Wednesday 28 October 2015

Only Connect Series 11: Qualification Round: Match 4: Scientists vs Athenians

Right, moving on to this week's OC. Playing in the final qualification match were the Scientists, Innis Carson, Ian Volante and Lorraine Murtagh, who comfortably defeated the Builders in their first match, and the Athenians, blog reader Jon Stitcher, Amber Marshall and Ben Holmes, who won out over the Road Trippers first time around.

Round 1. The Athenians kicked off the match with Water: 'Derek New (University Challenge)', then 'Neil Richardson (Mastermind)', then 'Ed Welch (Blockbusters)'; they suggested originators of the formats for these shows, which was not correct. The Scientists saw 'Evan Dawson & Nico Sabatini (Only Connect)', and offered that they are the composers of these shows' theme tunes; correct, for a bonus. For their own first question, the Scientists chose 'Horn-ed' Viper: 'Jennifer Bennett, Faversham', then 'Sharron Storer, Birmingham', then 'Dan Ware, Rochester' and finally 'Gillian Duffy, Rochdale'. The final clue gave it to them: they are controversial figures from election campaigns. (Mrs Duffy was the lady Mr Brown called a bigot) The Athenians chose Two Reeds next: 'Australia (6)', then 'Bosnia and Herzegovina (1/2 + 7 + 1/2)'; at this point they offered the amount of stars on their flags, which was correct for three points. The Scientists chose Eye of Horus next: 'Einsteinium', then 'Names of Allah', then '1974 Lions call' and finally 'Luftballons'. Again, the final clue was the giveaway: the number 99 is the link. The Athenians chose Twisted Flax next, and got the music question: after hearing three of the tracks, they noticed that the songs were linked by containers, and thus acquired two points there. Left with Lion, the Scientists got the picture set, and saw Flora MacDonald (the girl who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape), then a weeping willow, then a stork and finally a clover leaf. Just in time, they spotted that they are all brands of butter, and rescued a point. At the end of the first round, the Athenians led 5-4.

Round 2, What Comes Fourth? The Athenians kicked off with Water, and got the picture set: we saw Jim Hacker (as played by Paul Eddington), then Boris Becker, and then Alan Whicker; they spotted the link, and offered 'Mr Docker'! Victoria was most amused by this! But, nonetheless, it was allowed, for two points. (acker, ecker, icker, ocker being the link) The Scientists chose Lion: '1990: 4.,5', then '1997: 4,5', and then '2007: 6,5'. They didn't get it, their opponents did: '2010: 5,7'; it's the years prime ministers took office, and the number of letters in their names. Well worked out that. For their own question, the Athenians chose Twisted Flax: '... hat', then '... Deal', and then '... time'. They eventually worked out it was 'Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue', and offered '... suede shoes', which was accepted for two points. The Scientists chose Eye of Horus, and got a music question: we heard Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich', then 'Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young', and then 'Peter, Paul & Mary'; they offered something by Rene & Renato, which was accepted for two points. And, of course, Victoria made Mr Volante sing one of their songs to complete the set! For their final choice, the Athenians chose Two Reeds: 'We the Living', then 'Anthem', and then 'The Fountainhead'. They didn't know it, their opponents did: 'Atlas Shrugged', the link being successive works by Ayn Rand. Left with Horned Viper, the Scientists saw 'Ronaldo', then 'Fabio', and then 'Andres'. They didn't get it, and their opponents realised what it was too late. They are the first names of the footballers who scored the winning goal in successive World Cups, so 'Mario' (as in Gotze) completes the set. Unlucky. At the end of the second round, the Athenians led 10-7.

On to the Walls. The Scientists chose to tackle the Lion wall. They spotted some links early on, but had little luck resolving any sets. Eventually they resolved 'Damsel', 'Maiden', 'Lassie' and 'Colleen', which are colloquialisms for 'girl', and then followed that up with 'Horse', 'Crane', 'Fruit' and 'Dragon', which are types of fly. They ran out of lives before they could work out the remaining two sets, and thus had to make do with picking up bonus points: 'Nipper', 'Laika', 'Greyfriars Bobby' and 'Hachiko' are famous dogs, which they knew, while 'Maude', 'May', 'Pickles' and 'Fox' are chairmen (and women) of the Tory party, which they also got (just about). Six points for that then.

The Athenians thus had the Water wall to play with. They managed to solve a group somewhat quicker than their opponents: 'Hook', 'Bolo', 'Jab' and 'Cross' are types of boxing punch. A second group followed: 'Urchin', 'Hydra', 'Sponge' and 'Coral' are aquatic invertebrates, but they mistakenly offered that they are all follow 'sea', thus dropping a point. The final groups slotted in shortly afterwards: 'Line', 'Plum', 'Beckham' and 'Falls' can all follow 'Victoria', which they knew, while 'Black', 'Yorkshire', 'Christmas' and 'Summer' are puddings, which they also knew. Just one error, so seven points. Which meant the Athenians led 17-13 going into the final round.

Once again, then, Missing Vowels would decide who went which way. 'Basic vocabulary in English and Spanish' went to the Scientists 2-0, with the Athenians getting two right, but two wrong. 'Members of the Only Connect crew', such as 'JULIET THE MAKE-UP ARTIST' (yes, really!) went to the Scientists 3-(-1). 'Hugh Grant films' saw the Scientists get one right, and one wrong, and the round ended there. At the end of the match, the Scientists won 18-16.

Another excellent half hour of quizzing. Unlucky Athenians, who were unlucky in the final round, but a good showing nonetheless, and best of luck in the play-offs! Well done Scientists though, and best of luck in the QFs!

Next week's match: the Cluesmiths vs the Mixologists

Don't forget, it's 7:30 rather than 8:30 for OC as of Monday. And, yes, Series 1 will, someday, be finished. I'll be back tomorrow with a look over the feminine representation on UC this year. And I will also cover the fourth Fifteen-to-One 2.0 grand final at some point after Friday as well.

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