ACE League: Round 4 Preview – Midpoint of the First Phase

AASE 2019

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Round 4 of the ACE League takes place on Wednesday, the mid point in the first stage of the ACE season.

After 7 rounds of games the league will split, the top half of each conference being drawn together into two mini nationwide pools, with the bottom half of each also splitting into mini pools but remaining North/South.

That means some serious jostling for position, with just the top four in each qualifying for those top halves of the split, and therefore a chance of reaching the ACE final in December. With the Top 4 in the south currently covered by just two points and the gap between third and fifth in the north just a single point, things remain absolutely wide open.

Northern Conference

Bishop Burton College and Gosforth Academy lead the way in the Northern Conference and with Gosforth having a bye week, Bishop Burton have a chance top head to the top of the conference when they host Oaklands Academy. Against Stourport High last week Bishop Burton had asserted early control through their driving maul, but showed their range of abilities later in the game with a try crafted via multiple offloads from the Yorkshire Academy affiliates to make it three wins from. Oaklands meanwhile went down to Gosforth and are still searching for their first victory, but you can guarantee they will make life as tough as possible in Yorkshire.

Brooksby Melton College had the bye week last week but played a tough game against former ACE side Henley College. How they bounce back from that will be key as they look to create a bit of distance for themselves in the top 4. They are at home on Wednesday, with Sale Sharks affiliates Myerscough College the visitors, Myerscough remain without a victory and yet have put in a number of strong performances that will leave them feeling that it is surely a matter of when, rather than if.

The third game in the Northern Conference sees City of Oxford College, who moved into third place last week, take on Stourport High, who are just a point behind in fifth, meaning that victory for either will create a bit of a gap for the winner. City of Oxford won last week, while Stourport gave a strong account of themselves against Bishop Burton, all of which suggests a cracking game on Wednesday.

Southern Conference

Gordon’s search for a maiden win in their debut season continues on Wednesday when they host 2019 champions, Exeter College. Things are tight in the southern conference and any victory immediately changes the picture of the table. For Gordon’s though, it is just about getting that feeling captured, for Exeter College there is a very realistic chance of a bit of daylight at the top of the table on Wednesday evening, particularly with the next game on the card.

That next game sees Hartpury College, who sit in third, unbeaten but having played a game fewer than those ahead, host table-topping Bishop Wand, who are level on points with Exeter College. Hartpury have looked pretty dominant so far, but Bishop Wand have been in great form too, winning two from three and only going down by a point on the long trip to Truro in Round 2. It should be a great indication of where each side is at.

Speaking of Truro College, they are at home again on Wednesday and like Bishop Wand, Exeter College, and Hartpury College, they are seeking their third victory of the campaign. They have made a habit of winning close games in the past two weeks, v Bishop Wand and Exeter, and on Wednesday they will have another tough one as they welcome 2019 finalists Beechen Cliff, who are still searching for their first victory of the campaign, a fact that will surely have them pumped right up for this one.

If you have any photos, video, reports, or any other content from the week’s ACE rugby then please do send it in via our social media channels or admin@nextgenxv.com and if you are interested in us live streaming one of your games or an event then please do get in touch!

Round 4 Fixtures (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

ACE League Standings:

North:

PosTeamPWDLBPsPoints
1Gosforth Academy3300315
2Bishop Burton3300214
3City of Oxford210137
4Brooksby Melton210137
5Stourport High310226
6Oaklands College200222
7Myerscough300311
PosTeamPWDLBPsPoints
1Bishop Wand3201311
2Exeter College3201311
3Hartpury College2200210
4Truro College320119
5SGS Filton College310215
6Beechen Cliff200222
7Gordon’s200200

ACE League Round 3 Results:

North

Myerscough College 7-38 City of Oxford College

Oaklands College 17-31 Gosforth Academy

Stourport High 10-17 Bishop Burton College

Brooksby Melton College v Bye

South

Beechen Cliff 28-29 SGS Filton College

Exeter College 31-35 Truro College

Bishop Wand 33-5 Gordon’s

Hartpury College v Bye

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

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 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

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