Week One: Without us.
By Steve Kimberley
October 21 2023
Week One of the Championship season proper came and went without a sniff of Coventry Rugby.
Unless, of course, you count the team's trip, complete with a truckload of grub, to Jersey for a bit of fun and team-bonding.
Notwithstanding that, the remaining sides in the division locked horns for the first time this term with results going pretty much with the form book - or the anticipated form book at least.
The top of the table spot, momentarily occupied by Nottingham while other results waited to be declared, became - surprise, surprise - Ealing's.
The perennial nearly-theres overcame a spirited Bedford effort, pulling away in the second half for a 41-21 five-pointer in front of the biggest crowd of the day of 2380 spectators at Goldington Road.
One feels that Cov will want to top that next weekend. And should do so.
The weekend's fixtures actually started on Friday evening with a game between Cornish Pirates and London Scottish, with the home side prevailing in a 21-0 win resulting in no bonus being gained by either side in front of just 1143 souls.
Another of the sides fancied for a top-end finish, Doncaster, scraped home, at home, against Hartpury by dint of a drop goal from fly-half Olver which saw them take the spoils by 20 points to 18 for a 4-1 match result, before a decent crowd of 2056.
Similarly, Ampthill overcame new boys Cambridge by a two point margin, 28-26, with only the thickness of the Dillingham Park's upright preventing a Blood and Sand conversion attempt securing a share of the points, instead they had to settle for two bonus points to Amps' five. A disappointing crowd of only 708 made the trip.
Finally, as mentioned before, Nottingham briefly took the glory of top spot on the first (almost) full day of hostilities with the thick end of a high-scoring (31-44) game at Caldy in front of 1278 on the Wirral (1-5 on league points).
So, the first league table of the season looks something like this:
Ealing. Played 1, points 5
Nottingham. 1, 5.
Ampthill. 1, 5
Cornish P. 1, 4
Doncaster. 1, 4
Cambridge. 1, 2
Hartpury. 1, 1
Caldy. 1, 1
Coventry. 0, 0
Bedford. 1, 0
L. Scottish. 1, 0
Cov fans will be hoping for a move in the right direction at the weekend!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:11:01:17:42:31 by Kimbo.
Will this be a weekly post? (cheeky!)
Quote:Maybe...Old Faithful
Thanks for that super post Steve. It's great to see the attendances.
Will this be a weekly post? (cheeky!)
All views expressed in this post, are my own
Let's face it, Ealing don't travel with many.
Quote:Kimbo
It's what Bedford reported on their website.
Let's face it, Ealing don't travel with many.
Let's face it, Ealing don't play at home with many.
Quote:OldNickQuote:Kimbo
It's what Bedford reported on their website.
Let's face it, Ealing don't travel with many.
Let's face it, Ealing don't play at home with many.
