Round 5 of the 2019 AASE League takes place on Wednesday, and with the split fast approaching it is a key round.

After seven rounds the two conferences will split. The bottom three sides in each conference will each play in a mini league, still split north and south, in a round robin series.

The top four from each conference meanwhile will be mixed together into two mini leagues. The first and third sides from the North will be in a group with the second and fourth sides from the South, while the first and third from the South will be with the second and fourth from the North. The winners of those two mini leagues will then meet in the final.

These games then are key for sides jostling to get into those top four places. In the Northern conference Oaklands College, Gosforth Academy, and Brooksby Melton College have created a bit of distance between themselves and the rest. Bishop Burton College are in fourth but are just a point clear of Myerscough and two clear of Stourport.

This week is a key one then for Bishop Burton College as they host Brooksby Melton College, who lost for the first time last week at home to Gosforth Academy. Victory for Bishop Burton would make things really interesting, while for Brooksby Melton it would create real separation and almost certainly guarantee qualification.

Gosforth Academy, after that victory last week, are the only unbeaten side in the conference and have a game in hand over top of the table rivals Oaklands and Brooksby Melton. They host Myerscough College on Wednesday, a side with genuine top 4 ambitions, who caused Oaklands real problems last week. Should they win they will be in a real position of strength in a fight for a top 4 spot, should Gosforth secure the victory their position as the top side in the conference would look ever more secure.

Oaklands meanwhile host Stourport High School, who had a bye week last week. Oaklands are currently top of the conference after that narrow victory over Myerscough College last week and will want to build on that position on Wednesday, but Stourport are sure to come out firing with a place in the top four still very possible. Moulton College have the bye this week in the Northern Conference.

Over in the Southern Conference Hartpury College sit five points clear at the top and are the only unbeaten side in the conference. Behind them Beechen Cliff, St Paul’s Catholic College, and Exeter College are all level on 10 points and make up the top 4, though Exeter have played a game more and have Filton College just three points behind them with a game in hand too.

It makes Wednesday’s game for Exeter College a key one as they host one of those big top four rivals, St Paul’s Catholic College. Defeat would leave Exeter vulnerable to those below them, and solidify St Paul’s position, but should Exeter secure the victory it would surely make them one of the favourites to keep a top 4 place.

Another massive game is the top of the table clash between Beechen Cliff and Hartpury College. It is a repeat of last year’s final and, though Hartpury won that well, surely Beechen Cliff will want to prove themselves. More important though is that it is a key game in this conference, a Hartpury victory would see them create even more separation at the top, while should Beechen Cliff secure victory it would blow the whole conference wide open.

SGS Filton College will be keeping a keen eye on proceedings across the conference. They host newcomers City of Oxford College, and know that a victory will see them right into that top 4 mix given that the sides above them will be taking points off each other. City of Oxford College are a dangerous side though, after a tough start to their first campaign they signaled their intent with a victory over Exeter College, and will want to keep making that sort of mark. Truro College have a bye week this round.

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AASE Round 5 Fixtures (predictions in bold):

North

Bishop Burton College v Brooksby Melton College

Gosforth Academy v Myerscough College

Oaklands College v Stourport HS

Bye: Moulton College

South

Beechen Cliff v Hartpury College

Exeter College v St Paul’s Catholic College

SGS Filton College v City of Oxford College

Bye: Truro College

Tables:

Northern Conference

Southern Conference

AASE Round 4 Results:

North

Brooksby Melton College 12-33 Gosforth Academy

Moulton College 5-52 Bishop Burton College

Myerscough College 23-24 Oaklands College

Bye: Stourport HS

South

City of Oxford College 3-31 Beechen Cliff

Hartpury College 46-29 Exeter College

Truro College 8-6 SGS Filton College

Bye: St Paul’s Catholic College

AASE Round 3 Results:

North

Gosforth Academy 79-13 Moulton College

Oaklands College 26-39 Brooksby Melton College

Stourport HS 12-45 Myerscough College

Bye: Bishop Burton College

South

Beechen Cliff 26-8 Truro College

Exeter College 14-39 City of Oxford College

St Paul’s Catholic College 0-36 Hartpury College

Bye: SGS Filton College

AASE Round 2 Results:

North

Bishop Burton College 18-24 Gosforth Academy

Brooksby Melton College 40-19 Stourport HS

Moulton College 0-43 Oaklands College

Bye: Myerscough College

South

City of Oxford College 12-27 St Paul’s Catholic College

SGS Filton College 28-5 Beechen Cliff

Truro College 15-35 Exeter College

Bye: Hartpury College

AASE Round 1 Results:

North

Myerscough College 3-27 Brooksby Melton College

Oaklands College 24-17 Bishop Burton College

Stourport HS 59-26 Moulton College

Bye: Gosforth Academy

South

Exeter College 19-12 SGS Filton College

Hartpury College 69-14 City of Oxford College

St Paul’s Catholic College 40-20 Truro College

Bye: Beechen Cliff

Remaining Fixtures:

Round 6 (9th October)

North

Brooksby Melton College v Moulton College

Myerscough College v Bishop Burton College

Stourport HS v Gosforth Academy

Bye: Oaklands College

South

City of Oxford College v Truro College

Hartpury College v SGS Filton College

St Paul’s Catholic College v Beechen Cliff

Bye: Exeter College

Round 7 (16th October)

North

Bishop Burton College v Stourport HS

Gosforth Academy v Oaklands College

Moulton College v Myerscough College

Bye: Brooksby Melton College

South

Beechen Cliff v Exeter College

SGS Filton College v St Paul’s Catholic College

Truro College v Hartpury College

Bye: City of Oxford College