The Faverioutes reigned supreme in the third round of the RFU ACE League, but here are the full results and potential permutations they have as we enter the penultimate rounds of ACE League phase 1.
North Area Pool 1
Bishop Burton 3-29 Gosforth Academy
A rather hopeful penalty denied Gosforth a clean sheet, but they leave with the full 5 bonus points, and the Falcons soar to the top of the table. Other results this week have been favourable, and now little remains in their way as they seek to claim the northern title. Bishop Burton face Myerscough next week, which will be their best chance of an opening win of the season, since coming close in round 1.
Loughborough 38-19 Stourport
Loughborough have not only done Gosforth a big favour with this win at home, but they have also leapfrogged their opponents into second place. This result is truly significant, as a week ago, Stourport were level with Gosforth. Now, however, they could really do with beating Gosfoth next week, otherwise results elsewhere could lead them into a straight shoot-out for a spot in the champions pool against Oaklands on the final day! Loughborough are all but through to the latter stages, and a win against the aforementioned Oaklands next week will secure the top three.
Myerscough 17-47 Oaklands College
This is the game that puts Oaklands back into the running to make the champions pool. If they can beat Loughborough next week, a task much easier said than done away from home, then destiny is in their own hands when they play Stourport the week after. For Myerscough, it was a much-improved second half, as they trailed 23-0 at halftime, that kept the scoreline respectable.
South Area Pool 1
Beechen Cliff 49-10 Gordon’s
Gordon’s, who stunned Hartpury and claimed their first title in the school’s history last year, may have to settle for third place in the south this season, after an outstanding performance from Beechen Cliff saw them leave the west country defeated. Next week’s game between Hartpury, still undefeated, and Beechen Cliff becomes the biggest game of the season so far for both teams.
Bishop Wand 0-40 Hartpury College
Not only have Hartpury stayed undefeated, but they have also established an unbelievable defensive record in the competition so far. Just 2 tries conceded all campaign, both to Newman College in the opening round. They are just about backing up the dominant performances from their women’s team in the other ACE League, and continue as the runaway favourites, not just for the southern league title, but the ACE Championship overall.
Truro College 38-17 Newman College
Truro’s last-gasp defeat to Gordons in round 1 may well prove to be far more frustrating than their 45-0 drubbing to Hartpury last week. After another solid victory at home, the final round fixture against Beechen Cliff might hold the key to qualification to the champions’ pool if results go their way in the interim. Cornwall continues to be a fruitless hunting ground for many sides, but a few scores on the board will give Newman’s some confidence ahead of a Harlequins derby next week.
North Area Pool 2
Ashton on Mersey 0-50 Moulton College
Unfortunately, AOM were unable to take part in this fixture, so Moulton will be awarded the full 5 points. In the meantime, Moulten actually headed to Hartpury and took on the Acorns’ second team, beating them in fine fashion, as their good form continues. They have a massive fixture against Coventry College next week, their biggest test, but they do seem to be improving each round.
Coventry College 63-14 Wath Academy
Coventry are back with a bang after a week’s rest and notch up another impressive win over Wath. It will be interesting to see how Coventry get on next week against undefeated Moulton while Wath have a week off to lick their wounds. They do always say that you learn more in defeat than in victory.
South Area Pool 2
City of Oxford 31-42 SGS College
This is the kind of fixture that ACE is made for, and both sides will hope they can experience some more close contests like this in tier one next year. The game was a proper slobberknocker in the truest sense of the word. At times, the two sides were level 24-24, then again at 31-31, before SGS finally managed to pull away. SGS now have the edge in the promotion race, with another stern test against Exeter on the horizon.
Richard Huish 22-19 Peter Symonds’
A famous day for Richard Huish as, with the sides level at 19-19, a buzzer-beating penalty from Ollie Stanbury won them the game. This is the first win of the school’s history in the RFU ACE League, and was a delightful moment for the men in green. Peter Symonds’ College put in a great performance, but hosts the City of Oxford next week in another tough fixture.
You can find the full fixture list and last week’s results via the NextGenRugby Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, 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
