Monday 3 September 2012

University Challenge 2012/2013 - Match 6


University Challenge 2012/2013 - Match 6

It barley seems like any time at all since the latest series of University Challenge began but already we are into the 6th heat and tonight was Magdalen, Oxford vs Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge


Line ups - 

Madgalen
Will Wright
Rob Mangan
Henry Watson
Richard Purkiss

Sidney Sussex
Lois Overvoorde
Tom Seddon
Redman-White
Callum Robertson

From the offset and until the last third this was a very tight game with some excellent question writing as usual. It kicked off with an early buzz for Will Wright to get Madgalen going but when Sidney converted a full set from Callum Robertson's buzz they set the early pace. The scores remained tight and there were some fantastic rounds here.

One of my favourite picture rounds in recent shows, with the flags representing a sequence, a great round linked to Johnson and a brass band musical round all followed. I was on a roll and so where the teams with the scores remaining tight. Sidney kept the lead at 90-50 and were looking very strong but were not converting enough to turn that lead into a winning one. Indeed, Madgalen clawed their way back and pretty much as soon as they got into touching distance they were away storming to a commanding lead. Henry Watson lead by example and before long the 170-105 lead was enough to give them comfort.

By this stage everyone was chipping in with key buzzes from Mangan and Purkiss and although, by the tone of Watsons voice, it seemed they were guessing a lot I think there is a very deep and wide knowledge in this team that could see them so all the way. Redman-White was perhaps the most impressive from Sidney Sussex and for most of the first half of the match it seemed he would be leading them into the next round but the lack of conversions and a psate of wrong answers pushed them back into a 205-125 defeat.

Undoubtedly both were good teams and there was indeed plenty of humour in the early part of this show with Paxman joining in as usual but once it settled down and Magdalen got in the swing of things there was no stopping them. If Henry Watson can get his team to make a high scoring start they will be a challenge for anyone and I full expect to see them many more times in this series of University Challenge! 

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