Wednesday is fast approaching meaning we have another fascinating round of ACE league to review, whilst taking a look at what happened in a fascinating Round 2.
Whilst it still being very early on in the season in week 3, the competition is starting to heat up, especially in the South, containing three teams yet to taste defeat, with two of these teams in Hartpury and Exeter College going head-to-head this week in what must be the tie of the round.
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
Northern Conference
Brooksby Melton look to continue their strong start to the season, welcoming Gosforth Academy. Both teams are coming off huge wins in Round 2, and will be very keen to keep this momentum flowing. Brooksby Melton in particular will look to remain undefeated in the North, however Gosforth have already showed their mettle this year, bouncing back from disappointment in the first round, so do not count them out.
Bishop Burton travel to City of Oxford College in Round 3 following a bye week, looking to take advantage of fresh legs and build on their Round 1 success against Gosforth. Possibly one factor working mentally in Bishop Burtons favour is Gosforth’s impressive result against this weeks opponents, City of Oxford. However, there will no doubt be a backlash from the Wasps affiliates. With the pride of last year’s finalists already dented this season a win on Wednesday would be huge for the confidence of the side, and could maybe steer them back on the path to previous success.
Myerscough College host Oaklands College in the final tie in the North this week. These two sides have really struggled so far this season, accumulating just 7 points between them in the first three rounds. This makes Round 3’s tie all the more important. A win in the column for either of these sides represents a blank slate for them to build off for the rest of the year, and no doubt this will be a very interesting encounter.
Finally, a word must be said for Worcester Warriors affiliates Stourport High. It has been a horrific few weeks behind the scenes for the Warriors, of which many of Stourport’s players represent at academy level and no doubt have prospects to go on and play for in the future. Despite this, round 2 saw a spirited performance to put away Myerscough, and with the news coming on Monday that the club is now in administration, it seems fitting the team have an opportunity to digest this with a bye week.
Southern Conference
In the south, Beechen Cliff travel to Gordons in Round 3. The side linked to Bath Rugby have put the West country to sword so far in the competition, discarding SGS Filton and Truro handily in the first two rounds. Whilst Gordons have struggled so far, their Harlequins academy-filled team possesses the firepower to bounce back in Round 3, and will be desperate for a result at home.
Champions Hartpury host Exeter College in a battle of two unbeaten teams who have been flying lately. The Gloucester outfit always seems to exude confidence in this competition, however Exeter College have an extra week of game-time under their belts, and will not be short on confidence themselves after an impressive win against Gordons in Round 2.
SGS Filton make the journey south to Truro to round up week 3. It has been a tricky start to the campaign for Truro so far, still being winless. They have however come up against formidable opponents in Beechen Cliff and Exeter, and may eye an SGS team coming off of a bye week as an opportunity to get their season going.
Round 2 Results, Wednesday 21st September:
North
Gosforth Academy 48-7 City of Oxford College
Oaklands College 0-43 Brooksby Melton College
Stourport High 40-7 Myerscough College
Bishop Burton College v Bye
South
Beechen Cliff 38-14 Truro College
Bishop Wand 19-33 Hartpury College
Exeter College 40-26 Gordon’s
SGS Filton College – Bye
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 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
