What a week of ACE league rugby we have ahead of us, with it being crunch time in the race for Division 1 pool qualification. Key fixtures at Oxford in the North and SGS the South will shape both conferences heading into the final week before the Pool stage of the competition.
NextGen is here to take a look at these games and so much more as well as rounding up an exciting Round 5 which saw a massive upset at Bishop Wand and a few sides putting themselves back in contention for the all-important 4th place.
Round 6 Fixtures
Northern Conference
Bishop Burton College vs Stourport High School
City of Oxford College vs Myerscough College
Gosforth Academy vs Oaklands College
Brooksby Melton College vs BYE
Southern Conference
Beechen Cliff School vs Exeter College
SGS College vs Bishop Wand School
Truro College vs Hartpury College
Gordons School vs BYE
Northern Conference
We begin our preview with Stourport Highs trip to Bishop Burton College. The visitors will arrive in Yorkshire with some real confidence having not lost since the first round of the competition, but are still not safe from missing out on Division 1 qualification and a win here will go a long way to confirm their progression. However, the home team will be looking to bounce back with a vengeance having run into tough competition away at Myerscough last week. A win could, depending on other fixtures, reignite their own qualification hopes. Expect a cracker here up north.
City of Oxford College host Myerscough in our next fixture, the first of our 4th vs 5th games and a massive tie in the context of the conference. City of Oxford have had a really tough week. They went down valiantly to conference leaders Brooksby Melton by just a point in Round 5, and then more heartbreak was round the corner as their affiliated Premiership club Wasps announced it was going into administration yesterday. Just as with Stourport earlier this year, this will affect so many of the Oxford based side, with much of the team being a part of the Wasps academy setup. However, Worcester Warriors woes off the field seemed to have a positive effect on the Stourport boys, they haven’t lost since news broke of Worcester’s own administration, and the question must be posed as to whether City of Oxford can recreate this mentality. It is hugely important for their qualification hopes that they do, as visitors Myerscough are only behind them on 5th place due to points difference, and the winner of this one can take 4th place into their own hands going into Round 7.
Our final game in the North sees Oaklands make the long trip up to Gosforth Academy. The home sides loss last week against Stourport means they’re not safe from both Myerscough and City of Oxford, and a loss here could see them dragged into a Round 7 fight for fourth. Oaklands are still searching for their first victory this year, and will once again be fired up for this one.
Southern Conference
We have 3rd vs 2nd to begin in the South as Exeter College visit Beechen Cliff. Last week’s most eye-opening result saw Bishop Wand shock Beechen Cliff, condemning them to a second straight loss, making Round 6 all the more important to reignite momentum. However, standing in their way is a well-rested Exeter College side coming off a bye that will be desperate to capitalise on the result of SGS and Bishop Wand game and go clear in the race for qualification.
Next, we move onto that huge tie in Bristol, Bishop Wands trip to SGS. Currently Bishop Wand sit a point above SGS in the table in 4th and a win would put them in a great position going into the final week before the pool stages. The shock upset win the London Irish affiliated side picked up last week at home to Beechen Cliff will fill them with confidence, as opposed to SGS who lost to the irrepressible Hartpury in Round 5. However, the Bristol based side will have home support behind them and have displayed before this season that they have the quality to succeed.
We end our Round 6 review with Hartpury’s trip to Truro. The champions have romped to first place in the conference yet again this season, and will be looking to keep their good form rolling going into the pool stages of the competition. A Truro side awaits who scored their first win last week away to Gordons, and the home team will have a spring in their step as they welcome the monumental challenge before them in the men from Gloucestershire.
Round 6 Results
Northern Conference
Brooksby Melton College U18 25 – 24 City of Oxford College U18
Myerscough College U18 37 – 10 Bishop Burton College U18
Oaklands College U18 V BYE
The Stourport High School and Sixth Form Centre 31 – 12 Gosforth Academy U18
Southern Conference
Exeter College U18 V BYE
Gordon’s School U18 28 – 31 Truro and Penwith College U18
Hartpury College U18 52 – 12 SGS College U18
The Bishop Wand Church of England School U18 33 – 26 Beechen Cliff School U18
Round 7 Results
Northern Conference
Gosforth Academy U18 V BYE
Myerscough College U18 Vs Brooksby Melton College U18
Oaklands College U18 Vs Bishop Burton College U18
The Stourport High School and Sixth Form Centre Vs City of Oxford College U18
Southern Conference
Beechen Cliff School U18 V BYE
Exeter College U18 Vs SGS College U18
Hartpury College U18 Vs Gordon’s School U18
The Bishop Wand Church of England School U18 Vs Truro and Penwith College U18
