University Challenge - Quarter Final

University Challenge - Quarter Final

Worcester College, Oxford vs Newcastle

Well Monday nights were truly back to normal by the time University Challenge began and with the show at the Quarter Final stage this was serious business. Being from the north east, although supporting the red and white football team, I still was cheering on Newcastle. Worcester of course had come through the play offs and Newcastle had handed out two heavy defeats meaning this would be a close run contest. Two female captains, two good teams....an excellent show in prospect.

Line Ups  - 

Worcester College, Oxford

Dave Knapp

Jack Bramhill

Rebecca Gillie

Jonathan Metzer

vs

Newcastle

Ben Dunbar

Ross Dent

Eleanor Turner

Nicolas Pang

Without furthermore we were off, and the first to buzz in was Eleanor Turner giving Newcastle the very early advantage and Peel the subject, and A Level subject of mine indeed. Fairly easy questions with any knowledge of the period but missed by the team. Ben Dunbar has been impressive in the previous rounds and he gave Newcastle control again fairing a little better this time and into an early 30-0 lead. Ben Dunbar seemed to be the man they were looking at every time a question was asked. 

The first picture round was tough, on musical notes which is not my strong point but Worcester, who had already scored by this point took control but couldn't bring it level. 45-30 Newcastle led with the support of this Quizzing fan!

Worcester College though had by now began to get their minds working and took a narrow lead but Pang was hot on the buzzer to make sure it did not last long. A round on Trafalgar Square only saw the team know Oslo as the Xmas tree donaters, Dunbar was in on the next buzz getting Artists but again just one answers meant Newcastle were not taking advantage of being hot on the buzzer. Worcester got a brilliant round on cunning book titles with some cracking questions. 75-65 Newcastle.

Classical Music rounds have proven very low scoring in this years series, I cant recall a starter music question on classical music being answered correctly this series. Again not tonight but Worcester tied the lead with the next buzz and got music inspired by the sea. I managed to get the Sibelius but none of the others, Worcester got none however with the next buzz, subject being glue but captain Turner would not let this last long getting a buzz for questions on Dante's Inferno 90-90 and one of the best battles of the series so far. University Challenge at its best!

Pang gave his side the lead once more, Dunbar being very quiet to this point and much better all round team performance than in the previous round. Pang proving to the star was in again and on the subject of Chinese Classics getting two of three heading into a picture round. Figures blacked out of paintings was a great round, as always with the UC picture rounds. Worcester got the picture bonuses, really tough set indeed, credit for the two questions correct. 125-110 Newcastle.

What a match this was turning into, could have went either way at this point with both sides missing bonuses, a few incorrect buzzes and the tension was clearly showing. Of course loosing here or winning here did not mean passage into the next round or elimination but both sides clearly desperately wanted to win this close battle.

3 minutes to go and a vital buzz from Worcester gave them the lead 130-125, and the next buzz on Hogarth was key. Worcester got it followed by 2 bonuses 150-125 and the pace was picked up. Turner was in to give Newcastle a chance but only one bonus was not enough especially with Bramhill buzzing next for Worcester. I though Paxman was going to explode by this point the speed he was going. Worcester got two vital bonuses, the next buzz and it seemed it was all over. 190-140. Nobody deserved to loose but Newcastle looked as if they were about to. Pang was not about to give up though but it was too late.

190-150 Worcester won, one of the best contest in this series of University Challenge and as Paxman says, two enjoyable teams to watch and hopefully both can make it through.