IT was a thrilling round in the ACE League as the southern group continued to produce the goods.
Gordon’s entered the round as the only unbeaten side having toppled Beechen Cliff last week. They travelled to Hartpury, a usually written off fixture this time filled with optimism given Hartpury’s shocking 50/50 start to the season, but were defeated by the 12time champions 22-21.
Gordon’s led 21-8 at half-time but Hartpury, with a crucial top four berth at stake, staged the comeback to revive their season.
Beechen Cliff recovered to thump Bishop Wand 40-21, and with favourable fixtures to close out the Southern pool stage, top spot is a reality again. Those two remaining fixtures are against Exeter and Newman, who played out a 31-22 victory to Exeter this week. The fourth fixture of the week was another thriller, Truro and Penwith College pipping SGS by 27-25.
In the north, Gosforth continued their supremacy with a 49-0 thumping of Oaklands, a daunting win given that Oaklands had ended Stourport’s unbeaten start the week prior – their top four spot is already confirmed. Stourport were, however, able to retain second place with an entertaining 32-26 win over Bishop Burton, while City of Oxford College beat Moulton 26-14 and Brooksby Melton beat Myerscough 48-22.
Kirkham Grammar’s long travel down to the StoneX to take on fellow unbeaten side Berkhamsted saw both teams maintaining those records with a 10-10 draw.
John Fisher have made the draw for their inaugural, trailblazing state school rugby festival. The John Fisher tournament, scheduled for next weekend in south-east London, will welcome schools from far and wide such as Wales‘ Whitchurch, Old Swinford Hospital in West Midlands and Lancaster RGS. Given the sport’s aim for growth, national state tournaments such as this are vital – the action is live on the NextGenXV YouTube channel.
