Robert Gordon; no bonuses were taken this time, but they still led 120-50.

And when Ms Cullen took the next starter, and two bonuses on antarctic exploration were taken, they were within sight of victory. Mr McMeekin did the right thing and buzzed quickly on the next starter, but was wrong; Ms Cullen took the points, one bonus followed again, and that was game over. Ms Cooke confirmed it by taking the next starter; two bonuses on science were taken as well. Courtauld did manage a late rally to a more respectable score, taking two late starters and two bonuses, but the game was well over as a contest by now. At the gong, Robert Gordon won 180-75.

Another enjoyable contest, despite the sometimes slow pace. Well done to Robert Gordon, a second impressive showing, and, if they can improve on the bonuses, they'll be a team to watch in the quarter-finals; best of luck to them there. Hard lines to Courtauld, who we know are a capable team, as we saw in their first match, but were simply outplayed this time, but still a fair effort, thanks for playing!

The stats: Mr Anderson was the best buzzer of the night with six, while Mr McMeekin was best for Courtauld with three. On the bonuses, Robert Gordon managed 14 out of 36 and Courtauld 5 out of 18, and both sides incurred two penalties.

Next week's match: again, don't know, but keep an eye on Twitter and the BBC website.

Only Connect’s penultimate play-off match pitted the Scrummagers against the Croot Family. The latter led 5-1 after the first round, but a shutout in a very tough second round saw the former cut the gap to 5-4. A better wall saw the Scrummagers take the lead 14-8 going into Missing Vowels, and they survived a good recovery by their opponents to win 18-16.

 

Mastermind was won comfortably by William Andrews with 24 points, with recent UC alumnus Holly Parkinson coming second with 18. Ishmael Silvestro and Boakesey Boakes completed the line-up with 14 and 15 respectively.

 

Counterpoint returned for a new series this afternoon; serial quizzer Anthony Fish won the show to take the first place in the semi-finals.