The ACE League enters its final round of league action for 2022 as teams jostle in this final round of the places in the play-offs and, crucially, the final.
Each team will play the corresponding side from the other pool in their division in a play off game to define their final standing, meaning that the top side from each of the Division 1 Pools will meet in the ACE League Final.
Hartpury College won the league last year, beating City of Oxford College in the Final, but only one will be there this year as both go head to head in the crucial game in Division 1 Pool B.
Over in Pool A, it is wide open, with Beechen Cliff, Bishop Wand, and Brooksby Melton College all in a position from which a place in the final is possible.
In Division 2, Oaklands College and Gordon’s have played their final games already.
Round 3 Fixtures & Division Standings
Division 1
Pool A
Brooksby Melton College v Beechen Cliff
Stourport High v Bishop Wand
Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | BPs | Points |
1 | Beechen Cliff | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
2 | Bishop Wand | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
3 | Brooksby Melton College | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
4 | Stourport High | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
The key game in Pool A is Beechen Cliff’s trip to Brooksby Melton College, a win of any sort would guarantee a return to the final after a couple of year’s absence for Beechen Cliff as they are already four points clear at the top. Indeed two league points would seal the spot of them. A bonus point victory for Brooksby Melton College though and suddenly this group is wide open and all eyes in Leicester will be focused in on Worcester, where Stourport High School will host Bishop Wand. A place in the final is out for Stourport, though a spot in the third place play off is still possible, but a bonus point victory for Bishop Wand could put them in position to top the group and reach a first ever final in the London Irish ACE’s Bishop Wand guise.
Pool B
Exeter College v Gosforth Academy
Hartpury College v City of Oxford College
Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | BPs | Points |
1 | Hartpury College | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
2 | City of Oxford College | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
3 | Exeter College | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
4 | Gosforth Academy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Hartpury College host City of Oxford College in a repeat of last year’s final and it’s a key one. The winner will go through to the final. The task for City of Oxford is mighty, Hartpury have taken maximum league points in every single game this season and are showing no signs of letting up, and yet there is a chink of light of City of Oxford, in that it’s just one game and one win. For Hartpury though, confidence will be high. The other game sees Exeter College and Gosforth Academy go head to head, neither can finish top, but if Hartpury beat City of Oxford then either could finish second and compete for third place.
Division 2
North Pool
Myerscough College v Bishop Burton College
Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | BPs | Points |
1 | Bishop Burton College | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
2 | Myerscough College | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
3 | Oaklands College | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Oaklands College have played their final game, so Myerscough College v Bishop Burton College is a direct shoot-out for top spot and a place in the 9th place play off. Both are locked on points, so it really is winner takes all.
South Pool
Truro College v SGS Filton College
Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | BPs | Points |
1 | Gordon’s | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
2 | Truro College | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
3 | SGS Filton College | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Gordon’s have played all of their games and sit top by a point from Truro College, who will finish top if they can get more than one league point at home to SGS Filton College, for whom a bonus point victory could also take them top. Indeed there is a scenario where all teams finish on 5 points, if Filton get a bonus point victory and Truro a losing bonus, leaving this one down to points difference.
Round 2 Results
Division 1
Pool A
Beechen Cliff 27-17 Stourport High
Bishop Wand 31-8 Brooksby Melton College
Pool B
City of Oxford College 14-20 Exeter College
Gosforth Academy 0-26 Hartpury College
Division 2
North Pool
Oaklands College 20-38 Myerscough College
South Pool
Gordon’s 5-17 Truro College
Round 1 Results
Division 1
Pool A
Beechen Cliff 24-14 Bishop Wand
Brooksby Melton College 41-19 Stourport High
Pool B
City of Oxford College 27-26 Gosforth Academy
Hartpury College 46-17 Exeter College
Division 2
North Pool
Bishop Burton College 29-6 Oaklands College
South Pool
SGS Filton College 14-40 Gordon’s
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