THERE WAS no divine intervention to save the Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy from defeat at the hands of UCG in last week's round of Challenging Times, the Irish Times/RTE quiz show for third level colleges.

UCG, last year's winners of the competition, meted out a 195-75 beating to the theological types, who must have wondered why they were forsaken in this, their hour of need. Gethsemane-esque sorrow restilted, presided over by the Pilate like form of question master Kevin Myers, for whom God holds no fears. UCG now join Cork RTC, DCU, the King's Inns and UCC in the quarter finals.

This week, perpetual also rans TCD will attempt to change their fortunes by seeing off the challenge of Waterford RTC, who ran up the equivalent of a cricket score in the qualifying rounds to join four other RTCs in the televised rounds. Challenging Times can be seen each Wednesday evening at 8.30 p.m. on RTE 1.