Stage 2 of the 2019 AASE League kicks off on Wednesday as the tussle for places in the 2019 AASE final begins.
Following Phase 1, the top four sides from the two conferences, north and south, are now in two mini conferences. Beechen Cliff and Exeter College from the South joined by the North’s Gosforth Academy and Brooksby Melton College in Pool A, with Myerscough College and Oaklands College from the North in Pool B alongside the South’s St Paul’s Catholic College and Hartpury College, the reigning champions.
The bottom three sides from each of those Phase 1 conferences are also in mini leagues, they remain split North/South though, with Bishop Burton College, Moulton College, and Stourport High School in the North Pool, and SGS Filton College, Truro College, and City of Oxford College in the South Pool.
Division 1 Pool A
Gosforth Academy finished top of the Northern Conference prior to half term, only Oaklands College beat them, and even then only by a point after Gosforth’s top 4 qualification was secured. Their reward is a home game to start things off and it will be against Exeter College, who just sneaked into the Top 4 in the South by a point. Exeter though are the only side in AASE history apart from Hartpury to win the title and both of these sides have appeared in finals.
As have Beechen Cliff, who lost out to Hartpury in last year’s final and finished second in the southern conference in phase 1 – having been the only team to beat Hartpury. They take on the third placed side from phase 1 in the Northern Conference, Brooksby Melton College, who enjoyed some stunning performances in that opening phase.
Division 1 Pool B
Reigning champions Hartpury College were top in the Southern Conference and kick off this second phase with a home game against Myerscough College, who made their way into fourth spot in the Northern Conference on points difference thanks to a stunning 83-0 victory over Moulton College in the final round of phase 1.
The other game sees the side that finished second in the Northern Conference, Oaklands College, take on third in the South, St Paul’s. Oaklands were the only side to beat Gosforth prior to half term so will be feeling confident, while St Paul’s were only a point off second after an excellent first half term’s work.
Division 2 North Pool
With just three sides in the Division 2 Pools, there is just one fixture in each division. In the North Pool, Bishop Burton College, who only missed out on a Division 1 spot on points difference, will be hosting Moulton College, who had a tough old time prior to half term. Stourport High have a bye week.
Division 2 South Pool
SGS Filton College host the first game in the South Pool having just missed out on a place in Division 1 by a point to Exeter College. They host Truro College, who came on strong in the second half of phase 1 to finish four points away from a top four place. Sitting on the sidelines with a bye this week are the newest side in the AASE League, City of Oxford College.
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AASE League Phase 2 Round 1 Fixtures – Wednesday 6th November (predictions in bold):
Division 1 Pool A
Beechen Cliff v Brooksby Melton College
Gosforth Academy v Exeter College
Division 1 Pool B
Hartpury College v Myerscough College
Oaklands College v St Paul’s Catholic College
Division 2 North
Bishop Burton College v Moulton College
Division 2 South
SGS Filton College v Truro College
Round 2 Fixtures – Wednesday 13th November:
Division 1 Pool A
Exeter College v Brooksby Melton College
Gosforth Academy v Beechen Cliff
Division 1 Pool B
Hartpury College v Oaklands College
Myerscough College v St Paul’s Catholic College
Division 2 North
Moulton College v Stourport HS
Division 2 South
City of Oxford College v SGS Filton College
Round 3 Fixtures – Wednesday 20th November:
Division 1 Pool A
Beechen Cliff v Exeter College
Brooksby Melton College v Gosforth Academy
Division 1 Pool B
Oaklands College v Myerscough College
St Paul’s Catholic College v Hartpury College
Division 2 North
Stourport HS v Bishop Burton College
Division 2 South
Truro College v City of Oxford College
