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
Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | BPs | Points |
1 | Oaklands College | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 16 |
2 | Gosforth Academy | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 15 |
3 | Brooksby Melton | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 15 |
4 | Bishop Burton | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
5 | Myerscough College | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
6 | Stourport High | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
7 | Moulton College | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Southern Conference
Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | BPs | Points |
1 | Hartpury College | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 15 |
2 | Beechen Cliff | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
3 | St Paul’s CC | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
4 | Exeter College | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
5 | SGS Filton College | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
6 | City of Oxford | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
7 | Truro College | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
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