After an incredible opening round in the 2024 RFU ACE Boys League, Round 2 is going to be absolutely fascinating.

Champions Hartpury College were defeated, so too runners up Truro College, while Stourport High School and SGS College both won on the road. It was a fantastic opening round and one that really whets the appetite for the rest of the campaign.

Both new sides, Moulton College and Newman College, found the going tough in the opening game but that is something that we have seen whenever expansions or additions to the competition have been made. They should stay positive though, after all it is just one game, but also because consistently those new sides have then made a huge impact once they find their feet and both look well poised to do so this campaign.

RFU ACE Boys League Round 2 Fixtures: Wednesday 18^th September

North

Bishop Burton College v Brooksby Melton College

Gosforth Academy v Myerscough College

Oaklands College v Moulton College

Stourport High v City of Oxford College

Gosforth Academy were outstanding last week en route to a 55-0 defeat of Moulton College, this week they face Myerscough College, who unfortunately had to pull out of last week’s game to City of Oxford College, therefore conceding a walkover. As such, Myerscough are going to be doubly determined this week, but Gosforth are a tough side to contend with and with conditions set to be warm and sunny, the home side will be able to play the style they love.

That walkover last week means that this week is City of Oxford College’s first actual fixture of the campaign, and it is a tricky one as they travel to Stourport High School, who were the only side to win on the road last time out and at one of the hardest venues, Brooksby Melton. Expect a fantastic contest on Wednesday.

Brooksby Melton College are meanwhile on the road after that defeat in a cracker to Stourport last time out. They head to Bishop Burton College, who were in a similar type of game last week at home to Oaklands but ran out as the victors, 30-22. Expectations are that this will be a similarly competitive type of game on Wednesday.

Oaklands College will be glad to be at home after that lengthy away trip last time out, they host new boys Moulton College who will be eager to show the best of themselves after that tough opener at Gosforth Academy. Again with less travel in the legs this time, they will be looking at this as one to really contest in and it should be cracker.

South

Gordon’s v Bishop Wand

Newman College v Hartpury College

SGS College v Beechen Cliff

Truro College v Exeter College

All eyes in the South are surely on Beechen Cliff after they stunned the dominant side in this competition, Hartpury College, 17-7 last time out. History suggests that a good result against Hartpury means an outstanding campaign, but the Bath side will be aware that there are no guarantees. Especially as their fixture on Wednesday is away to one of round 1’s best performing side, SGS College, who travelled to Exeter College and won an end to end cracker 52-35. It sets up for a not-to-be-missed encounter on Wednesday.

Hartpury College meanwhile will have long since finished licking their wounds and their focus will have been all about this Wednesday for a while now. They are on the road again and it is new boys Newman College that will be the hosts. Newman had a good go against Gordon’s last week but just ran out of steam as their hosts won 45-12. This is their first home game though, and against the biggest name in this competition’s history, they are going to be up for this and it all adds together to make for a compelling fixture.

Both Gordon’s and Bishop Wand were sensational last week, each securing big victories and playing some fantastic rugby. Now they meet at Gordon’s, and there is definitely going to be some bite to this one. Everything points to a superb occasion and a fantastic game of rugby, particularly given the style both showed last time out, it should be brilliant.

The two Exeter Chiefs affiliates also meet on Wednesday, Truro College hosting Exeter College. Neither had the results or performances they wanted on week 1 but these are two sides with real pedigree, Exeter were champions in 2016, Truro reached the final last year, and both have some outstanding players in their ranks. Being a local derby too, with the two groups having plenty of knowledge of each other from the Chiefs, and it should be spectacular.

ACE Boys League Results:

Round 1

Wednesday 11^th September

North

Bishop Burton College 30-22 Oaklands College

Brooksby Melton College 24-32 Stourport High

Gosforth Academy 55-0 Moulton College

Myerscough College v City of Oxford College – Cancelled (COO Walkover)

South

Beechen Cliff 17-7 Hartpury College

Bishop Wand 55-14 Truro College

Exeter College 35-52 SGS College

Gordon’s 45-12 Newman College

Futher ACE Boys League Fixtures

Wednesday 25^th September

North

Brooksby Melton College v Gosforth Academy

City of Oxford College v Oaklands College

Moulton College v Bishop Burton College

Stourport High v Myerscough College

South

Beechen Cliff v Truro College

Exeter College v Gordon’s

Hartpury College v SGS College

Newman College v Bishop Wand

Wednesday 2^nd October

North

Gosforth Academy v City of Oxford College

Moulton College v Brooksby Melton College

Myerscough College v Bishop Burton College

Oaklands College v Stourport High

South

Bishop Wand v Exeter College

Gordon’s v Beechen Cliff

SGS College v Newman College

Truro College v Hartpury College

Wednesday 9^th October

North

Bishop Burton College v Stourport High

Brooksby Melton College v Myerscough College

City of Oxford College v Moulton College

Oaklands College v Gosforth Academy

South

Beechen Cliff v Bishop Wand

Exeter College v Newman College

Hartpury College v Gordon’s

SGS College v Truro College

Wednesday 16^th October

North

City of Oxford College v Brooksby Melton College

Gosforth Academy v Bishop Burton College

Myerscough College v Oaklands College

Stourport High v Moulton College

South

Bishop Wand v Hartpury College

Exeter College v Beechen Cliff

Gordon’s v SGS College

Newman College v Truro College

Wednesday 23^rd October

North

Brooksby Melton College v Oaklands College (30^th October)

City of Oxford College v Bishop Burton College

Moulton College v Myerscough College (30^th October)

Stourport HS v Gosforth Academy

South

Beechen Cliff v Newman College

Hartpury College v Exeter College

SGS College v Bishop Wand

Truro College v Gordon’s