Monday 2nd May 2016 (Series 74, Prelim 64)

Sean Fletcher · Post by **Sean Fletcher** » Tue May 31, 2016 11:05 am

Hello and welcome to another, overdue, Monday recap. Dave Costello will be hoping to edge closer to octochampdom. Pippa Weigh stands between him and a seventh win.

Countdown recap for Monday 2 May 2016.

C1: Champion Dave Costello (6 wins, 557 points.) A pensions actuary from Bath.
C2: Challenger Pippa Weigh. A mortgage adviser and mother of two, from Herne Bay. Was once stalked by sharks whilst swimming in Australia.
DC: Susie Dent and Greg Rusedski.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: T D R I E U M N I
R02: L N A I L O S D E
R03: 6, 4, 5, 1, 1, 2. Target: 792.
TTT: RAGEFIRE - "The amount Brian paid to get across the water, perhaps."
R04: M C T O A M O J I
R05: R N T A E O R V B
R06: 7, 8, 4, 5, 50, 100. Target: 597.
R07: V R U E A N P G E
R08: P S T I E S U T E
R09: 10, 9, 7, 2, 2, 10. Target: 206.
TTT: SLIMPEGS - "He catches a momentary view of her slim pegs."
R10: S D G A O H E D A
R11: R L P O U I R X M
R12: T D A E Y T I F A
R13: S N U O R W S A C
R14: 6, 9, 2, 3, 8, 75. Target: 421.
R15: N E I L S K I S S (conundrum)

And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: T D R I E U M N I

Dave: MINTIER (7)
Pippa: MINUTED (7)
DC: UNTRIED (7) RUDIMENT (8)
OT: MUTINIED (8) UNMITRED (8) UNTIDIER (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)

In a round with various eights, both players get a seven.

Round 2: L N A I L O S D E

Dave: DOLLIES (7)
Pippa: snailed
DC: DENIALS (7) DALLIES (7) SALLIED (7)
OT: ADINOLES (8) NODALISE (8)
Score: 14–7 (max 16)

Pippa has her risky word disallowed, allowing the champ to take an early lead.

ADINOLES: A hard, fine-grained rock, rich in albite, resulting from contact metamorphism of shales, slates, etc.

Round 3: 6, 4, 5, 1, 1, 2. Target: 792.

Dave: -
Pippa: -
RR: 480. (0)
OT: 480. (6*5)*(2+1+1)*4 (0)
Score: 14–7 (max 16)

An impossible numbers keeps the scores the same.

Teatime teaser: RAGEFIRE -> FERRIAGE

Round 4: M C T O A M O J I

Dave: COMMA (5)
Pippa: MOAT (4)
DC: ATOMIC (6) COATI (5)
OT: COMMIT (6) MATICO (6) MOJITO (6)
Score: 19–7 (max 22)

Dave extends his lead with a 5. Some common 6's available though.

MATICO: A shrub of tropical South America, Piper angustifolium (family Piperaceae), valued for its medicinal properties.

Round 5: R N T A E O R V B

Dave: BANTER (6)
Pippa: BANTER (6)
DC: BARNET (6) OVERRAN (7) ABORTER (7)
OT: BEVATRON (8)
Score: 25–13 (max 30)

A bit of BANTER between the contestants gets them six points each. DC spot a couple of sevens but miss the 8.

BEVATRON: A synchrotron used to accelerate protons to energies in the billion electronvolt range.

Round 6: 7, 8, 4, 5, 50, 100. Target: 597.

Dave: 597. (100+8)*5+50+7 (10)
Pippa: 596.
Score: 35–13 (max 40)

Easier numbers game this time. Pippa gets one away, but Dave extends his lead with perfection.

Greg talks about playing in the Champions Tennis League in India.

Round 7: V R U E A N P G E

Dave: ENGRAVE (7)
Pippa: REPAVE (6)
DC: AVENGER (7) PARVENU (7)
OT: PREGAVE (7) PUGAREE (7) UNGRAVE (7)
Score: 42–13 (max 47)

A seven from Dave gives him a comfortable lead.

PARVENU: A person of humble origin who has gained wealth, influence, or celebrity.

Round 8: P S T I E S U T E

Dave: petties
Pippa: PUTTIES (7)
OT: PETTIES (7) PUTTEES (7) SEPTETS (7) SUTTEES (7)
Score: 42–20 (max 54)

Pippa pulls back seven points as Dave's word is disallowed. Should it have been though?

Round 9: 10, 9, 7, 2, 2, 10. Target: 206.

Dave: 202.
Pippa: 206. (10*10+2)*2+9-7 (10)
Score: 42–30 (max 64)

A good solve from Pippa makes Dave's lead look less commanding.

Teatime teaser: SLIMPEGS -> GLIMPSES

Round 10: S D G A O H E D A

Dave: DASHED (6)
Pippa: GOADED (6)
DC: GODHEADS (8)
Score: 48–36 (max 72)

Different 6's for the contestants. DC spot the darrenic 8.

Round 11: R L P O U I R X M

Dave: POUR (4)
Pippa: POUR (4)
DC: MURRI (5)
OT: PROLIX (6)
Score: 52–40 (max 78)

A tough selection yields four points a piece. DC do well to find a five, although a six was hidden.

Susie talks about the expression 'as bold as brass'.

Round 12: T D A E Y T I F A

Dave: FITTED (6)
Pippa: FITTED (6)
DC: FATTED (6) DEIFY (5)
OT: ADIATE (6)
Score: 58–46 (max 84)

The players spot the same six and could not have scored any more points.

Round 13: S N U O R W S A C

Dave: SCORNS (6)
Pippa: CROWNS (6)
DC: UNCROSS (7)
OT: CURASSOW (8)
Score: 64–52 (max 92)

Sixes again for the contestants. DC extend to a seven, but a tough eight was available.

CURASSOW: A large crested pheasant-like bird of the guan family, found in tropical American forests.

Round 14: 6, 9, 2, 3, 8, 75. Target: 421.

Dave: 421. 6*75-3*9-2 (10)
Pippa: -
Score: 74–52 (max 102)

Pippa blanks the numbers, but it wouldn't have mattered as a perfect solve by Dave guarantees the win.

Round 15: N E I L S K I S S

Pippa buzzes on 3 seconds to say SILKINESS which is correct.
Final Score: 74–62 (max 112)

A quick solve by Pippa allows her to strike the parting blow.

After Dave had a lead of 29 points at the halfway stage, it seemed like another comfortable win was in the offing. But a good fightback by Pippa nearly got her within striking distance and she ended with a respectable score, as well as restricting Dave to his lowest so far.

Dave won't be worrying that his lowest score came in this game, as he is now on the cusp of becoming an octochamp. Join Tim tomorrow to see if he can get over the line.

Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=74