It was another brilliant round of RFU ACE Boys League action on Wednesday as the second round of the 2024 league took place.

Last week had seen some big results as the champions and runners up both faced defeat, this week that champions bounced back and elsewhere there were some hugely significant performances across both conferences.

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

North

Bishop Burton College 19-40 Brooksby Melton College

Gosforth Academy 29-15 Myerscough College

Oaklands College 68-5 Moulton College

Stourport High 36-19 City of Oxford College

Gosforth Academy made it two from two in the north, backing up last week’s victory over Moulton College with a hard fought 29-15 victory at home to Myerscough College, who were playing their first game of the season after having to last week unfortunately pull out of their game.

It was also a first game for City of Oxford College, who were due to face Myerscough last time out, they travelled to Stourport High School who had won a fantastic game at Brooksby Melton College last time out. It was back to back for Stourport on Wednesday as they put in another strong display to win 36-19.

Brooksby Melton College bounced back from that Stourport defeat last week and did so in real style on Wednesday, travelling to a Bishop Burton College side that was riding high after victory against Oaklands last time. Brooksby were outstanding, securing a 40-19 victory that will leave them absolutely brimming with confidence.

So too are Oaklands College, who were on fire after that defeat last week with a stunning 68-5 victory over the conference’s newest side, Moulton College, who will be frustrated with early result but know that things will start coming towards them as they get familiar with the league.

South

Gordon’s 24-17 Bishop Wand

Newman College 7-45 Hartpury College

SGS College 7-40 Beechen Cliff

Truro College 26-29 Exeter College

In the southern conference, Beechen Cliff’s big task was to back up their stunning victory over champions Hartpury College last week, and that was exactly what they did when they travelled to an SGS College side that were confident themselves after a good away win last time. Beechen Cliff were outstanding, earning a 40-7 victory and looking every inch a side to watch this season.

Hartpury College meanwhile were right back on the horse after that defeat, travelling to the conferences newest side, Newman College. Newman gave a good account of themselves, but bettering a wounded Hartpury is a challenge for anyone and the champions ran out impressive 45-7 winners.

It was Gordon’s that were the only side to beat Hartpury last year, and they had beaten Newman last week. They hosted local rivals Bishop Wand on Wednesday, who had brilliantly beaten last year’s finalists Truro College last week. It was one of the games of the round, a tense one that could have gone either way but it was the hosts, Gordon’s, that made it two in a row, 24-17.

The game of the day though was the south west derby, Truro College v Exeter College, both part of the Exeter Chiefs setup. A truly epic encounter unfolded, a game that hung in the balance right to the end when Exeter College plucked an intercept to secure a stunning 29-26 victory in the very final play of the game. A sensational finish, heartbreak for Truro, elation for Exeter, but for both, plenty of positives to take.

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

Further 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