City of Oxford College will face Hartpury College in the 2021 ACE League Final after they topped their respective Division 1 Pools on Wednesday afternoon.
It is a first ever ACE League final for City of Oxford College, who are only in their second campaign, while for Hartpury College it is quite the opposite, they have reached the final in all but two ACE/AASE seasons and have never lost once they have reached the final.
City of Oxford sealed their place by topping Division 1 Pool A thanks to a 31-12 defeat of Truro College, who had not lost since the opening week of the season. The crucial factor was a trying scoring bonus points because SGS Filton College had found some real form, they actually beat City of Oxford last week and on Wednesday put Brooksby Melton College to the sword, 52-18.
So had City of Oxford not secured the bonus point, they, Truro, and Filton would all have been level on nine points. As it was though, City of Oxford secured the fourth try and will now play their first every ACE League Final in what should be an epic encounter.
Hartpury College are a formidable opponent, they have been the dominant side in the competition by a distance since its formation, and they have been spectacular again this year. Winning every single game.
They have been challenged though, in round one of this second stage Bishop Wand gave them a really close game however on Wednesday they showed their class, this time against Gosforth Academy. Hartpury won it 39-7, scoring six tries in the process to seal their place in the final. The question was whether these that close game against Bishop Wand represents a chink of light for opposition, or whether it represented Hartpury’s ability to find a way to get the job done even when facing a strong challenge, with the way they have played against both Bishop Burton, and now Gosforth, the answer feels very much like the latter.
Their victory sealed their place at the top of the table, and yet another place in the final, it also secured second spot for Bishop Wand after their stunning 69-5 dismantling of Bishop Burton College.
That means that Bishop Wand and SGS Filton College will meet in the 3rd place play off, with Truro College and Gosforth Academy going head to head for fifth, and Brooksby Melton and Bishop Burton playing for 7th.
The remaining play offs will be between the Division 2 sides, who played their final League games of the season on Wednesday too. In the North Pool Stourport High had already sealed top spot, but on WednesdayOaklands College sealed second ahead of Myerscough College, whom they beat 17-10 away from home. Beechen Cliff topped the South Pool with a stunning 52-3 defeat of Gordon’s, leaving their opponents in third and Exeter College in second.
That means that Stourport High and Beechen Cliff will meet in the 9th place play off, Oaklands and Exeter will play for 11th, and Myerscough College and Gordon’s will play in the 13th place play off.
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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 18-52 SGS Filton College
City of Oxford College 31-12 Truro College
| Pos | Team | W | D | L | BPs | Points |
| 1 | City of Oxford College | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| 2 | SGS Filton College | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| 3 | Truro College | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| 4 | Brooksby Melton College | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
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 14-8 Gosforth Academy
Bishop Wand 69-5 Bishop Burton College
| Pos | Team | W | D | L | BPs | Points |
| 1 | Hartpury College | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 |
| 2 | Bishop Wand | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 11 |
| 3 | Gosforth Academy | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| 4 | Bishop Burton College | 0 | 0 | 3 | 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 10-17 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 3-52 Beechen Cliff
