The Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League continues to thrill after a fantastic fourth round of action over the weekend.

It was a good weekend to be a home side, with five out of the six games going the way of the home teams, though in the south conference in particular things were firmly in the balance – not least at Bath, who stay unbeaten but had to hold of a fierce challenge from London & South Central.

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

North

Leicester Tigers 29-12 Yorkshire Academy

Midlands West 19-34 Northampton Saints

Sale Sharks 59-12 Newcastle Falcons

Midlands Central – Bye

Northampton Saints were the only side to win away from home this week, bouncing back from defeat last time out for a fantastic 34-19 victory at Midlands West, who were full of confidence after a victory over Midlands Central last week. The result keeps Northampton at the top of the conference ahead of another trip to the Midlands to take on Central next week.

It was Sale Sharks that got the better of Saints last time out, and they were in sizzling form again on Sunday as they defeated Newcastle Falcons in a magnificent 59-12 performance that moves them into second in the table ahead of next week’s trip to bottom of the table Yorkshire Academy. It is starting to feel like Sale and Northampton are the two that might be in the running for a place in the final at Kingsholm in mid-February.

Leicester Tigers meanwhile bounced back from last week’s narrow loss at Newcastle Falcons with a 29-12 victory over Yorkshire Academy, an important victory given that they have a bye weekend next. Yorkshire meanwhile are still searching for a first victory – but given how tight the table is they are not down and out yet.

South

Bath 33-31 London South Central

Bristol Bears 27-22 Saracens

Exeter Chiefs 35-24 Harlequins

Gloucester – Bye

Bath are now the only unbeaten side in either conference after Midlands West’s defeat by Saints. Bath have won four from four, collecting bonus points in each game for a maximum 20 points at this stage, and are eight points clear of second place. They had to work oh so hard for it though, facing a tough London & South Central side and just edging it 33-31. They now head to bottom placed Harlequins where victory would make anything other than a top spot finish look highly unlikely. London & South Central must be feeling frustrated, they have produced some magical moments of late, scoring try-scoring bonus points in every game but they just haven’t quite been able to finish the job in recent rounds.

Exeter Chiefs stay in second place after a 35-24 victory over Harlequins on Saturday. They were locked on the same points total as London South Central, Saracens, and Gloucester, but a bonus point victory moves them clear into second outright ahead of next weekend’s game against Gloucester, who had a bye this weekend.

Bristol Bears meanwhile returned to action after a bye with a great display against Saracens at Dings Crusaders on Saturday evening, winning 27-22 to rise from sixth to third in the table. Saracens competed well though and will head into next weekend’s bye thinking that they are still in a strong position to mount a real challenge in the final couple of rounds.

Standings

North Group

South Group

Round 4 Team News

Leicester Tigers

15 Ethan Blackmore (King’s Grantham), 14 Yaw Afirifah-Mensah (Trent College), 13 Harvey Nkrumah (Norwich), 12 Oliver Docherty (Oakham), 11 Tobias Spencer (Norwich), 10 Tom Threlfall (Nottingham HS), 9 Jack Dickens (Trent College), 1 Bronson Mellows (Brooksby Melton), 2 Jamie Longyear (Denstone College), 3 Ben Beere (Stamford), 4 Tate Skinner (Old Swinford Hospital), 5 Harry Palmer (Brooksby Melton), 6 Joshua Brahoua (King’s Grantham), 7 Lawrence Adediran (Brooksby Melton), 8 Ralfie Willott (Brooksby Melton, captain).

Replacements: 16 Euan Fern (Brooksby Melton), 17 Finlay Hayward (Old Swinford Hospital), 18 Tubuna Maka (Brooksby Melton), 19 George Marsh (Gresham’s), 20 Henry Nanka-Bruce (Brooksby Melton), 21 Jonty Nickols (Stamford), 22 James Egerton (Stamford), 23 Tom Pickering (Denstone College).

Yorkshire Academy

15 George Brown (Barnard Castle), 14 Callum Hyland-Dugbo (Woodhouse Grove), 13 Lloyd McEwan-Peters (Wellington College), 12 Jack Wilson (Harrogate GS), 11 Thomas Rowe (Woodhouse Grove), 10 Louie Platt (Mount St Mary’s), 9 Gabriel Horberry (Harrogate GS), 1 Lucas Oxley (St Peter’s, York), 2 Seb Easterby-Gray (Queen Ethelburgas, captain), 3 Sam Bland (Bishop Burton College), 4 Callum Russell (Bishop Burton College), 5 Henry Renshaw (Mount St Mary’s), 6 Luca Teal (Woodhouse Grove), 7 Archie Hurford (Woodhouse Grove), 8 Alfie Longstaff (Woodhouse Grove).

Replacements: 16 N/A, 17 Oliver Spencer (Grammar School at Leeds), 18 Oliver Fretwell (Biship Burton College), 19 Fraser Perry (Hill House), 20 Will Brooks (Grammar School at Leeds), 21 Oscar Binns (Woodhouse Grove), 22 Aiden Doeg (St Peter’s, York), 23 Anesu Chindove (St Peter’s, York).

Midlands West

15 Haydn Lewis (Hartpury College), 14 Jacob Reynolds (Stourport HS), 13 Ewan Tulloch (Ellesmere College), 12 Henry Parsons (Bromsgrove), 11 Ellis Deans-Smith (Hartpury College), 10 Ned Collins (Hereford 6^th form College, captain), 9 Osian Catlin (Millfield), 1 Jeremy Akena (Stourport HS), 2 George Knowles (Hereford Cathedral), 3 Lewys Perkins (Stourport HS), 4 Tom Hilton (Malvern College), 5 Dan Halkon (RGS Worcester), 6 Henry Black (Hereford 6^th form College), 7 Harvey Leonard (Ellesmere College), 8 Jack Gilbert (Bromsgrove).

Replacements: Rory Blyth (Hereford 6^th form College), Harry Wright (Stourport HS), Harry Pemberton (Solihull), Henry Williams (Hartpury College), Harrison Osborne (Bromsgrove), Tom Roberts (Hartpury College), Fintan Dowling (KES Birmingham), Joe Johnston (North Leamington College).

Northampton Saints

15 Edoardo Todaro, 14 Louis Burns, 13 Ben Agbenu, 12 Billy Pasco (C), 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 Harry Price, 7 Kieran Perkins, 8 Alfie Hoyles.

Replacements: 16 Zack Garrett, 17 Giorgi Turashvilli, 18 Ollie Hull, 19 Rhys Harries, 20 Ben Currie, 21 Tom Addison, 22 James Pater.

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 Rhys Hulse (Kirkham GS), 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 Liam Harrison (Xaverian College), 7 Seb Kelly (Kirkham GS, captain), 8 Monty Loggenberg (Kirkham GS).

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 Will Holmes (Sedbergh), 22 Alex Smith (Kirkham GS), 23 Sam Lewtas (Kirkham GS).

Newcastle Falcons

15 Tom Katory (Dame Allan’s), 14 Sam Wardle (RGS Newcastle), 13 Rory Linkleter (Gosforth Academy), 12 Osea Navuso (Richmond 6^th form College), 11 Huw Lloyd (Gosforth Academy), 10 Josh Farley (Gosforth Academy), 9 Joe Davis (Barnard Castle), 1 Harvey Headlam (Hartlepool 6^th form College), 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 Harry Bellamy (Sedbergh), 17 Chris Kelly (RGS Newcastle), 18 Elvis Kitenge-Fuki (Gosforth Academy), 19 Harry Wildridge (Yarm), 20 Dan Toole (Durham), 21 Reuben Dyer (Gosforth Academy), 22 Josh Bailey (Gosforth Academy), 23 James Bent (Gosforth Academy).

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 Codi Purnell (Millfield), 19 Charlie Ward (Kingswood), 20 Fred Kempton (Beechen Cliff), 21 Isaac Mears (Beechen Cliff), 22 Jack Harrison (Beechen Cliff), 23 Declan Treacey (Priestlands).

London & South Central

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

Replacements: 16 Oscar Thomas, 17 Alan Poku, 18 Martin Chalmers, 19 Spencer Codling, 20 Will May, 21 Albert Mildenhall, 22 Finlay Cunnison, 23 Jody Bunce.

Bristol Bears

15 Tom Bowen, 14 Louis Nancekivell, 13 Victor Worsnip, 12 Jamie Howick, 11 Aidan Boshoff, 10 Fin Fielder, 9 Oscar Green, 1 Will Pearce, 2 Jacob Hodgson, 3 Jack Parkinson, 4 Rowan Curry, 5 Joe Lloyd (c), 6 Joachim Hullah, 7 Kieran Hill, 8 Oliver Russell.

Replacements: 16 Manship, 17 Davison, 18 Jones, 19 Spokes, 20 Phillips, 21 Williams, 22 Sheppard.

Saracens

15 Jack Bracken (St Albans), 14 Finn Newton (Haileybury), 13 Charlie Griffin (Harrow), 12 Angus Hall (The Judd, co-captain), 11 Fraser Rawlins (Haileybury), 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 Joe Roberts (Mill Hill), 19 Zach Johnson (Tonbridge), 20 Gabriel Nott (Berkhamsted), 21 Alfie Marks (Gravesend GS), 22 Archie Nicklin (Richard Hale), 23 Ben Morrow (Millfield).

Exeter Chiefs

15 Jed Findlay, 14 Noah Clifford, 13 Nick Lilley, 12 Rhys Richards, 11 Rhys Williams, 10 Freddie Hirst, 9 Josh Pengilly, 1 Josh Mann, 2 Tyler Bayley, 3 Ben Woodmansy, 4 Luke Evans (c), 5 Charlie Evered, 6 Mawgen Warren, 7 Tom Dingle, 8 Xan Retallick.

Replacements: 16 Ted Hocking, 17 Jamie Stewart, 18 Albert Dowse, 19 Ben Harris, 20 Bobby Pond, 21 George Newman, 22 Luca Brano, 23 Israel Akinrowo.

Harlequins

15 Rory Minton (Seaford College), 14 Tyler Stewart-Passley (Whitgift), 13 Zuko Robb (Gordon’s), 12 Ed Tusler (Hurstpierpoint College), 11 Elliot Southworth (Hartpury College), 10 Ben Webb (Gordon’s), 9 Fergus Callington (Whitgift), 1 Connor Van Lille (Newman College), 2 Jimmy Staples (Seaford College), 3 Ollie Streeter (Gordon’s), 4 Nathan Ventham (Brighton College), 5 Elliot Williams (Gordon’s), 6 Quinn Singh (Trinity), 7 Ashton Graham (Gordon’s), 8 Jack O’Kelly (Henley College).

Replacements: 16 Jamie Miller (Whitgift), 17 Milo Rayner-Parkin (Hurstpierpoint College), 18 Harry Bostock (Seaford College), 19 Tate Williams (Worth), 20 Morgan Purnell (Gordon’s), 21 Felix Bateman-Champain (Worth), 22 Izaak Manuel (Eton College).

Upcoming Fixtures

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

Round 3 Results

North

Midlands Central 19-27 Midlands West

Newcastle Falcons 26-19 Leicester Tigers

Sale Sharks 49-42 Northampton Saints

Yorkshire Academy – Bye

South

Bath 34-29 Exeter Chiefs

Gloucester 24-14 Harlequins

Saracens 50-36 London South Central

Bristol Bears – Bye