University Challenge 2022-23: Semi-Final 1: Royal Holloway vs Durham

Good evening friends, and welcome back to JOW! We're nearly there now; only two more games of UC left this series after tonight, and, thus, only two more episodes with Paxo as well! I will be giving Amol Rajan a fair chance as host next series, but it will be really odd seeing someone else in charge. Anyway, we still have the small matter of the remainder of this series to deal with so, here we go...

Royal Holloway began the QFs as underdogs after low scoring wins over Cranfield and St Andrews, but proved their worth with a comfortable win over Robert Gordon and a narrow win over their opponents tonight, making them the only unbeaten side left. They were the same foursome 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

 

Durham beat fellow semi-finalists Bristol in the first round, Bangor in the second, fellow semi-finalists Southampton in their first QF, lost their second to their opponents tonight, but recovered by beating U.C.L. to make it to this match. They were also the same quartet 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

 

So, off we set once again then, and Durham got off to the stronger start, with Mr Radcliffe taking the first two starters of the game, and Ms Bennett the third, taking two, no and three bonuses from the respective sets. Royal Holloway got off the mark with the first picture round, on locations of World Heritage Sites listed as being in danger, after which they trailed 55-15. But Durham were clearly bossing the buzzer race here, though their bonus rate did fluctuate a little bit at times; Royal Holloway did get a second starter, but were clearly second best at the moment. After the music round, on songs produced by Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Durham led 105-25.

And onwards and upwards Durham's score went, as the starters kept coming and the bonuses started to fall better for them as well. Mr Harvey did take a third starter for Royal Holloway, but Durham were over 100 ahead by now, and no bonuses meant the chances of a fightback were slim. The second picture round, on writers who wrote works that originated in the New Yorker, went to Durham, who increased their lead to 165-35. Royal Holloway pulled back to respectability in the final minutes, as they actually managed a pretty good run on the buzzer, with Durham being restricted to a single penalty. It wasn't going to be enough to win them the game, but it was good to see them go out on a flourish. At the gong, Durham won 160-90.

Another enjoyable, if one-sided, contest. Well done to Durham, a solid showing on the buzzer especially which means they certainly have a chance whoever they play in the final; best of luck in it! Hard lines to Royal Holloway, but they've done great to get this far and played well throughout; thanks for playing!

The stats: Mr Radcliffe was the best buzzer of the night with five, while Mr Harvey was best for Royal Holloway with four, though Ms Brown was their best of the series as a whole with 22. On the bonuses, Royal Holloway managed just 4 out of 21 and Durham 15 out of 27 (with the night's one penalty).

Next week's match: Bristol vs Southampton in the second semi-final. A reminder that my write-up of the final itself will be several days after it airs as I'm on holiday that week.