The London Literature Festival got off to a splendid summer of soccer start last night, with a match in front of the London Eye of scientists versus writers. Celebrating the fact that the Royal Society's See Further Festival and the London Literature Festival are making their presence felt all over the Southbank Centre site, we decided to put the relative football skills of writers and scientists to the test.

Refereed by Alexei Sayle, who chose to ride his bike around rather than having to get himself overtired in advance of his London Literature Festival/Udderbelly gig, the match started off as a friendly but got more serious. London's literati, including Bill Samuel of Foyles and CG's own Kate Wright-Morris, kept spirits up with vuvuzelas, imported by the Southbank Centre's Rachel Holmes from South Africa.

The writers won hands down - 4-2 - with a hat trick scored by poet, novelist and short story writer Joe Dunthorne.

Blogger: Truda Spruyt