Another round of the RFU ACE League has come and gone, and the results significantly assist our ability to categorise the troops into those hunting for a spot in the champions pool and those seeking to avoid a season in tier 2. Here are all the results and how they affect the season so far.
North Area Pool 1
Oaklands College 27-23 Bishop Burton
This game was always going to be a close one, and the game unfolded as such. 5-3 in the early stages, this soon became 15-13 as half-time approached; however, Oaklands remained consistently in front. The home side hung on, with the game finishing 27-23 in the end. Oaklands get their season back on track, but this is the second narrow defeat of the season for Bishop Burton. Hopefully, staying in the fight throughout provides a platform for the Yorkshiremen to work with as they prepare to face Gosforth next Wednesday.
Stourport High 57-26 Myerscough
A second win for Stourport, who sit pretty at the top of the table on a maximum points tally of ten. It’s a second loss for Myerscough, who face an improved Oaklands side next week. For Stourport, who finished 5th last season in a record high for the ACE side, it is a strong start to the season, although they face Loughborough next week, which will be their toughest test of the year. They are certainly top contenders in this northern division.
Gosforth Academy 43-24 Loughborough
A statement victory in the biggest game of the season so far across the two divisions. Gosforth remain undefeated and have now seen off one of their closest challengers for the Northern title. They will hope to keep the good times rolling when they play Bishop Burton next week, as another win will as good as guarantee a place in the champions pool. Loughborough have been brought back down to earth after a fantastic start for the newly rebranded Tigers side, but will still have high hopes of qualifying beyond October.
South Area Pool 1
Gordon’s 29-13 Bishop Wand
This is a very big result for Gordons. There were a few questions coming into the season about the defending champions, and a shaky start away from home last week did little to disinterest speculation. However, this is a good win against a strong side on home turf, where the support the men in green received was a sight to behold. Unfortunately for Bishop Wand, their hopes of qualifying for the champions pool rest on a win against Hartpury next week…stranger things have happened!
Hartpury College 45-0 Truro College
Another big win for the Acorns at home, another step closer to reclaiming their title. Truro were already down 26-0 at halftime, and Hartpury were ruthless as they finished the job. Can anyone stop them? Certainly not in the southern tier, but who knows what will happen in the champions pool post-October. Truro, with their second defeat, will hope to fend off Newman at home next week, in a game that could be crucial in the fight to survive another season in tier 1.
Newman College 5-45 Beechen Cliff
A second victory away from home, and now Beechen Cliff have emerged, alongside Gordons, as the closest Hartpury will come to a proper test in the Southern tier. in fact the Gordon’s game next week will be a fascinating tie, acting as a shootout between the ‘best of the rest’ in this division, with both sides hoping for a place in the champions pool. Newman travel to Truro next week, still searching for their first win of the campaign.
North Area Pool 2
Moulton College 54-7 Bede Academy
Moulton may have finished at the wrong end of the ACE League table last season, but they are well on their way to writing that wrong with an impressive performance at home to Bede Academy. The fight for promotion from the Northern second tier will be a fierce one, but Moulton will be right in the midst of it. Bede will have a week off before they get the chance to get their season back on track.
Wath Academy 38-7 Ashton on Mersey
We said in the buildup to this game that the overarching season can take a backseat in this game, as both sides battle for a historic victory, their very first as an ACE side. It was Wath who claimed that momentous win here, in comfortable fashion as well, by a sizeable scoreline of 38-7. AOM have a difficult game next week as well against Moulton, which could see their season end prematurely; however, one should remember that the first season in the ACE League is a building block for both these sides.
South Area Pool 2
Peter Symonds’ 3-65 Exeter College
Exeter continues their push for promotion with another big win, and a result which means even more than 5 points, as it proves to the likes of SGS and the City of Oxford college, that they remain on equal footing heading into the later stages of the season. A difficult season for the new southern sides continues, but, like in the north, a period of adjustment was always expected. For now, Exeter can sit back and relax, with a huge game for them to watch closely next Wednesday.
Richard Huish 5-70 City of Oxford
And that huge game in question is the clash between a well-rested SGS, which piled on the points in a friendly mid-week, as they await their biggest game of the year. Their fixture against the City of Oxford College has now been established as a do-or-die for both sides after Oxford demolished Richard Huish. It is a three-way race for promotion between Exeter, SGS and Oxford, and next week’s game between two of these front-runners is sure to be interesting.
You can find the full fixture list and last week’s results via the NextGenLive Instagram, or via the RFU website, found through this Link: https://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/search-results?competition=1664&season=2025-2026&division=66041#fixtures
