Round 2 of the ACE League followed the pattern set in the opening week with some absolutely thrilling games of rugby.
It was a big day, with Gordon’s making their ACE League debut, and City of Oxford College entering the fray for the first time this year, while the other sides looked either to capitalise on a good start in round 1 or to quickly make up any lost ground.
All in all it culminated in just two teams in each conference ending round two with two wins from two, the four sides laying down early markers as the ones to watch.
Northern Conference
One such side laying down an early marker are Bishop Burton College, the Yorkshire affiliates built on last week’s tight victory away at Brooksby Melton with a very impressive 31-17 victory at home to Myerscough College, asserting themselves as one of the key sides to watch in the northern conference.
Brooksby Melton College bounced back from that narrow defeat last week in another incredibly close game away at City of Oxford College, who were playing their first ACE League game of the season. The two could barely be separated, but in contrast to last week it was Brooksby Melton who clung on to edge the game 29-26 – they are fast building a reputation as a side whose games are always exciting!
The other side in the northern conference with a 2/2 record are Gosforth Academy after they beat Stourport High School in impressive fashion, 22-8. These were the only two sides playing each other that had won last week, and while Stourport look good, Gosforth were on fire on Wednesday afternoon.
Southern Conference
Gordon’s made their ACE League debut on Wednesday, a year after they had intended. They were at home but faced the mighty force that is Hartpury College, who stormed to a 38-0 victory and are already looking every inch the dominant side that they usually are. It was a tough debut for Gordon’s, but they should rest east in the knowledge that this was about as tough a test as there is and they stood up to it well, Truro College had a tougher time in week one after all.
Truro College might well have had a tough time in week one but they showed tremendous spirit and grit to bounce back in an incredibly tight encounter against Bishop Wand, who had impressed in victory on their ACE League debut the week before. It was as close as could be, but it was Truro that edged it, 22-21, for their first victory of the campaign.
Exeter College joined Hartpury College on two wins from two as they beat a spirited SGS Filton College side 24-15 away from home to back up their victory over Beechen Cliff in Round 1, the former champions look in good form as it stands.
Coming Up
There are bye weeks for Hartpury College and Brooksby Melton College in Round 3, where one of the highlights will be the clash of the new entrants in the Southern Conference, Bishop Wand v Gordon’s.
ACE Round 2 Results:
North
Bishop Burton College 31-17 Myerscough College
City of Oxford College 26-29 Brooksby Melton College
Gosforth Academy 22-8 Stourport High
Oaklands College v Bye
South
Gordon’s 0-38 Hartpury College
SGS Filton College 15-24 Exeter College
Truro College 22-21 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
Image via Bill Meredith
