The 2024 RFU ACE Boys League got off to a spectacular start of Wednesday with some utterly stunning performances.
Newman College made their competition debut and Moulton College their long awaited return after years away, but the story of the day was surely that the champions, Hartpury College, had been toppled.
Few ever do so, the fact is that Hartpury College have won this league all but twice since it’s inception in 2008, but on Wednesday Beechen Cliff, the Bath affiliates, did what only Gordon’s managed last year, and beat them 17-7. Where every other game was free flowing, this was a tighter and cagier game, a testament to Beechen Cliff’s superb defensive effort.
Elsewhere, it was a tough start to life for Newman College, who travelled to one of last season’s real success stories, Gordon’s. The Surrey side were in fine open round form for an excellent 45-12 victory.
Bishop Wand also sprung a surprise opening round result, defeating last year’s runners-up, Truro College, by a stunning 55-14 margin. After a really tough year in this competition last year, it was a brilliant start for the South West London side.
The only away win in the South Group came at Exeter College, where SGS College came away from an utterly thrilling contest with the victory. Almost 90 points were scored in the game, but the balance was in the visitors’ favour, 52-35.
In the North Group, meanwhile, only three games were played after the Myerscough College v City of Oxford College fixture was cancelled late on, City of Oxford being awarded the walkover and 5 league points.
Elsewhere, Moulton College made their tournament bow but found life tough on one of the longest away trips in the league. They were at Gosforth Academy who were in fine free-flowing form for a brilliant 50-0 victory.
The Yorkshire Academy was retained during the recent PGP agreement, and Bishop Burton College will be thankful for that. So will fans too because they can produce some wonderful rugby, as they did in spells on Wednesday en route to a well contested 30-22 victory over Oaklands College.
As in the South, the North Group had just the one away victory and it went to Stourport High School, who now find themselves in the Gloucester catchment area. They travelled to Leicester Tigers’ Brooksby Melton College and in another cracking game of rugby they just edged it to win 32-24.
Round 1 ACE Boys League Results:
Wednesday 11th September
North
Bishop Burton College 30-22 Oaklands College
Brooksby Melton College 24-32 Stourport High
Gosforth Academy 50-0 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
ACE Boys League Fixtures
Wednesday 18th 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
South
Gordon’s v Bishop Wand
Newman College v Hartpury College
SGS College v Beechen Cliff
Truro College v Exeter College
Wednesday 25th 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 2nd 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 9th 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 16th 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 23rd October
North
Brooksby Melton College v Oaklands College (30th October)
City of Oxford College v Bishop Burton College
Moulton College v Myerscough College (30th 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