Round 2 of the ACE League kicks off on Wednesday, with two sides dipping their toes into the ACE water for the first time this season.
Indeed for Gordon’s it is a first ever ACE fixture, they joined the league in 2020 but the Harlequins affiliates never got to play a game as the season was cancelled due to Covid. Before Gordon’s, and indeed Bishop Wand, joined the league, City of Oxford College were the newest members, replacing Henley College as the Wasps affiliates. They are old hands now though, although this first game of the season is a new experience for them too, a first game in the Northern Conference having been moved from the South.
Northern Conference
It’s a home start for City of Oxford College as they welcome Brooksby Melton College. Brooksby Melton were in action at home to Bishop Burton last time out and just lost out in an absolute thriller. Undoubtedly they will be tough opponents, but City of Oxford have looked good in pre-season, beating Gordon’s a week prior to the season openers.
Bishop Burton College return home after that thrilling win at Brooksby Melton last week, their visitors are Myerscough College, who only narrowly fell short against Gosforth in the opening week, a game that they felt could quite easily have gone either way. How Wednesday’s game pans out should tell us a lot about where these two sides lie, two teams that have done a fantastic job through the last year or so in engaging with and celebrating their players.
The final game in the North is the only game across the whole ACE League between two sides that were victorious in Round 1 as Gosforth Academy host Stourport High. Gosforth won a tight one away at Myerscough, as mentioned above, while Stourport won a thriller at home to Oaklands College, who have a bye this week, 33-29. It ought to make for a tense game on Wednesday, both are used to an artificial surface and like to run, so it should be a fun game to watch, too.
Southern Conference
Arguably the headline fixture of the day is Gordon’s ACE League debut at home to Hartpury College. It is the toughest of assignments for a debutant side, facing the legendary side of the competition, the team that has won all but two ACE/AASE titles, and who began this season with a 54-12 defeat of Truro College. It is a tall order, but the Harlequins affiliates will be buzzing to have such a prestigious fixture at home first up and will be keen to make their mark. One not to be missed.
Exeter College impressed in week one, beating Beechen Cliff 24-7. Beechen Cliff (who have a bye this week) have proven remarkably consistent in recent times and reached the 2019 final, so that result suggests Exeter are a top side. They are on the road this week at SGS Filton College, who last week lost out in an incredibly competitive fixture at debutants Bishop Wand. They will be keen to bounce back and to bring the energy that Bishop Wand showed to the fore against Exeter.
Bishop Wand meanwhile look to back up that competition debut victory last week when they travel for their first ever away match in the competition. They head to Truro College who will be determined to bounce back after that tough experience at Hartpury College last time out. It will be tricky though, Bishop Wand looked a strong outfit against Filton, but an away trip to Truro is a tough assignment.
ACE Round 2 Fixtures:
North
Bishop Burton College v Myerscough College
City of Oxford College v Brooksby Melton College
Gosforth Academy v Stourport High
Oaklands College v Bye
South
Gordon’s v Hartpury College
SGS Filton College v Exeter College
Truro College v Bishop Wand
Beechen Cliff v Bye
ACE Round 1 Results:
North
Brooksby Melton College 29-33 Bishop Burton College
Myerscough College 19-22 Gosforth Academy
Stourport High 33-29 Oaklands College
City of Oxford College v Bye
South
Exeter College 24-7 Beechen Cliff
Hartpury College 54-12 Truro College
Bishop Wand 26-17 SGS Filton College
Gordon’s v Bye
Further ACE League Fixtures:
Round 3 (22nd Sept)
North
Myerscough College v City of Oxford College
Oaklands College v Gosforth Academy
Stourport High v Bishop Burton College
Brooksby Melton College v Bye
South
Beechen Cliff v SGS Filton College
Exeter College v Truro College
Bishop Wand v Gordon’s
Hartpury College v Bye
Round 4 (29th Sept)
North
Bishop Burton College v Oaklands College
Brooksby Melton College v Myerscough College
City of Oxford College v Stourport High
Gosforth Academy v Bye
South
Gordon’s v Exeter College
Hartpury College v Bishop Wand
Truro College v Beechen Cliff
SGS Filton College v Bye
Round 5 (6th Oct)
North
Gosforth Academy v Bishop Burton College
Oaklands College v City of Oxford College
Stourport High v Brooksby Melton College
Myerscough College v Bye
South
Beechen Cliff v Gordon’s
Exeter College v Hartpury College
SGS Filton College v Truro College
Bishop Wand v Bye
Round 6 (13th Oct)
North
Brooksby Melton College v Oaklands College
City of Oxford College v Gosforth Academy
Myerscough College v Stourport High
Bishop Burton College v Bye
South
Gordon’s v SGS Filton College
Hartpury College v Beechen Cliff
Bishop Wand v Exeter College
Truro College v Bye
Round 7 (20th Oct)
North
Bishop Burton College v City of Oxford College
Gosforth Academy v Brooksby Melton College
Oaklands College v Myerscough College
Stourport High v Bye
South
Beechen Cliff v Bishop Wand
SGS Filton College v Hartpury College
Truro College v Gordon’s
Exeter College v Bye
