The gents may be taking their time in preparing for the next stage of the RFU ACE League, but the action continues in the women’s competition, where two undefeated sides meet for the first time, with one of their great runs of form due to come to an end on Wednesday.
Round 4 – Wednesday 15th October
Exeter v Newman College
Exeter faced their toughest task of the season last week when they played Oakham at home, but they came through with a bonus point win. The long break between rounds after this week’s fixture will hopefully not slow their progress, but the first job is to beat Newman College. I expect another victory at home for the defending champions against a winless Newman, whose cruel start to the season continues against another top side.
Henley College v Worthing College
Worthing are the second side this week that could do with a big win to perhaps overtake two of the big 4, who battle against each other elsewhere. Away to Henley, who have been on the wrong side of a few big results to start the season, Worthing will be the favourites. They have scored freely so far this year, and will likely be able to again if they get their ducks in a row after a two-week break.
Loughborough v Hartpury College
This is the big one. The fixture that the rest of the league will have their eyes on. A number of teams in this year’s edition of the ACE competition have put their hand up and claimed the title of potential champion, but none more so than Hartpury. This is the first time that two of the undefeated sides will meet, and it is destined to be a physical encounter. Can Loughborough, with home advantage, challenge this outstanding Hartpury team, with their remarkable defensive record and terrifying output?
Oaklands v City of Oxford
This will be an interesting game. Two sides, perhaps not firing at the same level as the teams at the very top of the ACE League so far this campaign, but two sides of undeniable quality who have caused the biggest colleges some series problems, while picking up a few good results along the way. If one were to lean in either direction in this fixture, which will likely be a close-run fixture, the Activate Academy, based in Oxford, have been able to run top sides very close on multiple occasions, and those experiences might give them a slight edge.
SGS College v Bishop Burton
In a conceptual reverse of the Lougborough game this week, one of these two sides is about to bring a disappointing run of form to an end. SGS, victorious in the opening round but beaten convincingly in the 2 preceding rounds, face a Bishop Burton side that has managed to play the three best sides in the competition in as many rounds. SGS will be favoured at home, as its long journey from East Yorkshire to Bristol, and travel always plays a factor at the U18 level.
You can catch all the previous rounds’ results and find out the final scores here on the Nextgen Website, or via our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @NextGenRugby.
