Gosforth, Gordon’s enjoying good start to season

SCHOOLS RUGBY

By TOM JEFFREYS

UNBEATEN runs were broken in the third round of the ACE League, but northern side Gosforth and southern side Gordon’s emerged unscathed at the top.

Tyne and Wear based Gosforth are setting the standard in the Northern division, making it 20 points from 20 with a 40-17 victory over City of Oxford College, the latter faltering at the bottom of the table having had their second round game postponed as they struggle to pick up the momentum gained by finishing as the best placed Northern team last season.

Gosforth’s lead is now five points after Stour-port’s shock 31-13 loss to Oaklands. Bishop Burton have moved up to second after edging out newcomers Myerscough 28-22, who picked up a losing bonus point. In the final Northern game, fellow newcomers Moulton College also showed some encouraging signs in their 26-12 defeat to Brooksby Melton.

In the South, Gordon’s are enjoying a surprising lead in the group given Hartpury‘s poor start. They beat Beechen Cliff, who opened the season with a shock win overwest-country rivals Hartpury, 40-21 to end their unbeaten run and open a four point lead.

Behind them are Bishop Wand, who thrashed Exeter 52-5, followed by Hartpury, who recovered from last week’s defeat to beat local rivals Truro and Penwith 42-10 in a rematch of last season’s final. SGS College’s beat newcomers Newman 67-5.

Round two in the women’s competition sees three teams tied at the top on 10 points. Inevitably 13time champions Hartpury are in the mix, alongside Worthing and Loughborough.

Below them, Exeter College are also two from two, but failed to pick up a bonus point in their 21-7 victory over Oaklands. Worthing saw off Bishop Burton 63-5, Hartpury dismanted Newman 50-10, and Loughborough edged past Henley 31-24.

Lower down the table, City of Oxford travelled all the way down to SGS to win 27-24.