The AASE 6^th Round takes place on Wednesday, and for Oaklands College it is the final round before the league split.

After each team in the league has played each other once, each AASE conference splits in two. The top four from each respective league form two mini four team leagues, again split north/south, with the bottom 4 from the south and three from the north doing the same.

Each side then plays everyone in their mini league once more, before finals day at the end of November, where first in the north plays first in the south, second plays second, and so on.

North

Oaklands have already played five of their six opponents and sit at the top of the northern conference. Last week’s win over Worcester 6^th form College meant that they were guaranteed to qualify for the top 4 split, a win against Myerscough College would seal top spot. Myerscough need the points though, they currently are in that all important fourth position, and they could get as high as second. However their more pressing concern will be the two teams behind them who are just one and two points behind, respectively.

One of those sides are Moulton College, who are in fifth, just a point behind. They host Worcester 6^th form College on Wednesday, who are in second. A win for Worcester would guarantee them a top four finish with one to play, while a win for Moulton could see them jump into the top four, if Myerscough do not win against Oaklands.

The final game in the North sees Gosforth Academy host Bishop Burton College. Bishop Burton are bottom in the North, without a win to their name, and are unable to qualify for the top 4. Gosforth, though, are sitting in third. It is technically possible for them to top the league, though unlikely, however what is going to be most important to them is gathering enough points to make sure that their top 4 place can be under no threat whatsoever.

South

In the South there is a little bit more to play for yet as there is more extra team in that conference, meaning an extra round of games.

However Hartpury College have still managed to secure their passage into the top 4 split good and early after last week’s win over SGS Filton College. On Wednesday Hartpury travel to Beechen Cliff, who currently sit in second place. A win for Beechen Cliff would also guarantee them safe passage into the top four, so expect the Bath AASE side to be firing on all cylinders for this one.

Exeter College are currently in third, their brilliant start to the season just halted a little by successive, albeit narrow, defeats to Hartpury and Beechen Cliff. They remain in a fairly safe position, and bonus point win would effectively seal top four qualification for them, but they host a St Paul’s Catholic College side who will be reeling after a bit of a drubbing at the hands of Henley College last week.

Henley College sit in fourth, eight points clear of Truro in fifth, but also vulnerable to Filton and Ivybridge in sixth and seventh, who are just a point behind Truro and have a game in hand. Henley can go some distance towards securing their own top 4 hopes and ending Ivybridge’s on Wednesday though as they host the Exeter Chiefs affiliates.

The final game in the South sees Truro College host SGS Filton College. Once again this is a game which will seriously dent one side’s hopes and be a boost to the others’. A win for Filton would really bring them into the mix given their game in hand.

It ought to be a very interesting and crucial day in the AASE League.

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AASE Round 6 Fixtures (predictions in bold):

North

Gosforth Academy v Bishop Burton College

Moulton College v Worcester 6th form College

Oaklands College v Myerscough College

South

Exeter College v St Paul’s Catholic College

Henley College v Ivybridge Community College

Truro College v SGS Filton College

Beechen Cliff v Hartpury College