University Challenge 2017-18: Round 1: Match 11: Emmanuel vs St Hugh's

Evening all. You join me on a Monday where I've been feeling a bit perkier than in recent weeks. Having been once again considering the show's prospects and swotting up on back editions, one of which proved handy in answering a question tonight(!), I was in the mood for a good match tonight! And I'm pleased to report we got one!

Emmanuel College Cambridge is one of the wealthier of the university, founded in 1584; alumni include university founder John Harvard, writer Sebastian Faulks and humourists Griff Rhys Jones and Rory McGrath. It won UC in 2009-10, and reached the semis last year; members of both those teams, including UC legends Alex Guttenplan and Bobby Seagull, recently appeared on Eggheads and gave a good account of themselves. This year's foursome were:
Ed Derby, from Manchester, studying Physics
Kitty Chevallier, from Hampshire, studying Arabic and Hindi
Captain: Alex Mistlin, from Islington, studying Politics and International Relations
James Fraser, from Bristol, studying Medicine

St Hugh's College Oxford, founded in 1886, was formerly a women only college, with men being allowed in in 1987. Alumni include Burmese politician Aung San Suu Kyi, comedy actress Rebecca Front, and a certain Mrs T. May. It last appeared in 2009-10, exiting in the second round after a heavy defeat to Imperial, who were later beaten by Alex Guttenplan's Emmanuel. This year's quartet were:
Kazi Elias, from Cambridge, studying History
Euan Grainger, from Shrewsbury, studying Biological Sciences
Captain: Daniel de Wijze, from Manchester, studying Earth Sciences
Aidan Mehigan, from Washington DC, studying Art History

Off we set again then, and a slip up from St Hugh's (who's being all male was not well received by many a Twitterer!) handed Emmanuel the first starter of the night; the Cambridge side took two bonuses on the films of Quentin Tarantino. The Oxonians recovered their lost points, and took two bonuses of their own on European geography. They then took the lead on the next starter, and a full bonus set meant they now doubled their opponents' total. Mr Mehigan took what would be the first of many starters of the night, though just the one bonus followed this time. The first picture round, on sheet music of famous compositions, went to Emmanuel, who took two bonuses, which reduced their arrears to 55-40.

Mr Derby put Emmanuel back within five, but they couldn't take any bonuses to retake the lead. Another starter did the trick, but an amusing bonus set on rhymes about English history proved no more fruitful. Zoology proved more to their liking, two correct bonuses accompanying a third starter in a row. A prompt buzz from Mr Mehigan finally broke St Hugh's back into the match, but the work of Dennis Potter wasn't to their liking, no bonuses accompanying again.

The music starter was dropped, the bonuses, on pieces dedicated to other composers, went to Emmanuel, who took all three, increasing their lead to 105-65. It increased again when Mr Mehigan was unlucky to be penalised for cutting in just as the question was finishing; Mr Fraser did the honours, and a second full bonus set in a row followed. Mr Mehigan then made up for his unfortunate slip, and two bonuses on lunar expeditions came with it. Mr Fraser was quick for Emmanuel again though, and an amusing bonus set on henpecked husbands provided them with one correct answer. (Another of them I knew thanks to an old match I revisited over the weekend!)

The second picture round, on paintings depicting Westminster Bridge, went to St Hugh's, who took a full house, which cut the gap to 145-105. Back came Mr Fraser to increase it again though, and two bonuses meant they'd surely have enough to come back win or lose. St Hugh's weren't finished yet though; Mr Mehigan took the next starter, and bonuses on the Bible gave them two correct answers, which they were gonna need to catch up.

And when Mr Mehigan took a second starter in a row, they were well back in the hunt; dropping all the bonuses on local government didn't help their cause though. Mr Grainger taking the next starter did though, two bonuses, and they were just ten behind with not much time left! To add to the jeopardy, Emmanuel dropped five, halving the deficit! St Hugh's couldn't capitalise though. Next starter might surely win it, but neither team got it! Nor the next! Finally, Mr Fraser broke the deadlock by taking the next starter; no bonuses followed, but they might just have done enough. Indeed, the gong went during the next starter; Emmanuel had snuck home 170-155!

An excellent close match, well played both teams. Unlucky St Hugh's, who nearly snatched it right at the end, but have surely done enough to return in the play-offs, so best of luck then hopefully! Well done Emmanuel though, and very best of luck in the second round!

The stats: Messrs Fraser and Meighan were joint best buzzers of the night, with six each for their respective teams. On the bonuses, Emmanuel converted 15 out of 30 (with one penalty), while St Hugh's managed 15 out of 27 (with two penalties), so it really was one starter that decided the match!

Next week's match: St Andrews vs St John's College Cambridge, in a rematch of a play-off from 2010-11

Only Connect back on Friday, with the penultimate first round match, now we know exactly what's going on there; thanks again to Phyl Styles for filling us in.