The fifth round of the 2016 AASE League takes place on Wednesday, with a top of the table clash in the North.

It was a thrilling week last week, with a top of the table clash in the South that saw Hartpury College just beat Exeter College by a point in order to regain their seat at the top of the table. It could be similarly exciting this week.

North

Worcester 6^th form College were top in the North until their bye week allowed Oaklands College to overtake them. Now Oaklands are four points clear of them, but Worcester have a game in hand. On Wednesday they could overhaul that gap as the two sides meet at Worcester 6^th form College. Either way Worcester will still have a game in hand, but a win for Oaklands will mean that they are top by rights no matter what their opponents do with that extra game in their back pocket, all of which means that Wednesday afternoon in the West Midlands should be thrilling!

Bishop Burton College, new to the league this year, are still hunting for their first win, and Round 5 could present them that opportunity as they face the only other winless side in the division, Moulton College. However Moulton will also see this as a huge opportunity to notch their first win and to be able to start turning their attentions upwards.

The final game in the North sees third placed Gosforth Academy travel to fifth place Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I College. It should be a fascinating game, both sides have put in some very good performances this season, but also some that have been surprisingly short of where they want to be, so this 5^th Round tie ought to be fascinating. Gosforth possibly hold the advantage with their two wins from three games to Wyggeston’s one from four, but write of a Leicester side at your peril.

South

After a huge week last week things are a little calmer this week in the South, but only a little.

Hartpury College can maintain their place at the top of the table if they win at home to SGS Filton College. Given their record, you would expect them to, but Filton have been a tough nut to crack this year and will not make it easy at all.

Bottom of the table Ivybridge Community College are in search of their first win of the season, the only side without one in this division. They are at home to Truro College, and might just fancy their chances against a side with just one win from four.

Wednesday is a big day for Henley College, who have been impressive this year and sit fourth in the table, seven points off the lead and just three off third. They travel to St Paul’s Catholic College who, like Truro, have just one win from four, but are always a threat.

The big game in the south though is Beechen Cliff v Exeter College. Both lost for the first time all season in the previous round, Exeter losing that thriller to Hartpury, and Beechen Cliff losing a tight one away at Henley.

Only bonus points separate them, with Exeter in second just a point behind Hartpury despite the champions being unbeaten, and Beechen Cliff in third, three points behind their visitors tomorrow. It should be an excellent game, and a key one in knowing how this initial phase in the AASE league this year will pan out.

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AASE Round 5 Fixtures (Predictions in bold):
North

Worcester 6th form College v Oaklands College

Bishop Burton College v Moulton College

Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I College v Gosforth Academy

South

Hartpury College v SGS Filton College

Ivybridge Community College v Truro College

St Paul’s Catholic College v Henley College

Beechen Cliff v Exeter College