C1: Champion Neil Holland (1 win, 92 points.)
C2: Challenger Samer Ullah.
DC: Susie Dent and Maggie Aderin Pocock.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: O E O W R G R E W
R02: S T M U A E C S F
R03: 75, 25, 10, 10, 2, 1. Target: 187.
TTT: BENSLINE - "Ben's line was in the water all day, but all he caught were these."
R04: O U E T S D M A N
R05: S N G O A U R Z G
R06: 50, 3, 1, 8, 10, 5. Target: 619.
R07: S L T E O A N R L
R08: I U I D C S M U P
R09: 75, 7, 2, 9, 10, 3. Target: 657.
TTT: ELFRESTS - "He made a vow to stop worrying about his guitar."
R10: E A O I T R N H E
R11: L N P Y A I E L H
R12: U A E A D G R T C
R13: I E A N K N T E S
R14: 100, 10, 6, 2, 3, 3. Target: 176.
R15: H E N S T A L K S (conundrum)
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Round 1: O E O W R G R E W
Neil: GROWER (6)
Samer: GROWER (6)
DC: REGROW (6)
OT: REGREW (6)
Score: 6–6 (max 6)
Sixes all round..............nothing worth arguing over.........so let's jump ahead to the next round !
Round 2: S T M U A E C S F
Neil: FAUCETS (7)
Samer: FEASTS (6)
OT: CUESTAS (7) ESTUFAS (7) FACTUMS (7) MUSCATS (7)
Score: 13–6 (max 13)
Our champion Neil is making a clean break in this round with his 7 Faucets.............quite a few of those to be had...........so let's move ahead
Round 3: 75, 25, 10, 10, 2, 1. Target: 187.
C1: 187. 10 × 25 − 75 + 10 + 2 (10)
C2: 178.
Score: 23–6 (max 23)
Top marks from our champion Neil...........nice and straightforward but not too taxing
Teatime teaser: BENSLINE -> BLENNIES
Round 4: O U E T S D M A N
Neil: MOUNTED (7)
Samer: OUSTED (6)
DC: AMOUNTED (8) DEMOUNTS (8) SEAMOUNT (8)
OT: MUDSTONE (8)
Score: 30–6 (max 31)
Okay next please !
Round 5: S N G O A U R Z G
Neil: GROANS (6)
Samer: GROANS (6)
DC: ORGANS (6) RUGOSA (6)
OT: GROGANS (7)
Score: 36–12 (max 38)
Sixes all round from from our champion challenger and DC...............but one rather interesting 7 missed by all with Grogans.........which is absolutely nothing to do with the singer and actress Clare Grogan who was in some 1980s band called Altered Images
Round 6: 50, 3, 1, 8, 10, 5. Target: 619.
C1: 620. (50 + 8 + 3 + 1) × 10 (7)
C2: 613.
RR: 619. (8 + 5) × 50 − 10 × 3 − 1 (10)
Score: 43–12 (max 48)
Another good round from our champion Neil with his one away solve that bags him another 7 points............sadly Samer doesn't even get close.......but Ms Riley gets to show off and produce a perfect 10
Round 7: S L T E O A N R L
Neil: STOLLEN (7)
Samer: tollers
DC: REALLOTS (8)
OT: LLANEROS (8)
Score: 50–12 (max 56)
A good 7 from Neil with Stollen............it is a cake from Germany that is very popular around Christmas time and always sold on their market stalls............but there were a couple of eights to be Reallots was the DC spot Llaneros was my spot..........again nothing worth arguing over !
Round 8: I U I D C S M U P
Neil: MUCUS (5)
Samer: SPUD (4)
DC: CUPIDS (6) CUSPID (6)
OT: MUSCID (6)
Score: 55–12 (max 62)
Another fine round from our champion with his 5 Mucus...........there were a couple of sixes that DC managed to spot.......... a foody type 4 with spud from Samer doesn't score him any points sadly
Naughty Spud the scarecrow that is always playing tricks on people from the popular children's TV series Bob the Builder
Childhood memories anybody...............who didn't have a spud gun !
Round 9: 75, 7, 2, 9, 10, 3. Target: 657.
C1: -
C2: 657. (75 − 2) × 9 (10)
Score: 55–22 (max 72)
A good numbers solve from our challenger Samer.........is this enough for him to mount a comeback ?
But if you look carefully enough there is a LNAFP
10*7=70
70+3=73
73*9=657
Teatime teaser: ELFRESTS -> FRETLESS
Round 10: E A O I T R N H E
Neil: RATION (6)
Samer: RETAIN (6)
DC: ANOTHERIE (18)
Score: 61–28 (max 90)
Sixes all round from our champion and challenger...............
Over in DC they get to shine with their 9 Anotherie as does our recap writer............this was one that I spotted
Round 11: L N P Y A I E L H
Neil: PLAINLY (7)
Samer: inplay
DC: PENALLY (7)
OT: EPYLLIA (7) HYALINE (7)
Score: 68–28 (max 97)
Sevens all round but not for Samer as Susie disallows his word..........again nothing worth complaining over
Round 12: U A E A D G R T C
Neil: CURATED (7)
Samer: GRATED (6)
DC: TRADUCE (7)
OT: GRADUATE (8)
Score: 75–28 (max 105)
Another good from our champion Neil with his 7 Curated......but over in DC they come up with a 7 Traduce..........but our recap writer gets to shine with her 8 Graduate........sorry Susie I am after your job !
Round 13: I E A N K N T E S
Neil: TANKS (5)
Samer: INSANE (6)
DC: INTAKES (7) TANNIES (7)
OT: INTENSE (7) KENTIAS (7) NEATENS (7) TENNIES (7)
Score: 75–34 (max 112)
Another good round from our challenger Samer...........it is not enough for him to make comeback..........his Countdown adventure is over........it is game over
Round 14: 100, 10, 6, 2, 3, 3. Target: 176.
C1: 177. (100 − 10) × 2 − 3 (7)
C2: 177. (6 + 2) × 10 + 100 − 3 (7)
RR: 176. (100 − 10 − 2) × 6 ÷ 3 (10)
Score: 82–41 (max 122)
A good one away solve from our champion and challenger that bags them both 7 points each..............Ms Riley gets to shine and produces a perfect 10...............I did an identical method but in a different order
Round 15: H E N S T A L K S
C1 buzzes on 11.5 seconds to say THANKLESS which is correct.
Final Score: 92–41 (max 132)
Another win wrapped up for our champion Neil but take nothing away from Samer who gave as good as he got he will be happy with his goody bag, you can join me for the next recap and find out if Neil gets his third win...........in meantime that is a wrap !
