It’s Round Six of the 2021 ACE League on Wednesday, the penultimate round of this opening stage of the competition.

For Exeter College and Stourport High School, these are their final games of this opening phase as they have byes next week.

After next week’s games the league splits, the top four in each conference are combined and split into two groups – first and third in the north with second and fourth in the south and vice versa. The winners of those mini-conferences will compete in the 2021 ACE League final. Those finishing in the bottom half of these initial conferences will also play in mini-conferences after half term, however the will remain split North/South.

Northern Conference

It’s a huge day in the Northern Conference. Last week Gosforth Academy confirmed their place in the Top 4, this week they travel to a side looking to book their own place in the Top 4, City of Oxford College. It is a big challenge for City of Oxford, but they have been in fine form, however it may not even come down to that as Brooksby Melton College host Oaklands College, who are the only side outside of the current top 4 that can break into it. Should Oaklands fair to win at Brooksby Melton College, City of Oxford College will be safely in the top 4, as indeed will Brooksby Melton College – they sit on the exact same points total as City of Oxford.

That will certainly be what Bishop Burton College are hoping for, they are the most vulnerable to Oaklands’ advances and they have a bye week. They will stay in the top 4 on Wednesday regardless, but they could remain safe by six points or be as little as a point clear, with would make next week’s game with City of Oxford College vital.

The third game in the Northern Conference this week sees Myerscough College host Stourport High. It is Stourport’s final game before the split and they will be keen to finish on a high, while for Myerscough it is another chance for them to try to achieve their first ACE league victory of the season, and to give themselves a shot of rising from the foot of the table next week.

Southern Conference

In the Southern Conference two sides have booked their places in the top 4 already, Hartpury College and Truro College. Truro have a bye week this week after four wins on the trot and can watch the rest charge on. Meanwhile Hartpury College host Beechen Cliff, who are, along with everyone from third to seventh, in a real dogfight to get into that top 4. It will be a real challenge for the Bath side this week though, Hartpury College are flying and have won all of their games with a bonus point.

Perhaps the key game in the conference is Bishop Wand v Exeter College they are level on points in third and fourth, three clear of fifth, four of sixth, and 6 of seventh. For Exeter it is the final game of the conference and therefore even more vital that they secure a positive result, not least because with Gordon’s and SGS Filton College going head to head it is likely that the winner there is going to be at least four points closer to the loser of Bishop Wand v Exeter College. 

Between all of those sides from third down, things are likely going to get very very tense. The winner of Bishop Wand v Exeter College is going t feel a bit more secure in their Top 4 status, while the loser of Gordon’s v Filton will be hanging on a bit, but it is all to play for in the South!

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ACE Round 6 Fixtures (13^th 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

ACE League Standings:

North:

Round 5 Results:

North

Gosforth Academy 34-14 Bishop Burton College

Oaklands College 14-20 City of Oxford College

Stourport High 22-50 Brooksby Melton College

Myerscough College v Bye

South

Beechen Cliff 33-12 Gordon’s

Exeter College 19-55 Hartpury College

SGS Filton College 31-33 Truro College

Bishop Wand v Bye

Round 4 Results:

North

Bishop Burton College 10-26 Oaklands College

Brooksby Melton College 59-0 Myerscough College

City of Oxford College 36-26 Stourport High

Gosforth Academy v Bye

South

Gordon’s 20-10 Exeter College

Hartpury College 31-15 Bishop Wand

Truro College 46-28 Beechen Cliff

SGS Filton College v Bye

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 7 (20^th 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