Academy Leagues: Seven games on offer, plus rare Tuesday contests - Week 15

With the end of the regular season looming on the horizon, the number of Academy fixtures has ramped up significantly this week.

Seven games make up Wednesday's offering, with Barking hosting CoLA in both the EABL and WEABL on Tuesaday afternoon.

The EABL contest is of particular importance, with the two programmes currently occupying first and second in the standings right now.

We take a look at all the action below. 

EABL 

One of the biggest EABL games this week takes place on Tuesday afternoon as current leaders City of London Academy - Southwark (6-1) head to unbeaten Barking Abbey (5-0). 

The tiebreaker between the teams sits at three points after Barking's 66-63 victory back in October, so a CoLA win by four or more will give them a route to top spot should they win out the rest of the way.

Barking will also know what is required to keep themselves in pole position, making for a much-anticipated tie between two local rivals.

It's a busy few days for the East London programme, with BA also hosting Oaklands Wolves (1-4) on Wednesday afternoon, with the hope that playing twice in two days doesn't cause a blip in form that could derail their title push.

A pair of teams jostling for playoff seeding also square off in the South as JMA Reading Rockets (3-3) head to the South coast to take on Itchen College (3-3).

Itchen won by just six points when the programmes last met in mid-November, setting Wednesday's return clash up nicely.

In the North there's two more games on Wedneaday, starting with Manchester Magic's (6-1) attempt to move back to the top of the standings as they take on Derby Trailblazers (2-4).

With current leaders Myerscough out of action, Magic can tie things up on 21 points with a win, plus the advantage of having lost one game fewer than their North West rivals.

That just leaves Charnwood College Riders (4-2) to host BMET City of Birmingham Rockets (2-6) in the Conference's other game.

Charnwood still have a chance at making a run at the title but need to stay spotless the rest of the way and hope for a little help from elsewhere. That quest continues tomorrow against a BMET side scrapping with Derby for the North's #4 seed.

Live stats 
Tuesday

Barking Abbey vs City of London Academy - Southwark

Wednesday

Barking Abbey vs Oaklands Wolves

Itchen College vs JMA Reading Rockets

Charnwood College Riders vs BMet City of Birmingham Rockets

Manchester Magic vs Derby Trailblazers

WEABL 

Likewise, the WEABL also hosts a Tuesday fixture this afternoon as City of London Academy - Southwark (6-1) head over to Barking Abbey (2-4).

CoLA still need Copleston to slip up in their remaining game of the season for a shot at top spot, but even if they do, the reigning playoff champs still need to go unbeaten the rest of the way themselves.

That means there's no room for error, though Barking would love to play spoiler to that plan.

That game precedes a pair of EABL/WEABL double-ups on Wednesday afternoon, starting with Barking against Oaklands Wolves (1-4).

Winning at least one of their two games this week would put BA in a prime spot for the conference's #4 seed, and the opportunity to push on towards Itchen in third.

A loss for the Wolves would leave them with significant ground to make up to get into the post-season themselves, raising the stakes in tomorrow's clash significantly.

Barking's double game week means Itchen College (3-3) would really benefit from a victory to shore up third spot. They'll hope to make that the case against JMA Reading Rockets (0-6), who are yet to win this season.

In the North's only game, The Sheffield College (1-3) will need to overcome a lengthy layoff if they're to pick up a second win on the season.

They get their 2025 schedule underway after a near-two month break as they host Charnwood College Riders (2-4), who look good money for the North's #3 seed at this point.

Live stats 
Tuesday

Barking Abbey vs City of London Academy - Southwark

Wednesday

Barking Abbey vs Oaklands Wolves

Itchen College vs JMA Reading Rockets

The Sheffield College vs Charnwood College Riders

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Main image credit - Kareem Lee