The second phase of the 2019 AASE League kicked off yesterday with six games across the four mini-leagues.
Following an exciting first phase last half term, where the fourteen teams were split into two groups of seven (north and south), the sides are now broken into smaller leagues as the jostle for final positions got underway on Wednesday.
The top four teams from the two pre-half term leagues are now in two leagues of four teams, top and third from the northern conference and second and fourth from the southern conference in Division 1 Pool A, and vice versa in Division 1 Pool B. The bottom three from those original conferences remain split north/south, in two divisions of three, Division 2 North and Division 2 South.
Division 1 Pool A
Gosforth Academy finished top in the Northern Conference before half term and started this second phase of the league in style with an excellent 36-24 home victory over the side that finished fourth in the Southern Conference, Exeter College.
Beechen Cliff, who reached last year’s final, also got this second phase off to a good start. The Bath AASE side finished second in the southern conference, but beat champions Hartpury College, and started phase 2 with a 33-12 victory over Brooksby Melton College, who finished third in the Northern Conference.
Division 1 Pool B
Hartpury College’s title defence continues to fly along. After finishing top of the Southern Conference they began this second phase with a quite brilliant 61-3 victory over Myerscough College, who just squeaked into the top 4 in the Northern Conference on points difference.
St Paul’s Catholic College made it two out of two for the southern sides in this division, the third place finishers from phase 1 beat the Northern Conference’s second place finishers, Oaklands College, 31-12 away from home.
Division 2 North
Bishop Burton College got this second half of term off to a good start with a 20-14 victory over Moulton College, though Moulton ought to be happy with their improvement here after a tough first half of term. Stourport High School had a bye week.
Division 2 South
SGS Filton College made up for the disappointment of missing out on a Division 1 spot by kicking this second phase of the league off with a victory, 15-7 over a Truro College side that really started to find their form towards half term in phase 1. City of Oxford College had the bye week this week.
Coming Up
It’s Round 2 next week and in the Division 1 Pool A both of this week’s victorious teams go head to head, Gosforth Academy and Beechen Cliff. Meanwhile in Pool B Oaklands College have the away trip to Hartpury College this time. In the Division 2 pools Stourport High School and City of Oxford College make their first appearances since half term.
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AASE League Phase 2 Round 1 Results – Wednesday 6th November:
Division 1 Pool A
Beechen Cliff 33-12 Brooksby Melton College
Gosforth Academy 36-24 Exeter College
Division 1 Pool B
Hartpury College 61-3 Myerscough College
Oaklands College 12-31 St Paul’s Catholic College
Division 2 North
Bishop Burton College 20-14 Moulton College
Division 2 South
SGS Filton College 15-7 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