University Challenge - Quarter Final

University Challenge - Quarter Final 

University of Manchester vs Newcastle University

Well, not in a million years did I expect the quarter final of University Challenge between Manchester and Newcastle to turn out the way it did and what we got on our screens last night, with all due respect, was a drubbing!

Of course being from the North East my support was firmly with the Newcastle team and Ben Dunbar, Nicola Pang and Eleanor Turner all proving to be solid players in previous rounds I had them down as a potential dark horse to make the final.

However, with both teams having already lost once before the outcome here was simple...loose and you are out! The winners would still need another victory but on this evidence that should not be hard to come by.

Tristan Burke was on fire throughout and his command on the buzzer gave Manchester such a lead. Michael Mckenna propped up with a batch of great answers as did Joyce but Burke was leading from the front and for the first 15 minutes the lead just grew and grew. By the 15 minute mark it seemed all over, Newcastle worryingly silent with Turner and Pang seemingly ignoring Dunbar and Dent on the few buzzes they did get. both myself and the person I was watching it with detected some bad blood between the team maybe? Either way they were no where near their best and Burke took them apart.

330-95 was the final score and Manchester look a formidable force. Newcastle, despite showing great promise in previous rounds, had a shocker and exit this series of University Challenge. For Manchester another win is needed but if Tristan Burke plays half as well as he did on this showing that should not be an issue!