Round 2 of the second stage of the 2021 ACE League took place on Wednesday, and the competition between the ACE Schools and Colleges took a big twist in a key day in the race to the finals.
For this second stage of the competition the two Division is divided into two pools that are mixed geographically, as opposed to the North/South divide for stage one, and on Wednesday the South came up trumps in a big way.
Division 1 Pool A
Truro College put themselves in with a fantastic shout of reaching the ACE League final after they backed up last week’s victory over SGS Filton College with a thrilling and dramatic 38-36 triumph over Brooksby Melton College on Wednesday. The defeat rules our Brooksby Melton College from reaching the final, but put Truro in pole position.
That is because they are four points clear of City of Oxford College after, in possibly the most sensational result of the day, the northern conference winners lost 20-12 to the fourth placed side from the Southern conference, SGS Filton College. Sadly for Filton it won’t be enough for them to reach the final, but it does mean that next week’s game between Truro and City of Oxford is a shootout for the final, but one in which things will have to go perfectly for City of Oxford if they are to overhaul the points deficit.
Division 1 Pool B
Things are a little tighter in Pool B thanks to bonus points, but Wednesday remained a bit of a ‘southwash’.Hartpury College, having been run close by Bishop Wand last week, predictably responded in style with a swashbuckling 64-0 victory away at Bishop Burton College to make it 8 wins from 8 this season and to keep them at the top of the table.
The result leaves Bishop Burton out of contention for a place in the final and Hartpury still in pole position, but it’s very close behind them with Gosforth Academy two points behind and Bishop Wand a point further back. Hartpury and Gosforth go head to head in what is effectively a decider for a spot in the final, but Bishop Wand are in position to step in should things sway their way after an absolutely brilliant 31-26 victory over Gosforth Academy on Wednesday.
Division 2
In the North Pool, Stourport High School made it two from two in stage 2 on Wednesday with an excellent 36-14 victory over Myerscough College. Meanwhile in the South Pool Exeter College bounced back from last week’s tough defeat to Beechen Cliff with a 24-7 victory over Gordon’s.
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ACE League Stage 2 Fixtures/Results
Division 1 Pool A
Wednesday 10th November
City of Oxford College 45-18 Brooksby Melton College
Truro College 24-15 SGS Filton College
Wednesday 17th November
SGS Filton College 20-12 City of Oxford College
Truro College 38-36 Brooksby Melton College
Wednesday 24th November
Brooksby Melton College v SGS Filton College
City of Oxford College v Truro College
| Pos | Team | W | D | L | BPs | Points |
| 1 | Truro College | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| 2 | City of Oxford College | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | SGS Filton College | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Brooksby Melton College | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Division 1 Pool B
Wednesday 10th November
Gosforth Academy 54-14 Bishop Burton College
Hartpury College 14-8 Bishop Wand
Wednesday 17th November
Bishop Burton College 0-64 Hartpury College
Gosforth Academy 26-31 Bishop Wand
Wednesday 24th November
Hartpury College v Gosforth Academy
Bishop Wand v Bishop Burton College
| Pos | Team | W | D | L | BPs | Points |
| 1 | Hartpury College | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| 2 | Gosforth Academy | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 3 | Bishop Wand | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 4 | Bishop Burton College | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Division 2 North Pool
Wednesday 10th November
Oaklands College 7-12 Stourport High School
Wednesday 17th November
Stourport High School 36-14 Myerscough College
Wednesday 24th November
Myerscough College v Oaklands College
Division 2 South Pool
Wednesday 10th November
Beechen Cliff 35-3 Exeter College
Wednesday 17th November
Exeter College 24-7 Gordon’s
Wednesday 24th November
Gordon’s v Beechen Cliff
