The Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League returned this weekend for the third round of action, following a five month hiatus since the opening two rounds back in the summer.

It lived up to the expectations, and more, with three sides collecting try-scoring bonus points in defeat and both the North and South Pools making the Gallagher Premiership table look positively spread out.

It was a stunning weekend of Academy rugby, with some real promise right across the board.

Round 3 Results & Team Sheets (6^th/7^th January)

North

Midlands Central 19-27 Midlands West – Saturday, Warwick School, 2pm

Newcastle Falcons 26-19 Leicester Tigers – Saturday, Kingston Park, 2pm

Sale Sharks 49-42 Northampton Saints – Sunday, Heywood Road, 1pm

Yorkshire Academy – Bye

Round 3 saw Northampton Saints stay top of the Pool despite suffering a defeat in an epic game against Sale Sharks at Heywood Road on Sunday. The two sides scored points by the bucketload, with Sale running out bonus point winners in a stunner, 49-42, a result that moves them up into third place.

Saints’ lead was actually extended at the top thanks to two bonus points in defeat, and they were aided in staying at the top by Midlands West beating RFU Midlands Regional Academy partners Midlands Central 27-19 at Warwick School. Central stay in second place in the table, but with a by next week, while Midlands West move into fourth place ahead of a crucial game against leaders Northampton next time out – Midlands West are now the only side in the North Pool that are unbeaten.

Newcastle Falcons moved off the foot of the table on Saturday with their first victory of the campaign, hosting Leicester Tigers at Kingston Park and winning a cracking game 26-19. The result moves them into sixth ahead of next week’s trip to Sale Sharks, just a point behind Tigers, who next face Yorkshire Academy next week after the Yorkshire side’s bye this week.

Midlands Central

15 George Pearson (City of Oxford College), 14 Austin Nevitt (Fairfax Academy), 13 Thomas Cunningham (Magdalen College), 12 Elis Thomas (City of Oxford College), 11 Emosi Nabakeke (Queen Ethelburga’s), 10 Charlie Mason (St Edward’s, Oxford, vc), 9 Kieran Edwards (City of Oxford College), 1 George Alexander (City of Oxford College), 2 Oskar Parker (Henley College), 3 Sam Scott (City of Oxford College, captain), 4 Ade Oyeyemi (Henley College), 5 Ethan Surrey (City of Oxford College), 6 John Baldwin (Bloxham), 7 Matt Bridge (City of Oxford College), 8 Harry Bewley (St George’s, Harpenden).

Replacements: Michael Onobhayedo (Magdalen College), L Asatiani-Kalandadze (Bishop Vesey’s GS), Drew Johnson (City of Oxford College), Will Diver (Rugby), Diamond Ayiehfor (Warwick), Jayden Wrottesley (City of Oxford College), Harry Eckersall (Wellington College), Charlie Morgan-Stephens (Magdalen College).

Midlands West

15 Jacob Reynolds (Stourport HS), 14 Brendan Colley (Bromsgrove), 13 David-Florian Petrescu (Newport HS), 12 Henry Parsons (Bromsgrove), 11 Ellis Deans-Smith (Hartpury College), 10 Ned Collins (Hereford 6^thform College), 9 Osian Catlin (Millfield), 1 Will Conduit (Stourport HS), 2 George Knowles (Hereford Cathedral School), 3 Lewys Perkins (Stourport HS), 4 Tom Hilton (Malvern College), 5 Dan Halkon (RGS Worcester), 6 Jack Gilbert (Bromsgrove), 7 Harvey Leonard (Ellesmere College), 8 Fintan Dowling (KES Birmingham, captain).

Replacements: Jeremey Akena (Stourport HS), Harry Wright (Stourport HS), Robin Jorden (KES Birmingham), Ewan Tulloch (Ellesmere College), Harrison Osbourne (Bromsgrove), Tom Roberts (Hartpury College), Harry Pemberton (Solihull), Haydn Lewis (Hartpury College).

Newcastle Falcons

15 Tom Katory (Dame Allan’s), 14 Oli Stanley (Barnard Castle), 13 Osea Navuso (Richmond 6^th form College), 12 Josh Farley (Gosforth Academy), 11 Huw Lloyd (Gosforth Academy), 10 Junior Newton (Sedbergh), 9 Joe Davis (Barnard Castle), 1 Harvey Headlam (Hartlepool 6^th form), 2 Ryan Shaw (Gosforth Academy), 3 Finn Kennedy (Carlisle RUFC), 4 Patrick Hogg (Durham, captain), 5 Aaron Nokes (Gosforth Academy), 6 Jacob Butterill (Sedbergh), 7 Charlie Turnbull (Sedbergh), 8 Reuben Parsons (Gosforth Academy).

Replacements: 16 Ollie Forster (Dame Allan’s), 17 Chris Kelly (RGS Newcastle), 18 Elvis Kitenge-Fuki (Gosforth Academy), 19 Harry Wildridge (Yarm), 20 Will Mallatratt (Durham), 21 Reuben Dyer (Gosforth Academy), 22 Rory Linkleter (Gosforth Academy), 23 James Bent (Gosforth Academy).

Leicester Tigers

15 Ethan Blackmore (King’s Grantham), 14 Freddie Snary (Norwich), 13 Harvey Nkrumah (Norwich), 12 Tom Pickering (Denstone College), 11 Tobias Spencer (Norwich), 10 James Egerton (Stamford), 9 Jonty Nickols (Stamford), 1 Bronson Mellowes (Brooskby Melton College), 2 Finlay Hayward (Old Swinford Hospital), 3 Ben Beere (Stamford), 4 George Marsh (Gresham’s), 5 Harry Palmer (Brooksby Melton College), 6 Henry Nanka-Bruce (Brooksby Melton College), 7 Lawrence Adediran (Brooksby Melton College), 8 Ralfie Willott (Brooksby Melton College).

Replacements: 16 Euan Fern (Brooksby Melton College), 17 Jamie Longyear (Denstone College), 18 Max Oliver (Gresham’s), 19 Tate Skinner (Old Swinford Hospital), 20 Joshua Brahoua (King’s Grantham), 21 Jack Dickens (Trent College), 22 Oliver Docherty (Oakham), 23 Yaw Afirifah-Mensah (Trent College).

Sale Sharks

15 Daniel Green (St Ambrose College), 14 Fraser Rossiter (King’s Chester), 13 Ben Firth (Kirkham GS), 12 Toby Wilson (King’s Macclesfield), 11 Sebi Krippner (Kirkham GS), 10 Ollie Davies (Kirkham GS), 9 Will Holmes (Sedbergh), 1 Ben Lilley (Knutsford Academy), 2 Tom Davis (St Mary’s College), 3 Leon Tahana (Wirral GS), 4 Josh Gibbon (Ashton on Mersey), 5 Jos Gilmore (Kirkham GS), 6 Ruben Reed (Merchant Taylors’), 7 Seb Kelly (Kirkham GS, captain), 8 Liam Harrison (Xaverian College).

Replacements: 16 Freddie Griffiths (King’s Macclesfield), 17 Noah Lawton (Myerscough College), 18 Cian Jackson (Kirkham GS), 19 Dylan Hodkinson (Wirral GS), 20 Will Bennett (Sedbergh), 21 Rhys Hulse (Kirkham GS), 22 Alex Smith (Kirkham GS), 23 Billy Birkett (Sedbergh).

Northampton Saints

15 James Pater, 14 Louis Burns, 13 Ben Agbenu, 12 Billy Pasco ©, 11 Rafe Witheat, 10 Louis Haley, 9 Jonathan Weimann, 1 Tom Dye, 2 Robert Gaffan, 3 Reon Gilbert-Joseph, 4 Thomas Ross, 5 James Barrett, 6 Rhys Harries, 7 Kieran Perkins, 8 Alfie Hoyles.

Replacements: 16 Zack Garrett, 17 Giorgi Turashvilli, 18 Jack Lawrence, 19 Harry Price, 20 James Thompson, 21 Will Tinley, 22 Tom Addison.

South

Bath 34-29 Exeter Chiefs – Saturday, Chippenham RFC, 2pm

Gloucester 24-14 Harlequins – Saturday, Kingsholm, 1pm

Saracens 50-36 London South Central – Saturday, StoneX, 1pm

Bristol Bears – Bye

Bath moved eight points clear at the top of the table in the South, and are the only unbeaten side left in the pool after a thrilling 34-29 victory over Exeter Chiefs at Chippenham RFC on Saturday and they will now be chomping at the bit ahead of a return to the same venue this Saturday to take on London & South Central.

Exeter Chiefs actually move into second place, with a game in hand, after collecting two bonus points in defeat in that game. They head a list of four sides on 7 points, with Saracens, London South Central, and Gloucester all joining them. Saracens join them after a crowd-pleaser of a game against London South Central on Saturday, hosts Saracens winning 50-36 at StoneX to move to 7 points, while, despite defeat, a try-scoring bonus moved London South Central to the same total.

Gloucester also moved to the same total thanks to a bonus point 24-14 victory over Harlequins, who will be disappointed to be bottom as a result and yet will take heart that they are just two points behind Exeter Chiefs in second, whom they travel to on Saturday. Meanwhile Gloucester have a bye, as Bristol Bears did this week – Bristol are on 6 points, just one behind the group from second to fifth, and host third placed Saracens this coming Saturday.

Bath

15 Owen Erasmus (Millfield), 14 Julian Nunn (Beechen Cliff), 13 Henry Bartlett (Beechen Cliff), 12 Steffan Emanuel (Millfield), 11 Toby Lock (Beechen Cliff), 10 James Linegar (Kingswood), 9 Sam Gane (Beechen Cliff), 1 Theo Malik (Dauntsey’s), 2 Evan Gallagher (Kingswood), 3 Leo Palmer (Kingswood), 4 Harry Butterworth (Dauntsey’s), 5 Alex Deering (Millfield), 6 James Maloney (Marlborough College), 7 Ed Elliott (Marlborough College), 8 Connor Treacey (Beechen Cliff, captain).

Replacements: 16 Henry Bonetti (Millfield), 17 Sam Janaway (Canford), 18 Oliver Cartwright (Beechen Cliff), 19 Alfie Blackett (Beechen Cliff), 20 Fred Kempton (Beechen Cliff), 21 Isaac Mears (Beechen Cliff), 22 Jack Harrison (Beechen Cliff), 23 Declan Treacey (Priestlands).

Exeter Chiefs

15 Jed Findlay, 14 Noah Clifford, 13 Luca Brano, 12 Nick Lilley, 11 Rhys Williams, 10 Freddie Hirst, 9 Josh Pengilly, 1 Josh Mann, 2 Tyler Bailey, 3 Ben Woodmansey, 4 Luke Evans, 5 Charlie Evered, 6 Mawgen Warren, 7 Ben Harris, 8 Xan Retallick.

Replacements: 16 Ted Hocking, 17 Morgan Lowery, 18 Albert Dowse, 19 Tom Dingle, 20 Jacob Lewis, 21 George Newman, 22 Israel Akinrowo, 23 Rhys Richards.

Gloucester

15 Woody Walker (Radley College), 14 Raph Campbell (King’s Gloucester), 13 Ollie Rendell (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 12 Billy Benson (Dean Close), 11 Jack Hopson (Dean Close), 10 Taite Fortey (Hartpury College), 9 James Lilwall (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 1 Billy Kerslake (Wycliffe College), 2 Ruben Cummings (Hartpury College), 3 Alex Bosworth (Hartpury College), 4 Jonno Balding (Radley College), 5 Jay Evans (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 6 Solomon Shand (Hartpury College), 7 Caio James (Hartpury College, captain), 8 Olly Allport (Dean Close).

Replacements: 16 Orlo Clark (Radley College), 17 Ellis Allen (Hartpury College), 18 Tom Ring (King’s Gloucester), 19 Josh Hansen (Cheltenham College), 20 Kealan Freeman-Price (Hartpury College), 21 Josh Pearce (Hartpury College), 22 Harry Tovey (Hartpury College), 23 Louis Callow (Hartpury College).

Harlequins

15 Elliot Southworth (Hartpury College), 14 Tyler Stewart-Passley (Whitgift), 13 Zuko Robb (Gordon’s), 12 Rory Minton (Seaford College), 11 Izaak Manuel (Eton College), 10 Ben Webb (Gordon’s), 9 Morgan Purnell (Gordon’s), 1 Jamie Miller (Whitgift), 2 Jimmy Staples (Seaford College), 3 Ollie Streeter (Gordon’s), 4 Fin Healey (Gordon’s), 5 Elliot Williams (Gordon’s), 6 Quinn Singh (Trinity), 7 Jack O’Kelly (Henley College), 8 Adam Beney (Gordon’s).

Replacements: 16 N/A, 17 Connor Van Lille (Newman College), 18 Milo Rayner-Parkin (Hurstpierpoint College), 19 Harry Bostock (Seaford College), 20 Ben Giles (St George’s, Weybridge), 21 Sam Line (Whitgift), 22 Math Jones (Gordon’s), 23 Ed Tusler (Hurstpierpoint College).

Saracens

15 Jack Bracken (St Albans), 14 Finn Newton (Haileybury), 13 Charlie Griffin (Harrow), 12 Angus Hall (The Judd, co-captain), 11 Ben Morrow (Millfield), 10 Alex Nagele (Berkhamsted), 9 Asa Stewart-Harris (St Albans), 1 Lewis Young (Sutton Valence), 2 Frank Kitchen (The Judd), 3 Rohan Burke (Ipswich), 4 Charlie Barker (Ashford), 5 Tayo Adegbemile (St Albans, co-captain), 6 Jack Marshall (Campion), 7 Charlie West (St Albans), 8 Finn White (Sedbergh).

Replacements: 16 Harry McNamara (Hayes), 17 Josh Twigg (St George’s, Harpenden), 18 Gabriel Registe (Campion), 19 Jack Murphy (Colfe’s), 20 Gabriel Nott (Berkhamsted), 21 Alfie Marks (Gravesend GS), 22 Fraser Rawlins (Haileybury), 23 Rafael Varona Blakstad (Mill Hill).

London & South Central

15 Inigo Langford, 14 Finlay Wiseman, 13 Martin Betsen-Tchoua, 12 Maximus Winter, 11 Tyler Offiah, 10 Finn Keylock, 9 Aidan Pugh, 1 Charlie Holyer, 2 Oscar Thomas, 3 Jerold Gorleku, 4 Rory McKnight, 5 Oliver Agar, 6 Elijah Taylor, 7 Reggie Hammick (c), 8 Kepueli Tuipulotu.

Replacements: 16 Hunter Deane-Johns, 17 Alan Poku, 18 Spencer Codling, 19 Will May, 20 Isaac Sprenger, 21 Albert Mildenhall, 22 Cameron Ward, 23 Jody Bunce.

Standings

North Group

South Group

Upcoming Fixtures

Round 4 (13^th/14^th January)

North

Leicester Tigers v Yorkshire Academy – Saturday, Loughborough Uni, 5pm

Midlands West v Northampton Saints – Saturday, Stourport HS, 2pm

Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons – Sunday, Heywood Road, 1pm

Midlands Central – Bye

South

Bath v London South Central – Saturday, Chippenham RFC, 12.15pm

Bristol Bears v Saracens – Saturday, Dings Crusaders, 7pm

Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins – Saturday, Truro College, 12.30pm

Gloucester – Bye

Round 5 (20^th January)

North

Midlands Central v Northampton Saints – Saturday, Aylesbury RFC, 2pm

Newcastle Falcons v Midlands West – Saturday, Kingston Park, 2pm

Yorkshire Academy v Sale Sharks – Saturday, Keighley RFC, 2pm

Leicester Tigers – Bye

South

Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester – Saturday, Truro College, 2pm

Harlequins v Bath – Saturday, Cobham RFC, 1.30pm

London South Central v Bristol Bears – Saturday, Hazelwood, 1pm

Saracens – Bye

Round 6 (2^nd/3^rd/4^th February)

North

Midlands West v Leicester Tigers – Saturday, Stourport HS, 2pm

Newcastle Falcons v Yorkshire Academy – Friday, Kingston Park, 8pm

Sale Sharks v Midlands Central – Sunday, Platt Lane, 2pm

Northampton Saints – Bye

South

Gloucester v Saracens – Saturday, Kingsholm, 1pm

Harlequins v Bristol Bears – Saturday, Grasshoppers RFC, 12.30pm

London South Central v Exeter Chiefs – Saturday, Hazelwood, 2pm

Bath – Bye

Round 7 (10^th/11^th February)

North

Leicester Tigers v Midlands Central – Saturday, Loughborough Uni, 2pm

Northampton Saints v Newcastle Falcons – Saturday, Franklins Gardens, 4.30pm

Yorkshire Academy v Midlands West – Saturday, Doncaster Knights, 2pm

Sale Sharks – Bye

South

Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs – Saturday, Dings Crusaders, 4pm

Gloucester v Bath – Saturday, Kingsholm, 1pm

Saracens v Harlequins – Sunday, StoneX, 1pm

London South Central – Bye

Finals Day – Sunday 18th February, Kingsholm Stadium

Past Results

Round 1

North

Midlands West 22-22 Sale Sharks

Northampton Saints 75-7 Leicester Tigers

Yorkshire Academy 31-33 Midlands Central

Newcastle Falcons – Bye

South

Bath 29-27 Bristol Bears

Exeter Chiefs 44-27 Saracens

London South Central 36-33 Gloucester

Harlequins – Bye

Round 2

North

Leicester Tigers 40-26 Sale Sharks

Midlands Central 45-14 Newcastle Falcons

Northampton Saints 40-21 Yorkshire Academy

Midlands West – Bye

South

Bristol Bears 49-12 Gloucester

Harlequins 35-25 London South Central

Saracens 26-34 Bath

Exeter Chiefs – Bye