The ACE League returned on Wednesday for a glorious first round of action and marches into Round 2 this week with some huge fixtures, including the return of the Champions, Hartpury College.
Round 1 saw some terrific performances, not least for City of Oxford College in the North and Beechen Cliff in the South, and both are back in action again this week.
Round 2 Fixtures, Wednesday 21st September:
North
Gosforth Academy v City of Oxford College
Oaklands College v Brooksby Melton College
Stourport High v Myerscough College
Bishop Burton College v Bye
South
Beechen Cliff v Truro College
Bishop Wand v Hartpury College
Exeter College v Gordon’s
SGS Filton College – Bye
Northern Conference
City of Oxford College head to Gosforth Academy after that glorious 52-0 home victory over Oaklands College in Round 1. Reaching the final last year, City of Oxford are clearly determined for that one further step, but against Gosforth they will face a side of no little ambition themselves, and a side looking to perform with style after just missing out to Bishop Burton College last week.
Bishop Burton have the bye this week. It was Myerscough College’s turn with the bye last week, and they make their bow for the year as they travel to take on Stourport High School. The Worcester Warriors affiliates ignored the strife around the club last week to give Brooksby Melton College an almighty test. Now on their home ground they will want to go a step further and take victory.
Brooksby Melton College look to back up that victory last week with a trip down the M1 to take on Oaklands College. Oaklands had a tough time of it against City of Oxford, as mentioned, but that will only serve to make them more eager to bounce back. Against the quality that is Brooksby Melton College, and the sustained quality they have had in recent years, it will be a mighty challenge.
Southern Conference
The champions, Hartpury College, enter the fray for the first time this season on Wednesday and it’s a massive start for them as they head to Bishop Wand. Bishop Wand were magnificent in their opener away at Gordon’s, and now on their home turf they will want to make a real mark. As opening tests go, this is a big one for Hartpury.
Gordon’s meanwhile, after that home defeat to Bishop Wand, are on the road in Round 2, heading to Exeter College, who are going to be absolutely bouncing after a close 28-21 victory at the home of their fellow Exeter Chiefs affiliates, Truro College in their opening game.
Truro College look to bounce back from that defeat on Wednesday when they head to Beechen Cliff, but, as mentioned, Beechen Cliff had one of the most impressive performances of the opening round when they travelled to SGS Filton College (who have this week’s bye in the South) and won by a stunning 56-26 margin. If they can build on that, they begin to look seriously formidable.
If you have any photos, videos, clips, stories, or reports from the weekend please do send them in.
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Round 1 Results, Wednesday 14th September:
North
Bishop Burton College 26-19 Gosforth Academy
Brooksby Melton College 21-19 Stourport High
City of Oxford College 52-0 Oaklands College
Myerscough College – Bye
South
Gordon’s 17-38 Bishop Wand
SGS Filton College 26-56 Beechen Cliff
Truro College 21-28 Exeter College
Hartpury College – Bye
Further Fixtures
Round 3 Fixtures, Wednesday 28th September:
North
Brooksby Melton College v Gosforth Academy
City of Oxford College v Bishop Burton College
Myerscough College v Oaklands College
Stourport High – Bye
South
Gordon’s v Beechen Cliff
Hartpury College v Exeter College
Truro College v SGS Filton College
Bishop Wand – Bye
Round 4 Fixtures, Wednesday 5th October:
North
Bishop Burton College v Brooksby Melton College
Gosforth Academy v Myerscough College
Oaklands College v Stourport High
City of Oxford College – Bye
South
Beechen Cliff v Hartpury College
Exeter College v Bishop Wand
SGS Filton College v Gordon’s
Truro – Bye
Round 5 Fixtures, Wednesday 12th October:
North
Brooksby Melton College v City of Oxford College
Myerscough College v Bishop Burton College
Stourport High v Gosforth Academy
Oaklands College – Bye
South
Bishop Wand v Beechen Cliff
Gordon’s v Truro College
Hartpury College v SGS Filton College
Exeter College – Bye
Round 6 Fixtures, Wednesday 19th October:
North
Bishop Burton College v Stourport High
City of Oxford College v Myerscough College
Gosforth Academy v Oaklands College
Brooksby Melton College – Bye
South
Beechen Cliff v Exeter College
SGS Filton College v Bishop Wand
Truro College v Hartpury College
Gordon’s – Bye
Round 7 Fixtures, Wednesday 2nd November:
North
Myerscough College v Brooksby Melton College
Oaklands College v Bishop Burton College
Stourport High v City of Oxford College
Gosforth Academy – Bye
South
Bishop Wand v Truro College
Exeter College v SGS Filton College
Hartpury College v Gordon’s
Beechen Cliff – Bye
