The ACE League returns for Round 2 on Wednesday after a thrilling opening round of action that saw two sides in particular make big opening statements.

Round 2 is going to see Myerscough College and Bishop Wand make their first league appearances of the season after byes last week, Stourport High School and SGS Filton College have the byes this week.

Already each and every result has real importance, with just six rounds remaining for sides to secure top four finishes for phase 2 of the league after half term.

Northern Conference

Surely the pick of the fixtures, given what happened in Round 1, is Gosforth Academy v Brooksby Melton College. Gosforth Academy were the only side in the Northern Conference to win away from home in Round 1, winning a thriller at City of Oxford College 24-20. They now turn hosts and welcome the side with the most dominant performance of the opening round in the Northern Conference, Brooskby Melton College, who beat Oaklands College 54-24. It should be a cracker.

Bishop Burton College host City of Oxford College, both sides lost narrowly in the opening round and will be keen to turn the tide in their favour early. City of Oxford, as mentioned, went down 24-20 to Gosforth, while Bishop Burton were also in an absolute thriller, missing out by two points at Stourport High, 19-17. Everything points to an exciting encounter on Wednesday.

The final game in the North sees Myerscough College make their league debut for the season, travelling to Oaklands College who will be looking to bounce back sharply after that defeat at Brooksby Melton last time out.

Southern Conference

As in the North, two sides that won their openers in the Southern Conference go head to head on Wednesday as champions Hartpury College host Truro College. Hartpury’s title defence got off to an absolute flyer as they travelled to SGS Filton College as came home with a brilliant 54-19 victory. Truro College meanwhile won a fantastic game at home to Beechen Cliff, a 38-24 thriller.

Beechen Cliff after that thriller return home and face the other side from the Southern Conference that picked up a victory last time out, Gordon’s, who were hugely impressive for a 33-14 victory over Exeter College. This is a game to keep a real eye on and will tell us a lot about both sides.

Making their first ACE appearance of the season are Bishop Wand, who travel to Exeter College, which should be a fascinating game as Exeter look for a quick turnaround from that Gordon’s defeat, while Bishop Wand aim to get off to a fast start.

Round 2 Fixtures (Wednesday 20^th September)

North

Bishop Burton College v City of Oxford College

Gosforth Academy v Brooksby Melton College

Oaklands College v Myerscough College

Stourport HS – Bye

South

Beechen Cliff v Gordon’s

Exeter College v Bishop Wand

Hartpury College v Truro College

SGS Filton College – Bye

Round 1 Results (Wednesday 13^th September)

North

Brooksby Melton College 54-24 Oaklands College

City of Oxford College 20-24 Gosforth Academy

Stourport High School 19-17 Bishop Burton College

Myerscough College – Bye

South

Gordon’s 33-14 Exeter College

SGS Filton College 19-54 Hartpury College

Truro College 38-24 Beechen Cliff

Bishop Wand – Bye

Further Fixtures

Round 3 (Wednesday 27^th September)

North

Brooksby Melton College v Bishop Burton College

City of Oxford College v Stourport High School

Myerscough College v Gosforth Academy

Oaklands College – Bye

South

Bishop Wand v Beechen Cliff

Gordon’s v Hartpury College

Truro College v SGS Filton College

Exeter College – Bye

Round 4 (Wednesday 4^th October)

North

Bishop Burton College v Myerscough College

Gosforth Academy v Oaklands College

Stourport High School v Brooksby Melton College

City of Oxford College – Bye

South

Beechen Cliff v Exeter College

Hartpury College v Bishop Wand

SGS Filton College v Gordon’s

Truro College – Bye

Round 5 (Wednesday 11^th October)

North

Brooksby Melton College v City of Oxford College

Myerscough College v Stourport High School

Oaklands College v Bishop Burton College

Gosforth Academy – Bye

South

Bishop Wand v SGS Filton College

Exeter College v Hartpury College

Gordon’s v Truro College

Beechen Cliff – Bye

Round 6 (Wednesday 18^th October)

North

Bishop Burton College v Gosforth Academy

City of Oxford College v Myerscough College

Stourport High School v Oaklands College

Brooksby Melton College – Bye

South

Hartpury College v Beechen Cliff

SGS Filton College v Exeter College

Truro College v Bishop Wand

Gordon’s – Bye

Round 7 (Wednesday 1^st November, unless stated otherwise)

North

Gosforth Academy v Stourport High (25^th October)

Myerscough College v Brooksby Melton College

Oaklands College v City of Oxford College

Bishop Burton – Bye

South

Beechen Cliff v SGS Filton College

Bishop Wand v Gordon’s

Exeter College v Truro College

Hartpury College – Bye