The AASE League comes to a conclusion tomorrow with the 2016 AASE Final at Allianz Park between Gosforth Academy and Exeter College.
The 17.00 kick off will see a side other than Hartpury College crowned as champions for the first time in AASE history.
It was also seen the final places from 3rd to 15th decided, with the 9th-15th placings decided on Wednesday at SGS Filton College, before the 3rd-8th positions were decided at Loughborough University on Thursday
Wednesday
It was a dominant day for the teams from the Southern Conference on Wednesday as all three won their matches against their Northern counterparts.
Truro College secured 13th place with a brilliant 69-0 win over Bishop Burton College, who are in their first ever AASE season. Ivybridge Community College finished in 15th place as the South has an extra team in their division to the North.
11th place went the way of the host College, SGS Filton College, who beat Moulton College by an impressive 46-3 margin. 9th place, the highest place on offer on Wednesday, went the way of St Paul’s Catholic College. The London Irish AASE side were in flying form as they beat Myerscough College 62-10, capping off a fine day for the South.
Thursday
The Southern Conference was dominant again at Loughborough University on Thursday as they won all three fixtures for the second day in a row.
Henley College secured 7th place over the Leicester Tigers AASE side, one of the top challengers last year, winning 34-5. Beechen Cliff, in only their second season as an AASE side, secured 5th place with a brilliant 46-10 victory over a Worcester 6th form College side who could easily have made it all the way to the final.
The big game of the day though was without doubt the 3rd place play off, Oaklands College from the North Division against Hartpury College from the South Division. Both sides were the favourites to reach the final at the point when the league split, but defeats to Gosforth and Beechen Cliff saw them miss out. For Hartpruy it was a first season ever without an appearance in the final, they have won every AASE title, so they had a real point to prove in this 3rd place play off. Prove it they did as they stormed to a 48-12 victory, and a well deserved third place.
Final
This year’s AASE final is an historic event as, for the first time in AASE history, Hartpury College will not be in the final. The Gloucester based side have won every single edition of the AASE League, however their place as the Southern Conference representatives in this final is taken by Exeter College after Beechen Cliff spoiled the Harptury party by beating them in the final game of the round, allowing Exeter to storm into Allianz Park thanks to their superior bonus point accumulation.
Gosforth meanwhile strode to Allianz Park after beating Oaklands College and Worcester 6th form College, they timed their form to perfection, having lost to Oaklands in the first group stage but beating them in the second stage was key to securing their place at Allianz Park.
The two sides have no common opposition this season, making predictions tough, however Exeter College will take great heart from the fact that the Southern sides have won every single fixture so far in finals week, suggesting that they may have a slight advantage.
However this is a final, and an historic one at that, whoever wins it will be a stunning achievement and one that will be remembered for a long time.
AASE Final Live Stream
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AASE League Finals Week Results:
Wednesday (SGS Filton College)
Myerscough College 10-62 St Paul’s Catholic College – 9th Place Play Off
Moulton College 3-46 SGS Filton College – 11th Place Play Off
Bishop Burton College 0-69 Truro College – 13th Place Play Off
Thursday (Loughborough Students RFC)
Oaklands College 12-48 Hartpury College – 3rd Place Play Off
Worcester 6th form College 10-46 Beechen Cliff – 5th Place Play Off
Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I 5-34 Henley College – 7th Place Play Off
Friday (Allianz Park)
Gosforth Academy v Exeter College – AASE Final
2016 AASE Standings:
1 – TBC
2 – TBC
3 – Hartpury College
4 – Oaklands College
5 – Beechen Cliff
6 – Worcester 6th form College
7 – Henley College
8 – Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I College
9 – St Paul’s Catholic College
10 – Myerscough College
11 – SGS Filton College
12 – Moulton College
13 – Truro College
14 – Bishop Burton College
15 – Ivybridge Community College
