The Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League returned with a bang this weekend as new teams reached the top of both conferences in the first Academy League action since the opening two rounds in August.

Five of the next six weekends will see Academy League action, right through to the finals on the 18^th/19^thFebruary, and the race for those finals places is already looking tight.

Round 3 Results (Saturday 7^th January)

North

Leicester Tigers 22-29 Newcastle Falcons (2pm, Loughborough University)

Midlands West (Worcester) 26-29 Midlands Central (Wasps) (2pm, Warwick School)

Northampton Saints 36-14 Sale Sharks (Sunday, 1pm, Franklin’s Gardens)

South

Exeter Chiefs 19-36 Bath (12pm, Truro College)

Harlequins 41-14 Gloucester (1pm, Cobham RFC)

London Irish 21-17 Saracens (12pm, Hazelwood)

Northern Conference Roundup

In the Northern Conference Leicester Tigers were the table toppers at the start of the weekend but were stung by a mighty start from Newcastle Falcons at Loughborough Uni. Tigers came roaring back but this Newcastle Falcons side led by Barnard Castle’s Jacob Oliver had enough to hold on for a first win of the campaign, 29-22, jumping to fourth.

Tigers were knocked down to third, with Midlands Central taking top spot in their first competitive game since Wasps’ demise. They were facing Midlands West, who were formed in the wake of Worcester Warriors’ collapse and both are a part of the new RFU Midlands Regional Academy. The two met at Warwick School and had taken on the points and results from their former entities games at the start of the campaign. What unfolded was a real celebration of these two groups of players being out on the field again, an absolutely cracking match that finished up 29-26 in Midlands Central’s favour, sending them to the top of the table, and leaving Midlands West bottom, though only by a point thanks to two bonus points.

The Northern Conference action was rounded off on Sunday by a superb performance from Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens. The Henry Pollock led side were in magnificent form against Sale Sharks for a 36-14 victory that leaves them just a point off top spot in second place, with Sale Sharks in fifth.

Southern Conference Roundup

In the South London Irish leapfrogged their opponents Saracens to top spot after an epic at Hazelwood. Hooker Kepu Tuipulotu of Harrow was on form for the Exiles, scoring twice, the second of which was crucial, a tap and go penalty to give his side the lead. Saracens battered the London Irish line afterwards and had a chance from a tap penalty of their own, but an error led to a scrum and gave Irish the chance to finish the game and jump to top spot.

Also climbing the table were Harlequins, who sealed their first victory of the campaign with an absolutely magnificent 41-14 victory over Gloucester at Cobham RFC. It lifted them into top spot, and leaves Gloucester still searching for a victory from their three games to date.

Truro College meanwhile played host to Exeter Chiefs v Bath on Saturday, and there were an impressive 10 Truro College pupils in the Exeter Chiefs lineup. However it was to be the Beechen Cliff and Millfield dominated Bath side that claimed victory, their first of the campaign, 36-19 to reach 5^th in the conference.

Round 4 Fixtures (Saturday 14^th January)

North

Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks (2pm, Kingston Park)

Northampton Saints v Midlands West (1pm, Franklin’s Gardens)

Yorkshire Academy v Leicester Tigers (2.30pm, Keighley RFC)

South

Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs (1.30pm, Syon Lane)

London Irish v Bath (1pm, Hazelwood)

Saracens v Bristol Bears (Sunday, 2pm, StoneX)

Standings

North

South

North Teams

Leicester Tigers

15 Harry Simpson (Brooksby Melton College, vc), 14 Malelili Satala (Brooksby Melton College), 13 Charlie Davies (Mount St Mary’s College), 12 Jack Teague (Old Swinford Hospital), 11 Alex Garrett (Denstone College), 10 Ben Taylor (Oakham, captain), 9 Nicolas Gali (Denstone College), 1 Tom Wand (Brooksby Melton College), 2 Harry Clarke (Denstone College), 3 Oliver Avison (Brooksby Melton College), 4 Felix Starkey (Oakham), 5 Osian Thomas (Stamford), 6 Phelton Tandoh (Stamford), 7 George Perkins (Denstone College, vc), 8 Sam Williams (Stamford).

Replacements: 16 Finlay Hayward (Old Swinford Hospital), 17 Bronson Mellowes (Brooksby Melton College), 18 Tom Hinchliffe (Trent College), 19 Tyler Russell (East Coast College), 20 Lawrence Adediran (Brooksby Melton College), 21 Jack Dickens (Trent College), 22 Tom Threlfall (Nottingham High), 23 Elliot Smith (Denstone College).

Newcastle Falcons

15 Ben Redshaw (Sedbergh), 14 Oscar Doran (Keswick), 13 Dan Stephenson (RGS Newcastle), 12 Harry Rickard (Barnard Castle), 11 Lucas Rowell (Gosforth Academy), 10 Dan Woodcock (Cockermouth), 9 Joe Davis (Barnard Castle), 1 Isaac Keller (Gosforth Academy), 2 Jacob Oliver (Barnard Castle, captain), 3 Sam Kirkman (Gosforth Academy), 4 Connor Bowran (Gosforth Academy), 5 Finn Baker (Sedbergh), 6 Kane James (Sedbergh), 7 Archie Fletcher (Newcastle School for Boys), 8 Lewis Richardson (Gosforth Academy).

Replacements: 16 Ryan Shaw (Gosforth Academy), 17 Chris Johnstone (KES Morpeth), 18 Sam Graham (Durham), 19 Tom Cressey (RGS Newcastle), 20 Reuben Parsons (Gosforth Academy), 21 Nicko Sykes (Newcastle School for Boys), 22 Junior Newton (Sedbergh), 23 Tom Burton (Sedbergh).

Midlands West

15 Charlie Whorrod, 14 Cam Smith, 13 George Bennett, 12 Matty Walker, 11 Jack Kinder, 10 Jack Condliffe, 9 Billy McDonough, 1 Will Conduit, 2 Loic Keasey, 3 Emmanuel Olaleye, 4 Tom Hilton, 5 Warwick Archer, 6 Luca Van Vuuren, 7 Sam Hawes, 8 Max Truby.

Replacements: 16 George Knowles, 17 Jacob Tomkinson, 18 Ollie McGinnity, 19 Zach Armstrong, 20 Charlie Bemand, 21 George Tomlinson, 22 Ellis Deans-Smith.

Midlands Central

15 Dan Barnett, 14 Emosi Nabakeke, 13 Sam Sinclair, 12 Charlie Myall, 11 Will Glister, 10 Charlie Mason, 9 Max Blinkhorn, 1 Jacob Yates, 2 Ben Pogson, 3 Sam Scott, 4 Charlie Bell, 5 Charlie Moss, 6 Reuben Logan, 7 John Baldwin, 8 Felix Hunt.

Replacements: 16 Beau Delaney, 17 Cameron Aitchison, 18 Lasha Asatiani-Kalandadze, 19 Ethan Surrey, 20 Harry English 21 Reuben Elias, 22 Thomas Cunningham, 23 Ryan Sweeting.

Northampton Saints

15 Ewan Baker (Stowe), 14 Ben Radnor (Samuel Whitbread Academy), 13 Harry Simpson (Ipswich), 12 Ollie Saddleton (Ipswich), 11 Jacob Willmott (Samuel Whitbread Academy), 10 Max Allman-Ward (Bedford), 9 Archie McParland (Stowe), 1 Lucas Nisbett-Hadaway (Ipswich), 2 Sol Moody (Finborough), 3 Will Lamprell (Ipswich), 4 Ashton Webb (Wisbech Grammar), 5 Henri Burditt (Stowe), 6 Aiden Kabi (Oundle), 7 Henry Pollock (Stowe, captain), 8 Ollie Holliday (Northampton School for Boys).

Replacements: 16 Yujian Zou (The Perse), 17 Oliver Scola (Northampton School for Boys), 18 Dave Bennett (Rugby), 19 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (Bedford), 20 Mart Van Der Veen (Ipswich), 21 Rory Hollis (Ipswich), 22 Billy Pasco (Oundle), 23 Logan McCabe (Moulton College).

Sale Sharks

15 Jack Lightowler, 14 Albert Bradshaw, 13 Osian Roberts, 12 Cameron Scanlon, 11 Will Bradley, 10 Oliver Davies, 9 Will Wootton, 1 Dan Rourke, 2 Josh MacAndrew, 3 Oliver Corkish, 4 Darren Low (c), 5 Dan Green, 6 Jos Gilmore, 7 Isaac Deans, 8 Jack Lightbown.

Replacements: 16 Ollie Read, 17 Noah Lawton, 18 Ben Liley, 19 Seb Kelly, 20 Frank Chatterton, 21 Carwyn Edwards, 22 Rhys James, 23 Toby Wilson.

South Teams

Exeter Chiefs

15 Louie Drennan (Exeter College), 14 Josh Golden Clarke (Truro College), 13 George Edson (Truro College), 12 Sam James (Truro College), 11 Nick Lilley (Exeter College), 10 Jed Findlay (Exeter College), 9 Max Ferguson (Exeter College), 1 Callum Arnold (Exeter College), 2 Lucas Gulley (Exeter College), 3 Ollie Critchley (Truro College), 4 Charlie Everard (Truro College), 5 Oscar Beckerleg (Truro College), 6 Pip Berton-Race (Exeter College), 7 Bobby Pond (Exeter College), 8 Barnaby Elderkin (Truro College).

Replacements: 16 Ted Hocking (Truro College), 17 Josh Mann (Truro College), 18 Harry Rodwell (Exeter College), 19 Ben Hobbs (Exeter College), 20 Will Saltmarsh (Blundell’s), 21 Benjamin Coen (Blundell’s), 22 Bobby Wiggington (Exeter College), 23 Owen Wildgoose (Truro College).

Bath

15 Charlie Brook (Marlborough College), 14 Will Dudman (Beechen Cliff), 13 James Short (Beechen Cliff), 12 Rory Crum (Beechen Cliff), 11 Henry Bartlett (Beechen Cliff), 10 Raff Weston (Beechen Cliff), 9 Ieuan Davies (Millfield), 1 Ioan Emanuel (Millfield), 2 Kacey Pike (Beechen Cliff), 3 Billy Sela (Beechen Cliff), 4 Rory Cameron (Beechen Cliff), 5 Alex Deering (Millfield), 6 Jack Bennett (Monkton Combe), 7 George Timmins (Millfield), 8 Connor Treacey (Beechen Cliff, captain).

Replacements: 16 Leo Palmer (Kingswood), 17 Henry Bonetti (Millfield), 18 Harry Love (Beechen Cliff), 19 Arthur Moore (Clayesmore), 20 Charlie Ward (Kingswood), 21 Ollie Byrne (Beechen Cliff), 22 James Linegar (Kingswood), 23 Will Howells (Prior Park College).

Harlequins

15 Conor Byrne (Trinity), 14 Tom Humphreys (RGS Guildford) 13 Ethan Dando (Brighton College), 12 Sean Kerr (Whitgift), 11 Jack Thomas (Churcher’s College), 10 Josh Bellamy (Trinity), 9 Lucas Friday (Trinity), 1 Richard Twitchen (Seaford College), 2 Jimmy Staples (Seaford College), 3 Jamie Miller (Whitgift) 4 Theo Currie (Gordon’s), 5 Hal Kennedy (Emanuel), 6 Seth Eley (KCS Wimbledon), 7 Will Peart-Smith (Trinity), 8 Lucas Schmid (Epsom College).

Replacements: 16 Enock Addai (Gordon’s), 17 Zak Stephenson (Gordon’s), 18 Kane Fleary (Trinity), 19 Alfie Ambrose (Cardinal Newman), 20 Roma Matebalavu (Trinity), 21 Matt Wickham (Reigate Grammar), 22 Kit Temperley (Epsom College), 23 Jack Anstey (Cranleigh).

Gloucester

15 Ioan Jones (Dean Close), 14 Jack Cotgreave (Hartpury College), 13 Ollie Rendell (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 12 Max Knight (Harptury College), 11 Steff Gibson (Hartpury College), 10 Woody Walker (Radley College), 9 Charlie Rainbird (Hartpury College), 1 Harrison Bellamy (Hartpury College), 2 Sam Loftus (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 3 Owen Popple (Hartpury College), 4 Jo Pauling (Hartpury College), 5 Mikey Nixon (Sir Thomas Rich’s, captain), 6 TJ Fanolua (Cheltenham College), 7 Olly Allport (Dean Close), 8 Naquan Smith (Wycliffe College).

Replacements: 16 Jamie Fallon (Hartpury College, 17 Reuben Woodham (Dean Close), 18 Berian Williams (Hartpury College), 19 Bart Godsell (Marling), 20 Tom Anson (Hartpury College), 21 James Lilwall (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 22 Hugo Carter (Hartpury College), 23 Ollie Thomas (Hartpury College).

London Irish

15 Ben Frampton, 14 Theo Williamson, 13 Ollie Miall, 12 Harrison Hall, 11 Sam Rockley, 10 Louie Heard, 9 Noah Cowan, 1 Ralph McEachran, 2 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 3 Brandon Vince, 4 Tayo Adegbemile, 5 Will Saunders, 6 Reggie Hammick, 7 Finn Worley-Brady (c), 8 Jack Lee.

Replacements: 16 Nodari Gorgidze, 17 Jasper Cockburn_Miller, 18 Philip Truscott, 19 Louis Brickley, 20 Ciaran Brickley, 21 Michael Morgan, 22 Charlie Griffin, 23 Finlay Wiseman.

Saracens

15 Declan Murphy, 14 Toby Clinch, 13 Lance Kruger, 12 Louis Sinclair, 11 Finn Newton, 10 Benjy Mills, 9 Ewan Entwistle, 1 Alex O’Driscoll, 2 Henry Walker, 3 Max Wheeler, 4 Junior Kpoku, 5 Dylan Enskat, 6 James Boylan, 7 Charlie West, 8 Barney Merrett.

Replacements: 16 Lucas Eule, 17 Ikhi Osebor, 18 Charlie Nunn, 19 Dayo Oyerinde, 20 Joe Robinson, 21 Freddie Simcott, 22 Josh Heesom.

Previous Results:

Round 1

North

Leicester Tigers 27-24 Northampton Saints

Midlands Central (Wasps) 26-26 Yorkshire Academy

Sale Sharks 27-17 Midlands West (Worcester)

South

Bristol Bears 26-14 Bath

Gloucester 17-29 London Irish

Saracens 59-17 Exeter Chiefs

Round 2

North

Newcastle Falcons 21-32 Midlands Central (Wasps)

Sale Sharks 12-61 Leicester Tigers

Yorkshire Academy 14-52 Northampton Saints

South

Gloucester 15-25 Bristol Bears

London Irish 22-19 Harlequins

Saracens 52-21 Bath

Further Fixtures:

Round 5 (Saturday 21^st January)

North

Midlands West v Newcastle Falcons (2pm, College Road)

Northampton Saints v Midlands Central (3.30pm, Franklin’s Gardens)

Sale Sharks v Yorkshire Academy (Sunday, 1pm, Manchester Met Uni)

South

Bath v Harlequins (2pm, The Rec)

Bristol Bears v London Irish (7.30pm, Dings Crusaders)

Gloucester v Exeter Chiefs (2pm, Kingsholm)

Round 6 (Saturday 4^th February)

North

Leicester Tigers v Midlands West (TBC)

Midlands Central v Sale Sharks (2pm, Warwick School)

Yorkshire Academy v Newcastle Falcons (2pm, Yarnbury RFC)

South

Bristol Bears v Harlequins (7.30pm, Dings Crusaders)

Exeter Chiefs v London Irish (12.30pm, Truro College)

Saracens v Gloucester (1pm, StoneX)

Round 7 (Saturday 11^th February)

North

Midlands Central v Leicester Tigers (2pm, Warwick School)

Midlands West v Yorkshire Academy (2pm, Sixways)

Newcastle Falcons v Northampton Saints (2pm, Kingston Park)

South

Bath v Gloucester (12.15pm, Allington Fields)

Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Bears (2.30pm, Truro College)

Harlequins v Saracens (Sunday, 1.30pm, Cobham RFC)

Finals Day – TBC, 18^th/19^th February