Stourport facing Gosforth challenge
GOSFORTH Academy and Gordon’s have secured passage to the top national group with time to spare in the RFU Boys Ace League.
Emulating their impeccable group form from last season, Gosforth, based in Newcastle and associated with the Falcons set up, secured a sixth consecutive bonus point win against Bishop Burton by 40-17; the win guarantees them first place in the group.
The Ace Leagues see the top four in the respective North and South leagues progress to the national phase in two tiers, and Stourport have made a big leap towards the higher division of the two with a 3317 win vs Moulton College guaranteeing a top four spot with a game to spare. Stourport and Gosforth face off next week in a big litmus test of the quality being played up north.
Behind them, the final week of the regional phase will provide a tense finish for Bishop Burton, Oak-lands, Brooksby Melton, and City of Oxford. The latter two drew 17-17 this week, but Brooksby have top four hopes in their hands on 19 points, needing a win against Oak-lands next week to secure qualification. Oaklands also have fate in their own hands given their game vs winless Myerscough was postponed this week, so, on 16 points, they have two bites at the cherry to qualify. City of Oxford, on 12, need to beat Bishop Burton and hope other results go their way to qualify.
In the South, Gordon’s 35-14 win against SGS all but qualifies them into the top group of the next phase. It leaves SGS with a winner-takes-all match vs Bishop Wand next week, the latter having added to Hartpury‘s shockingly miserable season with a 19-15 win over the champions.
Hartpury are still in contention for top four, sitting vulnerable in fourth, but will drop out if Exeter win comprehensively next week. That seems unlikely, given Exeter’s 36-0 defeat to Beechen Cliff, who seem set on finishing second.
At the foot of the table, Newman shocked last year’s runners up Truro and Penwith with a 36-12 win, their first ever ACE victory in their first season.
