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 18th 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 11th 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 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