The business end of the 2022 ACE League begins on Wednesday as Phase 2 gets underway.

After the initial Stage 1 Pools, which were split North/South with 7 teams in each, the top four from each have qualified for the Division 1 Pools, with first and third from the North joined by second and fourth from the South in Pool A and vice versa in Pool B.

The Division 2 Pools remain split North/South with the bottom three from each of those initial Stage 1 pools competing.

Stage 2 Pools

Division 1

Pool A: Beechen Cliff, Bishop Wand, Brooksby Melton College, Stourport High

Division 1 Pool A sees Beechen Cliff and Bishop Wand as the Southern sides after their second and fourth placed finishes, the sides joining them from the North were really up in the air though. Brooksby Melton College join them as first place finishers from the North but that was a position right on the edge after defeat to Myerscough College last time out – a result that makes Myerscough the most unfortunate side in the whole ACE League, missing out of a Division 1 spot on points difference. Third place from the North, so joining Pool A, were Stourport High School, but again that was on points difference – they, Gosforth, and Myerscough all finished on 18 points but Stourport’s superior points difference sees them into Pool A.

Pool B: City of Oxford College, Exeter College, Gosforth Academy, Hartpury College

Why is that so crucial? Well, for one reason, they avoid perpetual champions Hartpury College, who head up Pool B after topping the Southern Pool with a maximum 30 points out of 30 from their six games. Joining them are third placed Exeter College, who finished third in the South after four victories from their six. The North Pool sees Gosforth Academy join Pool B after they clinched fourth on points difference, +15 on Myerscough. Had Myerscough beaten Brooksby Melton by just three more points then Brooksby Melton would be in this Pool, but as it was the losing bonus point put them in Pool A, leaving City of Oxford College in second place and joining the party at Pool B.

Division 2

North: Bishop Burton College, Myerscough College, Oaklands College

South: Gordon’s, SGS Filton College, Truro College

Division 2 then sees Bishop Burton College, Myerscough College, and Oaklands College in the North Pool, with Gordon’s, SGS Filton College, and Truro College in the South Pool.

Stage 2 Round 1 Fixtures

Division 1

Pool A

Beechen Cliff v Bishop Wand

Brooksby Melton v Stourport High

Pool A looks exciting, Brooksby Melton College and Stourport High School met in the opening week of this year’s competition and had an incredibly tight game, finishing 21-19 in Brooksby Melton’s favour, so hopefully this will be an equally tight game. Beechen Cliff travelled to Bishop Wand in Week 5 and lost a thriller 33-26, now on their home patch they will be looking for payback, but Bishop Wand will have a huge amount of confidence from that game.

Pool B

City of Oxford College v Gosforth Academy

Hartpury College v Exeter College

Exeter College have Hartpury College one of their tougher games back in Week 3, going down 31-19 at the Alpas. Hartpury won that though and their other five games and are going to be gunning to make that seven from seven on Wednesday. Back in Week 2 Gosforth Academy beat City of Oxford College by an impressive 48-7 margin and they now head to City of Oxford surely full of confidence knowing what they did earlier in the season. However since then it has been City of Oxford that have been the more dominant, and they are going to be determined to reverse what happened there in that second week of the season, particularly now on their own patch.

Division 2

Filton 39-0 Gordon’s – Week 4

Oaklands 0-28 Bishop Burton – Week 7

North

Bishop Burton College v Oaklands College

There two met just last week, Bishop Burton College winning 28-0 at Oaklands College. Now on their home turf they will be feeling confident of getting this second stage of the season off to a flying start, but Oaklands will have been stung by that one last week and will be determined to reverse the fortunes.

South

SGS Filton College v Gordon’s

It’s a similar story in the South Pool. Filton College were 39-0 victors over Gordon’s in Week 4 and welcome Gordon’s again on Wednesday. The Bristol Bears affiliates will no doubt remember that game and be feeding on the confidence from that, but the Harlequins affiliates will be feeding on the hurt from it as well and will be throwing everything at this one.

Phase 1 Groups Final Standings

North Pool

*Myerscough College miss out on points difference (+22 vs +57, Stourport, and +37, Gosforth)

South Pool

Round 7 Results:

North

Myerscough College 22-17 Brooksby Melton College

Oaklands College 0-28 Bishop Burton College

Stourport High 35-43 City of Oxford College

South

Bishop Wand 21-25 Truro College

Exeter College 17-12 SGS Filton College

Hartpury College 33-14 Gordon’s