News and Views: 2018–19 Season

Cup and Plate Semi–Finals – 19 February 2019

By Haydn Thompson, with input from Mark Watson.

After the Semi–Final draws were made, we spoke of the possibility of derby matches in both knockout competitions. But it wasn't to be, as neither Dolphin team and only one Harrington team made it through to the finals.

It was a very high scoring night, with the eight teams scoring, on average, just a fraction under 104. Highest scorers of all were the Waters Green Lemmings with 114; the highest aggregate was 217, in the match between the Dolphin and the Weaver. The latter may see their victory by the narrowest of margins as ample revenge for their narrow defeat in the League last week.

In the two Cup semi-finals, only two points were dropped in the first two rounds - and that was put down to a misunderstanding which was no fault of the question master. In the second round, all eight teams (in the Cup and Plate) scored a perfect 20 points.

In Round 4, only seven questions were not answered by the first team to attempt them - and six of them were picked up by the second team for a bonus.

It may sound as if a good time was had by all, but in fact it can get very tense when so few points are dropped, and matches can hang on just a handful of questions. This pastime of ours is not a spectator sport, and tension is something that can easily be overdone. I don't believe I'm alone in thinking that in the knockout competitions, and particularly in their later stages, the questions need to be of a somewhat higher level of difficulty than we're used to in the League.

Cup: Semi–Final Results 

Cup Final

Plate: Semi–Final Results 

Plate Final

© Macclesfield Quiz League 2019