University Challenge 2022-23: Round 2: Match 6: U.C.L. vs Newcastle

Good evening friends, and welcome back, once again, to Quizzy Mondays! Tonight's UC was the kind of match I really hate: a second round match between two very good teams, one of which is going to go out here. I know I know, I've moaned many times before about this 'quirk' of the format, but matches such as tonight's really do annoy me very much so. Anyway, whoever won tonight would take the sixth place in the QFs, while the runners-up could count themselves unlucky to be going out now.

U.C.L. won one of the best matches of the first round back in October, as they drew 170-each with Sheffield, and just won it on a tie-breaker (ironically, Sheffield would lose in the play-offs to Newnham, whose second round match also ended in a tie-breaker!). They were the same four as before, including the famous mother-and-son duo: 

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 Physics with Maths

 

Newcastle, in contrast, were pretty comfortable winners in their first match back in September, as they defeated Open 195-115. They were also unchanged from before: 

John Ingham, from Guildford, studying Control Theory for Brain Modelling and Analysis

Tom Speller, from Putney, studying Medicine

Captain: Sam Keay, from Bedford, studying Linguistics with Japanese

Elizabeth Lamb, from Morpeth, studying Film Theory and Practice 

So, off we set once again then, and Ms Collier opened the scoring for the night with a very quick buzz of 'ram'; two bonuses were taken, before Mr Salmon took the second starter, and they went one better with their second bonus set, a full set on Mount Meru. Mr Collier then followed his mother's example as he was next to take a starter, and the London side promptly took a second full bonus set, on physicist George Gamow. The first picture round, on now-defuct English counties, also went to U.C.L., who took two bonuses this time (I had a full set), which meant they already led 90-0.

Newcastle finally got some points on the board with the next starter, Mr Keay doing the honours; two bonuses on art were taken, before the Newcastle captain took a second starter in a row, which was followed this time by just one bonus on alliterative terms. Mr Ingham gave the Tynesiders a third in a row however, and a full bonus on zoology meant they were right back in the game now. The music round, on hits from musicals (something that never gets chosen as a bonus subject on Popmaster!), went to U.C.L. though; one bonus opened their lead back up to 105-60.

No-one identified John Stuart Mill for the next starter (I did, but I nearly same Burke instead TBF), before Mr Salmon pushed the London side further ahead with the next starter; again, though, just one bonus was taken. Back came Newcastle through Mr Keay, giving them bonuses on the 2008 financial crisis, including a very appropriate for them question about Northern Rock, which they took a full house of. Only for U.C.L. to immediately buzz straight back in; just one bonus meant they didn't extend their lead too much, but a second starter in a row to Mr Salmon and two bonuses very much did. Back came Mr Keay to identify 1974 as one of two 20th century years with two UK general elections, but they got nothing from a bonus set on rivers. They also took the second picture round, on chairs, but got nothing from them again (I got Eames thanks to Frasier!), which left them trailing 155-105.

Mr Ingham quickly took a third in a row for the Tynesiders however, and bonuses on Irish history took them right back into the game, two correct. Another starter to Newcastle, two bonuses on London prisons, and they were just ten behind! Another starter to Mr Keay, and they were level! But they couldn't take the one bonus they needed to take the lead. But Mr Ingham took the next starter to put them in front! Just one bonus followed though. And this proved their undoing, as Mr Collier took the next starter, and a full bonus set on Borneo put the Londoners ahead again! And that was the gong! U.C.L. won a great game 180-170!

A superb contest, between two very good and well-matched teams, what a shame one of them has to go out for good now. Well done to U.C.L., and best of luck in the QFs! Hard lines to Newcastle, who would probably have gone through with a kinder draw, but still, a fine performance, thanks very much for playing!

The stats: Mr Keay was the best buzzer of the night with six starters, while Mr Salmon was best for U.C.L. with four. On the bonuses, U.C.L. managed 18 out of 27 and Newcastle 14 out of 30, so it was the bonuses that won it for U.C.L.. But a great game still, well done again both teams!

Next week's match: two of Bangor, Christ's Cambridge, Durham and Southampton; will let you know which two as soon as I find out myself.

Only Connect’s third quarter-final was contested by the Scrummagers and the Harlequins. The former led 7-1 after the first round, and 12-5 after the second. A better wall saw that lead increase to 22-11 going into Missing Vowels, and they comfortably saw out the game to win 28-15.

 

Mastermind was won by Anna Milford Goldstein, whose slightly better GK round saw her just win with 20 points, just ahead of Zahir Kazi and Voirrey Blount on 19 each. Molly Quinn-Leitch completed the line-up with 10.

 

Counterpoint was won by quiz regular Diane Hallagan (WWTBAM, Only Connect, Brain of Britain and many others), who won very comfortably with 27 points. Special mention too to John Dyer, whose excellent performance in the final round saw him pull back from well behind in third to a solid second.