Week Nine: Part One

The most important segment of the first round of matches of the new year, at least to Cov and Bedford supporters.

Bedford expected more. Much more.

Aided by the usual sizeable travelling contingent from Godiva's city, 5000 turned up at Goldington Road, most of whom were probably quite confident of the Blues maintaining their winning streak and reaching the pinnacle of the Championship.

In the event, Cov's evolving and rapidly settling side were having none of that,  quickly setting out their store while playing down the infamous slope, scoring four tries before the break. A further six points from the metronomic boot of Pat Pellegrini cemented Cov's dominance following the break, while the loss of tight-five forwards Nkwocha and Poole to the sin bin, leaving them with thirteen bodies facing fifteen as Bedford's sole Yellow Card recipient resumed his place on the pitch. Blues were surely confident of chipping away at Cov's solid lead at this point, but Cov proved to be made of sterner stuff, denying the hosts time and again.

Bedford's much vaunted free-scoring backs, recently garnering much praise for their exploits in topping the points-scoring charts, failed to turn up, except for a couple of snipes which were ably snuffed out by the visitors' rock-like defence, which ironically was only breached by rolling mauls and a forwards-driven penalty try.

This was the Cov side that Head Coach Alex Rae was confident about going into the game, and didn't the travelling supporters revel in it? They will also revel in the fact that, at least temporarily,  their side move into pole position in the Championship for the first time.

Scorers

Tries: Poole (2), Pellegrini, Hutler

Conversions: Pellegrini (4)

Penalties: Pellegrini (2)

Attendance: 5000

Championship Standings

Coventry: Played 8, Won 5, Points 27

Ealing: 6, 5, 26

Doncaster: 7, 5, 25

Bedford: 7, 5, 24

Nottingham: 8, 4, 22

C. Pirates: 6, 4, 20

Ampthill: 7, 3, 17

Hartpury: 8, 3, 17

Caldy: 6, 3, 15

L. Scottish: 7, 1, 9

Cambridge: 8, 1, 9

Average Attendances

Coventry: 3549

Bedford: 3059

Doncaster: 2064

C. Pirates: 1621

Caldy: 1379

Ampthill: 1282

Cambridge: 1192

Nottingham: 1143

Ealing: 1024

L. Scottish: 706

Hartpury: 658