Good evening again friends, and welcome back to Quizzy Mondays! Tonight, we began the second phase of the UC quarter-final process and, after last year's slight mixing up of the order of the games, its back to usual this year as we start with the first qualifier. Tonight's match would've probably looked like a foregone conclusion going into the QFs, but, after the two teams' respective showings in the prelims, maybe not so much now. Winners would take the first place in the semis.
Durham had a close win over fellow quarter-finalists Bristol in the first round, then a very easy win over Bangor in the second, before their first quarter-final was another close one, as they just triumphed over Southampton 165-135. They were the same unchanged foursome as before:
Harry Scully, from Welwyn Garden City, studying Physics and Chemistry
Chloe Margaux, from Haringey in London, studying Sociology
Captain: Alex Radcliffe, from Edinburgh, studying Maths
Bea Bennett, from Icomb in Gloucestershire, studying English
Royal Holloway started the QFs as outsiders after two low scoring wins over Cranfield in the first round and St Andrews in the second, but a convincing 170-85 win over Robert Gordon in their first QF showed them to not be a team to be written-off at all. They were also the same unchanged quartet as before:
Joel Abramovich, from Highgate in London, studying Biology
Joanna Brown, from North London, studying Creative Writing
Captain: George Harvey, from Dunmow in Essex, studying Physics
Micka Clayton, from South Africa, studying Music and Neuropsychology
So, off we set once again then, and it was Mr Scully who took the first starter of the game, with two bonuses on Martha Gellhorn getting Durham off the mark. Mr Scully took the second starter as well, with just one bonus on the 1450s following this time; he tried for a third, but was wrong this time, allowing Royal Holloway's MVP Ms Brown to get her team off the mark, with a single bonus going to them as well. The first picture round, on scores for leitmotifs from Peter and the Wolf (which provided a crossover with today's Counterpoint!), went to Durham; a full set left their lead at 55-15.
It duly increased as Royal Holloway lost five (to a 'just an' interruption) and Mr Radcliffe swooped, though just one bonus followed again. Two penalties then dropped the Wearsiders further back though, but their opponents couldn't take advantage of either; one of these saw both teams buzz far too early before the full question, which would've gone in a totally different direction, could be asked. (I can almost hear William G. Stewart proclaiming "That wasn't going to be the question!") A third starter was dropped before Durham finally got some positive points on the board again, with another single bonus following. Ms Brown got Royal Holloway going again with a second starter, but they got nothing from a tough bonus set on magnetism. The music round, on songs from films that became stage shows and then became films again, went to Durham; two bonuses took their lead to 95-20.
Another penalty dropped them another five though, though Royal Holloway couldn't take advantage again. Mr Harvey gave them further points though as he (and I) knew Hampshire to be the middle county of those with coasts on the Channel; bonuses on Assassin's Creed video games provided the Londoners with two correct answers. Mr Harvey then proceded to take a second starter in a row, and then a third as well; one bonus from the first set and two from the second meant they had suddenly caught back up again. The second picture round, on pairs of authors with shared middle initials, went to Durham though, taking them into three figures; one bonus meant they now led 105-75.
Yet another penalty (from another 'just an' interruption, so both teams incurred one each, no harm done then) dropped Durham further back though; Mr Harvey duly tapped into an empty net, and two bonuses meant they were suddenly just five behind. And Mr Abramovich's answer of 'actin' then gave them the lead with not much time left, it might be enough if they could get the bonuses; just one meant it was now a one-starter shootout though. Ms Brown duly did the honours, thus confirming their win, and there was time for one bonus before the gong. Royal Holloway won 125-100.
Another low scoring, but exciting contest, well done both teams there. Very well done Royal Holloway, another low scoring win, but they deserved it in the end and are worthy semi-finalsists; best of luck there! Hard lines to Durham, who were a tad unlucky on the buzzer a few times there, but are certainly not out of the running at all yet; best of luck to them in the play-offs!
The stats: Mr Harvey was the best buzzer of the night with four starters, while Mr Radcliffe was best for Durham with three. On the bonuses, Durham managed 11 out of 21 (with a costly FIVE penalties) and Royal Holloway 10 out of 22 (with one penalty).
Next week's match: Southampton vs Robert Gordon in the first eliminator
Mastermind’s third semi-final was
a very close game indeed, with all four players separated just three points; James
Davidson won with 20 points to take the third place in the final, with Alison Rose
second with 19, Darren Ross third with 18 and Sam Swift fourth with 17.
Counterpoint’s third and final
semi was also a very close affair, with Sally Wilson beating Diane Hallagan by
just two points, with Charles Dusting coming third, to take the final place in
next week’s final.
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