The ACE League moves beyond the halfway point in Phase 1 this week as Round 5 takes place on Wednesday.

After 7 rounds of action Phase 2 begins, with the Top 4 sides from each conference qualifying for the Tier 1 Phase 2 groups, with first and third from the North grouped with second and fourth from the South and vice versa. The bottom 3 from teach of the original pools also go to new mini-pools, but they remain split North/South.

In the Gosforth Academy and Gordon’s have all but booked their place in those Phase 2 top tier pools after unbeaten starts, winning four from four each, both have been magnificent so far.

Northern Conference

Gosforth Academy have their bye week this week, a week on from a 41-7 victory over Oaklands College, who host Bishop Burton College in Round 5. Bishop Burton enjoyed a superb victory over Myerscough College last time out, 38-3, and whichever side emerges victorious from Wednesday’s fixture will put themselves in a great position for a Top 4 finish.

Myerscough College are meanwhile eyeing up a first victory, they are at home to Stourport High School this week who just missed out last week in a thriller at home to Brooksby Melton College, 36-41.

Brooksby Melton College meanwhile can join Gosforth at the top of the table if they can repeat that performance, they have a tricky game at home to City of Oxford College though, who had a bye last week. City of Oxford have a game in hand and a bonus point victory would draw them level with Brooksby Melton in second.

Southern Conference

Gordon’s aim to make it five in a row after last week’s 42-14 victory at Filton, they host Truro College, who had a bye last week. It will be a good test, Truro have looked good this year, but Gordon’s are riding such a wave of confidence.

Their closes challengers are the reigning champions, Hartpury College, who last week won a classic at home to Bishop Wand, 38-27. They travel to Exeter College this week, who lost out to Beechen Cliff last time out (Beechen Cliff have this week’s bye) and need points to keep in touch with the Top 4.

Also needing points are Bishop Wand and SGS Filton College, who are both chasing a first victory and meet at Bishop Wand on Wednesday. Bishop Wand may be just about the most unfortunate side around though. They may have lost 3/3 but the fact that they have collected 4 bonus points in those 3 games, they will be itching to turn one of those close ones into a victory on Wednesday.

Round 5 Fixtures (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 4 Results (Wednesday 4^th October)

North

Bishop Burton College 38-3 Myerscough College

Gosforth Academy 41-7 Oaklands College

Stourport High School 36-41 Brooksby Melton College

City of Oxford College – Bye

South

Beechen Cliff 38-12 Exeter College

Hartpury College 38-27 Bishop Wand

SGS Filton College 14-42 Gordon’s

Truro College – Bye

Tables

North

South

Past Results

Round 3 Results (Wednesday 27^th September)

North

Brooksby Melton College 32-12 Bishop Burton College

City of Oxford College 31-7 Stourport High School

Myerscough College 12-52 Gosforth Academy

Oaklands College – Bye

South

Bishop Wand 28-33 Beechen Cliff

Gordon’s 26-19 Hartpury College

Truro College 18-8 SGS Filton College

Exeter College – Bye

Round 2 Results (Wednesday 20^th September)

North

Bishop Burton College 5-26 City of Oxford College

Gosforth Academy 24-7 Brooksby Melton College

Oaklands College 34-5 Myerscough College

Stourport HS – Bye

South

Beechen Cliff 20-22 Gordon’s

Exeter College 21-20 Bishop Wand

Hartpury College 29-0 Truro College

SGS Filton College – Bye

Round 1 (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 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