Colleges look for big end to the season
By Mark Stevens
5/12/22
It promises to be a busy couple of days from youngsters from both Truro and Exeter Colleges as they face their final fixtures at the ACE Finals Day at Cheltenham Tigers RFC.
First up are Truro, who will tackle Myerscough College in the final game of Day One on Tuesday, December 6 (3:30pm).
Having started the season with a few narrow losses, Truro have certainly grown in belief as the season has progressed, picking up wins on the road against Gordon’s School (twice) and Bishop Wand School.
Helping head up their on-field challenge have been the likes of centre George Edson, who toured South Africa with England Under-18s in the summer and back-row forward Barnaby Elderkin, who has attended the last two England training camps.
Coach Marek Churcher said: “Our squad has had some great experiences this season and some of the tight defeats have been the best bits of learning for us. We’ve used those experiences to build and it’s helped produce some incredible performances on the road in the latter part of the season.
“Now, as long as these players can keep learning and developing throughout the season, they will only become a better and more wiser rugby player.”
On Wednesday, it will be the turn of Exeter College to take to the field when they come up against Brooksby Melton College (12:30pm).
In a promising campaign which has seen the college use 36 players, 26 of whom have been given their ACE debuts, there have been plenty of highlights.
Tries have been plentiful with Callum Arnold leading the way in the forwards with five touchdowns, while behind Nick Lilley tops the charts with seven. Adding to the tries, captain Louie Drennan – who himself has been called into the England training squad this season – has scored a total of 73 points.
Having won four of their first six games against Truro College, Gordon’s School, Bishop Wand School and SGS Filton, they came unstuck against Hartpury and Beecham Cliff, the latter with the last play of the game.
Those results ensured Exeter were in the top tier of the competition, joining rivals from the Northern Division. With two away games against Hartpury and City of Oxford, Exeter’s home fixture was, unfortunately for players and supporters, played at a neutral venue in Walsall against Newcastle Gosforth Academy, where in a pulsating game they lost to a last-minute penalty.
Coach Keith Brooking said: “With just one game to go against Brooksby Molten College, no matter what the result the players should be proud that they have down their own legacy for the next campaign to try and surpass both on and off the field.”
Below are links to the live streams: