After a thrilling weekend of Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League action last weekend, the league continues this weekend with Round 4 and six exciting looking fixtures.

It is the mid point of the seven round league stage, with the finals set to take place after the league stage has taken place, and things are tight at the top in both conferences.

Standings

North

South

In the North Conference it’s a key round for Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers, just a point and two points respectively off top spot. Midlands Central have their bye week this week so it is an opportunity for both to leapfrog them. Meanwhile Yorkshire Academy return to the fray for the first time since August.

In the South Conference all three of those teams at the top are in action, London Irish, Saracens, and Bristol Bears, with Saracens and Bristol Bears facing each other in the Final game of the weekend on Sunday. Below them Harlequins are looking to close the gap to the top 3 – they have a game in hand over London Irish and Saracens.

Round 4 Fixtures and Team News (Saturday 14^th January)

North

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

Kingston Park will host a proper North of England clash on Saturday afternoon as Newcastle Falcons host Sale Sharks. Newcastle are going to be full of confidence after holding on for that victory over Leicester Tigers last time out, their first victory so far in the League. Sale Sharks meanwhile went down to Northampton Saints, but they are level on points with Newcastle as things stand. Newcastle Falcons are completely unchanged from that victory over Leicester Tigers, from 1 to 23. Jacob Oliver of Barnard Castle again leads them from hooker, one of three Barnard Castle players in the XV, along with 3 Sedbergh pupils, five from Gosforth Academy, and players from Keswick, RGS Newcastle, and Newcaste School for Boys. Sale Sharks meanwhile have a few changes, Kirkham Grammar School’s Ollie Davies moves from fly half to outside centre, with Wirral Grammar’s Rhys James off the bench to start at 10, while Newcastle-Under-Lyme’s Sebi Krippner comes in on the left wing. Up front Middlewich High’s Rhys Dixon comes in at tighthead, with three Kirkham Grammar School players coming back into the starting pack, James Appleton in the second row, Wils Austin on the blindside, and Seb Kelly on the openside. On the bench Alfie Jones of St Edward’s College and Stockport Grammar School’s Dom Hanson both come in having been outside of the 23 last week.

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).

Sale Sharks

15 Jack Lightbrown (Myerscough College), 14 Albert Bradshaw (Stockport Grammar), 13 Ollie Davies (Kirkham Grammar), 12 Cameron Scanlon (Kirkham Grammar), 11 Sebi Krippner (Newcastle-Under-Lyme), 10 Rhys James (Wirral Grammar), 9 Will Wootton (Sedbergh), 1 Dan Rourke (St Edward’s College), 2 Josh MacAndrew (Ellesmere College), 3 Rhys Dixon (Middlewich High), 4 Darren Low (Kirkham Grammar, captain), 5 James Appleton (Kirkham Grammar), 6 Wills Austin (Kirkham Grammar), 7 Seb Kelly (Kirkham Grammar), 8 Jack Lightbown (Bolton College).

Replacements: 16 Ollie Read (Denstone College), 17 Ben Lilley (Knutsford Academy), 18 Alfie Jones (St Edward’s College), 19 Isaac Deans (Stockport Grammar), 20 Frank Chatterton (Stockport Grammar), 21 Dom Hanson (Stockport Grammar), 22 Toby Wilson (King’s Macclesfield), 23 Will Bradley (Sedgley Tigers).

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

A point off top spot, this is a key one for Northampton Saints who have made a handful of changes from the side that defeated Sale Sharks last time out. In the backline England and Oakham wing Toby Cousins comes in, so too Ipswich fly half Rory Hollis, while up front Aiden Kabi of Oundle moves from the blindside flank to the second row, with Ipswich’s Mart van der Veen stepping in on the blindside. Midlands West played their first ever game in their new guise against fellow RFU Midlands Academy side Midlands Central last time out, just losing out in a thriller 29-26. They will be hoping to build on that performance and hope to get the result this time out and they have kept a pretty consistent squad from that team last week. Malvern College’s Frankie Jefferies comes in at 12 with Matty Walker of Bromsgrove shifting to 13 and Stourport High’s George Bennett moving to the wing, while up front Warwick’s Ollie McGinnity comes in to the second row and Bromsgrove’s Zach Armstrong starts at 8.

Northampton Saints

15 Ewan Baker (Stowe), 14 Ben Radnor (Samuel Whitbread Academy), 13 Harry Simpson (Ipswich), 12 Ollie Saddleton (Ipswich), 11 Toby Cousins (Oakham), 10 Rory Hollis (Ipswich), 9 Archie McParland (Stowe), 1 Lucas Nisbett-Hadaway (Ipswich), 2 Sol Moody (Finborough), 3 Will Lamprell (Ipswich), 4 Aiden Kabi (Oundle), 5 Henri Burditt (Stowe), 6 Mart Van Der Veen (Ipswich), 7 Henry Pollock (Stowe, captain), 8 Ollie Holliday (Northampton School for Boys).

Replacements: 16 Yuijan Zou (The Perse), 17 Oliver Scola (Northampton School for Boys), 18 Dave Bennett (Rugby), 19 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (Bedford), 20 Ashton Webb (Wisbech Grammar), 21 Max Allman-Ward (Bedford), 22 Billy Pasco (Oundle), 23 Jacob Wilmott (Samuel Whitbread Academy).

Midlands West

15 Charlie Whorrod (Warwick), 14 George Bennett (Stourport High), 13 Matty Walker (Bromsgrove), 12 Frankie Jefferies (Malvern College), 11 Jack Kinder (Solihull), 10 Jack Condliffe (Stourport High), 9 Billy McDonough (Bromsgrove), 1 Will Conduit (Stourport College), 2 Loic Keasey (RGS Worcester ), 3 Emmanuel Olaleye (Old Swinford Hospital), 4 Warwick Archer (Hereford 6^th form College), 5 Ollie McGinnity (Warwick), 6 Luka Jansen Van Vuuren (Malvern College), 7 Sam Hawes (King’s Worcester), 8 Zach Armstrong (Bromsgrove).

Replacements: 16 George Knowles (Hereford Cathedral), 17 Jacob Tomkinson (Old Swinford Hospital), 18 Tom Hilton (Malvern College), 19 Max Truby (Old Swinford Hospital), 20 Charlie Bemand (Stourport High), 21 George Tomlinson (King’s Worcester), 22 Cam Smith (Malvern College).

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

It’s a first competitive game in the league for Yorkshire Academy since August after a bye week last week. They are yet to win so far, but earned a commendable draw against table toppers Midlands Central back in August and will be keen to go one better at Keighley RFC against a Leicester Tigers side that could leapfrog Midlands Central with a win and who will be reeling after a fightback against Newcastle Falcons last time out just fell short. Yorkshire Academy are led by second row Tom Burrow, with scrum half Toby Morley his vice captain, and have a number of last year’s stalwarts in the side, prop Tye Raymont, number 8 Henry Du Boulay, and full back Ned McCormack among them, look out too for Wellington College centre Lloyd McEwan-Peters, one of the stars of the school season. Leicester Tigers are again led by Oakham fly half Ben Taylor, with Denstone College flanker George Perkins and Brooksby Melton College full back Harry Simpson his deputies. They make three changes from the side that missed out against Newcastle, all three are starters and bench players swapping roles, with Denstone College’s Elliot Smith coming in at inside centre, Trent College’s Jack Dickens at scrum half, and East Coast College’s Tyler Russell on the blindside flank. Denstone College prop Henry Mountford makes a welcome return to the bench.

Yorkshire Academy

15 Ned McCormack, 14 Matthew Saxby, 13 Louis Worrall, 12 Lloyd McEwan-Peters, 11 Cosimo Beveridge, 10 Louie Platt, 9 Toby Morley (vc), 1 Leon Mudd, 2 Alfie Longstaff, 3 Tye Raymont, 4 Tom Burrow (c), 5 Oliver Barker, 6 Matthew Leatham, 7 Jonny Freeman, 8 Henry Du Boulay.

Replacements: 16 Seb Easterby-Gray, 17 David Mpofu, 18 Ashley Lockwood, 19 Elias Smith, 20 Archie Hurford, 21 Charlie Borchard, 22 Liam Wood, 23 Josh Marlow.

Leicester Tigers

15 Harry Simpson (Brooksby Melton College, vc), 14 Malelili Satala (Brooksby Melton College), 13 Charlie Davies (Mount St Mary’s College), 12 Elliot Smith (Denstone College), 11 Alex Garrett (Denstone College), 10 Ben Taylor (Oakham, captain), 9 Jack Dickens (Trent 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 Tyler Russell (East Coast College), 7 George Perkins (Denstone College, vc), 8 Sam Williams (Stamford).

Replacements: 16 Finlay Haywood (Old Swinford Hospital), 17 Bronson Mellowes (Brooksby Melton College), 18 Henry Mountford (Denstone College), 19 Phelton Tandoh (Stamford), 20 Lawrence Adediran (Brooksby Melton College), 21 Nicolas Gali (Denstone College), 22 Tom Threlfall (Nottingham High), 23 Jack Teague (Old Swinford Hospital).

South

Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs (1.30pm, Grasshoppers RFC)

Harlequins picked up their first victory last weekend, though they have only played twice, and in some style in a terrific performance against Gloucester that keeps them in touch with the top 3. They have made few changes to that side, with Frank McMillan coming in at outside centre, while on the flanks Hurstpierpoint College’s Ronan Daniell and Trinity’s Roma Matebalavu both come in. Richard Collyer’s Bryan Karimanzira gets an opportunity from the bench. Exeter Chiefs are meanwhile searching for a first victory to lift them above Gloucester at the foot of the table. Last time out they lost out to Bath, but they have not made too many changes. Exeter College’s Bobby Wiggington moves from the bench to the right wing, while in the front row Truro College’s Josh Mann starts at loosehead with Exeter College’s Harry Rodwell at tighthead, Truro College’s Ben Hobbs moves from the bench to start at blindside flanker. Blundell’s Benjamin Coen is also promoted from the bench to start at fly half, the only non-ACE player in the Exeter 23. Truro College pair Dom Ellery and Will Tanswell get a go from the bench after missing out last week.

Harlequins

15 Conor Byrne (Trinity), 14 Tom Humphreys (RGS Guildford), 13 Frank McMillan (Bhavsic), 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 Ronan Daniell (Hurstpierpoint College), 7 Roma Matebalavu (Trinity), 8 Lucas Schmid (Epsom College).

Replacements: 16 Enock Addai (Gordon’s), 17 Bryan Karimanzira (Richard Collyer), 18 Kane Fleary (Trinity), 19 Seth Eley (KCS Wimbledon), 20 Alfie Ambrose (Cardinal Newman), 21 Matt Wickham (Reigate Grammar), 22 Kit Temperley (Epsom College), 23 Jack Anstey (Cranleigh).

Exeter Chiefs

15 Louie Drennan (Exeter College), 14 Bobby Wiggington (Exeter College), 13 George Edson (Truro College), 12 Sam James (Truro College), 11 Nick Lilley (Exeter College), 10 Benjamin Coen (Blundell’s), 9 Max Ferguson (Exeter College), 1 Josh Mann (Truro College), 2 Lucas Gulley (Exeter College), 3 Harry Rodwell (Exeter College), 4 Charlie Everard (Truro College), 5 Oscar Beckerleg (Truro College), 6 Ben Hobbs (Exeter College), 7 Bobby Pond (Exeter College), 8 Barnaby Elderkin (Truro College).

Replacements: 16 Ted Hocking (Truro College), 17 Callum Arnold (Exeter College), 18 Ollie Critchley (Truro College), 19 Pip Burton-Race (Exeter College), 20 Dom Ellery (Truro College), 21 Will Tanswell (Truro College), 22 Jed Findlay (Exeter College), 23 Josh Golden-Clarke (Truro College).

London Irish v Bath (1pm, Hazelwood)

Fresh off that dramatic victory over Saracens last week that saw London Irish to the top of the South Conference, they now take on a Bath side that will also be feeling confident after a first victory of the campaign last week at Exeter Chiefs. London Irish are without skipper Finn Worley-Brady, so his Bishop Wand teammate Brandon Vince takes over the captaincy from tighthead. He is one of six London Irish ACE players in the starting side. One of those is George Goodridge, who comes in on the blindside flank with Harrow’s Reggie Hammick moving to the openside in the absence of Worley-Brady. In the backs the only changes are in the centres where Harrow’s Charlie Griffin and Wellington College’s George Staveley will partner in the absence of their schoolmates Ollie Miall and Harrison Hall. Bath meanwhile are unchanged in the backline from last week’s victory over Exeter, but there are a couple of changes in the back as Monkton Combe’s Jack Bennett moves from the back row to the second row, with Clayesmore’s Arthur Moore coming in on the blindside, the backline is unchanged and the only change on the bench is a change in role for Millfield’s Alex Deering from start to impact man.

London Irish

15 Ben Frampton (Wellington College), 14 Theo Williamson (Bishop Wand), 13 George Staveley (Wellington College), 12 Charlie Griffin (Harrow), 11 Sam Rockley (Bishop Wand), 10 Louie Heard (Bishop Wand), 9 Noah Cowan (Stowe), 1 Ralph McEachran (Bishop Wand), 2 Kepueli Tuipulotu (Harrow), 3 Brandon Vince (Bishop Wand, captain), 4 Tayo Adegbemile (St Albans), 5 Will Saunders (Holyport), 6 George Goodridge (Bishop Wand), 7 Reggie Hammick (Harrow), 8 Jack Lee (Millfield).

Replacements: 16 Israel Suleman (Henley College), 17 Ralph Hawker (Wellington College), 18 Philip Truscott (Harrow), 19 Ciaran Brickley, 20 Sam Lee, 21 Connor Peters (Berkhamsted), 22 Tyler Offiah (Wellington College), 23 Jonny Sharp (Henley 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 Jack Bennett (Monkton Combe), 6 Arthur Moore (Clayesmore), 7 George Timmins (Millfield), 8 Connor Treacey (Beechen Cliff, captain).

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

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

Sunday’s only game is Saracens v Bristol Bears and it’s a huge one, second v third in the South. Saracens are two points off top with Bristol a point behind, but Bristol have a game in hand over their hosts and leaders London Irish after a bye week last week. It’s a second top of the table clash in a row for Saracens, who last week just went down to London Irish in a thriller at Hazelwood and unsurprisingly they have not changed things too much. In the backs the only change sees Oaklands College’s Oscar Wilson come in at inside centre, while up front Sutton Valence’s Dayo Oyerinde is promoted from the bench to the blindside flank with Berkhamsted’s James Boylan moving to the second row. Bristol Bears meanwhile have a huge Clifton College contingent, with 7 of the blue and white hoops in the starting XV. They are led by Hartpury College’s Joe Woller on the blindside flank, one of three Hartpury College players in the starting XV, alongside pupils from Collegiate, Wellington School, Redland Green, QEG, and SGS Filton College.

Saracens

15 Declan Murphy (Saracens Academy), 14 Toby Clinch (Finborough), 13 Lance Kruger (Finborough), 12 Oscar Wilson (Oaklands College), 11 Finn Newton (Haileybury), 10 Benjy Mills (Brentwood) 9 Ewan Entwistle (Hayes), 1 Alex O’Driscoll (Berkhamsted), 2 Henry Walker (Hartpury College), 3 Max Wheeler (North Kent College), 4 Junior Kpoku (Finborough), 5 James Boylan (Berkhamsted), 6 Dayo Oyerinde (Sutton Valence), 7 Charlie West (St Albans), 8 Barney Merrett (Sutton Valence).

Replacements: 16 Lucas Eule (King’s Canterbury), 17 Ikhi Osebor (Haileybury), 18 Charlie Nunn (Haileybury), 19 Dylan Enskat (Ravens Wood), 20 Joe Robinson (Haileybury), 21 Louie Sinclair (Finborough).

Bristol Bears

15 Jake Smith (Collegiate), 14 Aiden Boshoff (Clifton College), 13 Isaac Campbell-Wu (Clifton College), 12 Jamie Howick (Wellington), 11 Tom Ormsby (Redland Green), 10 Eamon Rogers (Clifton College), 9 Sam Morton-Smith (Hartpury College), 1 Louis Trevett (Clifton College), 2 Oscar Sims-Preston (SGS Filton College), 3 George Payne (Clifton College), 4 Ollie Thraves (QEH), 5 Ollie Russell (Clifton College), 6 Joe Wooler (Hartpury College, captain), 7 Joe Cooper (Hartpury College), 8 Tom Gardner (Clifton College).

Replacements: 16 Cody Richardson-Wall (Hartpury College), 17 Harry O’Donnell (SGS Filton College), 18 Louis White (Collegiate), 19 Rowan Curry (Richard Huish), 20 Archie Prewett (SGS Filton College), 21 Will Knight (Prior Park College), 22 Jacob Mitchell (Clifton College), 23 Jamie Wood (SGS Filton College).

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

Round 3 Results

North

Leicester Tigers 22-29 Newcastle Falcons

Midlands West (Worcester) 26-29 Midlands Central (Wasps)

Northampton Saints 36-14 Sale Sharks

South

Exeter Chiefs 19-36 Bath

Harlequins 41-14 Gloucester

London Irish 21-17 Saracens

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