Round 5 of the 2018 AASE League takes place this week and it could be a key round in determining which sides make it through to the top/bottom split.

With just three rounds of phase on to play, including Wednesday’s fixtures, time is running out for sides to secure a top half finish from where they will be in a position to compete for a spot in the final in the second half of the season. After 7 rounds each conference splits in two, the top half of each playing the other sides in the top half of their conference again, similarly in the bottom half split, from there final league placings are decided and each side plays the corresponding side from the other conference on finals day. So first in the North plays first in the South, 2^nd v 2^nd, and so on.

Northern Conference

The biggest game in the Northern Conference is surely the top of the table clash between Gosforth Academy and Bishop Burton College. Bishop Burton top the table by four points, with four wins from four, but hosts Gosforth have a game in hand and are also unbeaten. Should they win they will go either level or top, but still with that game in hand, however a win for Bishop Burton would see them really stretch their legs out in front.

Among those in the chasing pack are Oaklands College. Top of the table is probably out of reach now for them, but that top half finish is certainly within grasp and from their the possibilities are wide open. They face Moulton College on Wednesday, who last week picked up their first win of the competition this year, and should have a few players coming back from injury.

Brooksby Melton College are leading the chasing group, just four points behind Gosforth and with a chance to overhaul them should the Newcastle Falcons AASE side lose to Bishop Burton on Wednesday. Brooksby Melton will fancy their chances, they travel to Stourport High School, new to the league this year, who are so far without a win from their three games.

Southern Conference

The Southern Conference has been turned on its head by Hartpury College losing in successive weeks to Exeter College and Beechen Cliff, who now share the top of the table on twenty points each, thirteen clear of anyone behind with just fifteen points available.

Beechen Cliff could stretch out in front on their own this week though, Exeter College have a bye week, while Beechen Cliff are at home. However their opponents are St Paul’s Catholic College, who last week have Exeter College a real game, just losing out 43-42, so this could be another cracker.

Hartpury College, meanwhile, will be hoping to get back to form on Wednesday when they make the trip to SGS Filton College, who are so far without a win to their name.

Henley College, who are in third place and level on points with St Paul’s and Hartpury, are away to Truro College in a game that looks likely to be highly entertaining, with both looking fairly evenly matched.

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AASE Round 5 Fixtures (predictions in bold):

North

Gosforth Academy v Bishop Burton College

Oaklands College v Moulton College

Stourport High School v Brooksby Melton College

Myerscough College – Bye

South

Beechen Cliff v St Paul’s Catholic College

SGS Filton College v Hartpury College

Truro College v Henley College

Exeter College – Bye

Northern Conference Table

Southern Conference Table

Round 4 Results:

North

Bishop Burton College 18-10 Oaklands College

Brooksby Melton College 57-0 Myerscough College

Moulton College 20-17 Stourport High School

Gosforth Academy – Bye

South

Hartpury College 19-50 Beechen Cliff

Henley College 36-26 SGS Filton College

St Paul’s Catholic College 42-43 Exeter College

Truro College – Bye

Round 3 Results:

North

Myerscough College 41-5 Moulton College

Oaklands College 24-31 Gosforth Academy

Stourport High School 7-27 Bishop Burton College

Brooksby Melton College – Bye

South

Beechen Cliff 39-10 Henley College

Exeter College 47-40 Hartpury College

SGS Filton College 7-24 Truro College

St Paul’s Catholic College – Bye

Round 2 Results:

North

Bishop Burton College 24-14 Myerscough College

Gosforth Academy 39-12 Stourport High School

Moulton College 19-29 Brooksby Melton College

Oaklands College – Bye

South

Hartpury College 76-24 St Paul’s Catholic College

Henley College 22-29 Exeter College

Truro College 17-29 Beechen Cliff

SGS Filton College – Bye

Round 1 Results:

North

Brooksby Melton College 24-29 Bishop Burton College

Myerscough College 30-43 Gosforth Academy

Stourport High School 5-46 Oaklands College

Moulton College – Bye

South

Beechen Cliff 42-7 SGS Filton College

Exeter College 34-21 Truro College

St Paul’s Catholic College 19-17 Henley College

Hartpury College – Bye

Further Fixtures:

Round 6

North

Brooksby Melton College v Oaklands College

Moulton College v Gosforth Academy

Myerscough College v Stourport High School

Bishop Burton College – Bye

South

Exeter College v Beechen Cliff

Hartpury College v Truro College

St Paul’s Catholic College v SGS Filton College

Henley College – Bye

Round 7

North

Bishop Burton College v Moulton College

Gosforth Academy v Brooksby Melton College

Oaklands College v Myerscough College

Stourport High School – Bye

South

Henley College v Hartpury College

SGS Filton College v Exeter College

Truro College v St Paul’s Catholic College

Beechen Cliff – Bye