News and Views: 2022–3 Season, Week 8 – 24 January 2023

Results

There were some big wins in the League this week. Five of the seven matches were decided by 25 points or more, and two by over 50. Of the other two, the Park Taverners' victory over the Sutton Mutton was still fairly comfortable, while in the only really close match, Waters Green Weavers defeated the Queens by 171 points to 169.

The Nags Head (presumably) enjoyed their first victory of the season, over the Harrington Diamonds.

Tables

The Poachers lost their one–game advantage this week, being on question setting duties, and this allowed the Nags Head 'B' to go above them on goal difference into first place in the A League (with a victory over Harrington Academicals). As we approach the half–way mark, both of the top two teams have lost one game so far this season.

Waters Green Weavers moved up two places to third in the A League, thanks to their victory over the Queens, while the Dolphin (who had no game this week) slipped from third to sixth.

There was just one change in the B League table. In losing to the Waters Green Nags, the Plough Horntails not only missed out on the chance to go second on goal difference, but they allowed the Sutton Club to move above them into third place with a resounding victory over the Park Timers.

Individual

Top scorer this week was Alice Walker with 51. There were four scores in the 40s: Haydn Thompson scored 48 and Mark Watson 45, while Ian Grieve and Ian Musgrave both scored 42.

There were 10 personal bests and 15 Personal worsts. Both bests and worsts were evenly divided between the two Leagues (with the odd personal worst coming in the B League).

None of last week's top three in the A League table played this week. Ashton Davies slipped from second to sixth and Peter McBride from third to seventh, but Alan Hodgson held on to top spot despite Alice Walker's challenge. The other climbers were Haydn Thompson, Mark Watson and Dave Partington – all of whom moved up two places.

Further down the A League table, Ian Grieve returned to the Top Ten for the first time since Week 1.

By contrast, everyone in the B League Top Ten did play, and the most significant change was that Dave Barber (previously fourth) swapped places with Wynne Keith–Davies (previously third).

Questions

The main talking point this week was the preponderance of questions on the subject of Arts and Entertainment – over 40 in the General Knowledge alone (and the vast majority of them on the Entertainment side). This seemed to suit most people however; the Specialist questions were voted into third place in the Entertainment table and the General Knowledge eighth (out of 16).

Some teams did much better than average and some did much worse, but overall (according to the spreadsheet) the questions were of average difficulty and the balance was good. What this all adds up to is that the Poachers' questions are the nearest challengers yet to the General Knowledge set in Week 1 by the Nags Head 'B', occupying second and third places in the Cars & Vans 4U Question Setters' Trophy table.

A League

Table

Individual Top Ten

B League

Results

Table

Individual Top Ten

Cars & Van 4U Question Setters' Trophy

The Poachers' questions scored well on the whole, and are in second and third places in the overall table. Although there were wide variations in the average scores – some teams doing much better than average and some much worse – overall, the average scores were very close to the average over this season and last. So although the Difficulty scores were themselves only average, the Balance scores were high.

In the General Knowledge, the teams going 'first first' did slightly better – 104% to 100% – but in the Specialists, both figures were 98%. Overall, the teams going 'first first' did very slightly better: 100% to 99%.

The questions went down pretty well, scoring highly for entertainment. The Specialists received the third highest marks of the season, behind only the Nags Head 'B's two sets, and the General Knowledge are in eight place out of 16.

For the full spreadsheet, please click here.

© Macclesfield Quiz League 2023