The AASE League resumes on Wednesday following the half term break and we are into Phase 2.

Those sides that finished in the top four spots in each division in phase one are now mixed in together in two separate division. First and third from each division are now in a division of four with second and fourth from the other division.

Meaning Gosforth, 1^st in the North, and Brooksby Melton, 3^rd, are in with Hartpury College, 2^nd in the South, and Truro College, 4^th. Meanwhile Beechen Cliff, 1^st in the South, and Exeter College, 3^rd, are in with Bishop Burton College, 2^nd in the North, and Oaklands College, 4^th. The winner of each division will meet in the AASE Final at Allianz Park in December, while second will play second in the 3^rd place play off, and so on.

Those that finished in the bottom half of those phase one groups are also in new mini divisions, but they remain split North and South, so Myerscough, Moulton, and Stourport are in the North Division, Filton, Henley, and St Paul’s in the South Division.

Phase 2 Round 1 Fixtures

Division 1

Pool A

Gosforth Academy lit up the Northern Conference before half term, claiming a maximum 30/30 points. Their mega-offloading style is a joy to walk and they start this second phase at home against Truro College, who just sneaked into fourth spot in the Southern Conference to make this Pool A group in Division 1.

The other game sees reigning champions Hartpury College, who have won all but 1 of the AASE titles in history, host Brooksby Melton College, who played some excellent rugby in finishing 3^rd in the Northern Conference. Hartpury will be keen for a fast start, they lost to both Beechen Cliff and Exeter College in the first phase groups and will not have been happy about that.

Pool B

Like Gosforth in Pool A, Beechen Cliff claimed a maximum 30/30 points to top the Southern Conference prior to half term. They kick off Phase 2 with a home tie against Oaklands College, who played well for their fourth place finish in the Northern Conference but will need to be at their best to topple this excellent Beechen Cliff side.

Bishop Burton’s rise this season has been superb, they were sensational in the Northern Conference with only Gosforth outplaying them. They will host Exeter College on Wednesday, who toppled Hartpury let’s remember in phase 1, and it could well be the tie of the round as both sides look very well matched. Not one to be missed!

Division 2

North Pool

Just one game in each pool in division 2 due to there only being three teams in each pool. In the North newcomers Stourport High School host Moulton College. When the two met at Moulton earlier in the season Moulton won 20-17, so expect another close game on Wednesday.

South Pool

Henley College host St Paul’s Catholic College in the south and, like Stourport v Moulton, when these to met earlier in the season it was a really tight game. St Paul’s just edged it, 19-17 at home, but with Henley at home this time perhaps the advantage swings. Either way, it ought to be close.

AASE Phase 2 Round 1 Fixtures (predictions in bold):

Division 1 – Pool A

Gosforth Academy v Truro College

Hartpury College v Brooksby Melton College

Division 1 – Pool B

Beechen Cliff v Oaklands College

Bishop Burton College v Exeter College

Division 2 – North Pool

Stourport High School v Moulton College

Division 2 – South Pool

Henley College v St Paul’s Catholic College

Phase 2 Groups:

AASE Phase 2 Fixtures:

Round 2

Division 1 – Pool A

Truro College v Brooksby Melton College

Gosforth Academy v Hartpury College

Division 1 – Pool B

Bishop Burton College v Oaklands College

Exeter College v Beechen Cliff

Division 2 – North Pool

Moulton College v Myerscough College

Division 2 – South Pool

SGS Filton College v Henley College

Round 3

Division 1 – Pool A

Brooksby Melton College v Gosforth Academy

Hartpury College v Truro College

Division 1 – Pool B

Oaklands College v Exeter College

Beechen Cliff v Bishop Burton College

Division 2 – North Pool

Myerscough College v Stourport High School

Division 2 – South Pool

St Paul’s Catholic College v SGS Filton College