Phase two of the 2017 AASE League kicked off on Wednesday with some fantastic rugby and crucial results.
There are now four division for this 2nd phase, North 1, South 1, North 2, and South 2, and those in the top North and South divisions are playing for a place in the AASE final, which will be contested by the winners of each of those two divisions.
North 1
The big results was Oaklands College’s 19-7 win at Worcester 6th form College. Worcester went through phase 1 unbeaten, collecting a maximum thirty points from thirty, but Oaklands ended that run on Wednesday and with it put themselves in with a great chance of challenging for top spot.
So too did Gosforth Academy, who put in yet another scintillating attacking display as they saw off newcomers Brooksby Melton College by an impressive 43-24 margin. That Gosforth v Oaklands College fixture now looks key.
South 1
The top division in the South contains the only sides in history to win the AASE title, Hartpury College and Exeter College, who last year became the first side to wrestle the title from Hartpury.
Those two are therefore attracting plenty of the attention in this division and on Wednesday they proved that it was warranted. Hartpury secured an excellent 40-10 away win at a Henley College side that troubled them earlier in the season, while Exeter College worked hard for an impressive 35-26 effort at St Paul’s Catholic College, suggesting that, as expected, that Hartpury v Exeter fixture is going to be key.
North 2
With just three teams in each bottom division, there is only one fixture in each per week now. In North 2 it was Myerscough v Moulton College. Myerscough College secured the win, 28-13, and significantly they became the first side all season to deny Moulton College a bonus points of any description. Bishop Burton College had a bye week.
South 2
The solitary fixture in South 2 was in Bristol as SGS Filton College hosted Truro College. Filton had a hard time of things in phase one but will be full of confidence now after they beat the visitors 22-13. Beechen Cliff, who knocked out Hartpury last year, had a bye week.
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AASE League Phase 2 Round 1 Fixtures – Wednesday 8th November (predictions in bold):
North Pool Division 1
Gosforth Academy 43-24 Brooksby Melton College
Worcester 6th form College 7-19 Oaklands College
South Pool Division 1
St Paul’s Catholic College 26-35 Exeter College
Henley College 10-40 Hartpury College
North Pool Division 2
Myerscough College 28-13 Moulton College
Bishop Burton College – Bye
South Pool Division 2
SGS Filton College 22-13 Truro College
Beechen Cliff – Bye