Week Ten: One Step Up

The weather took its toll once again at the weekend, with the match at Ampthill being called off on the day.

Ealing, therefore, had no opportunity to consolidate first place in the Championship, slipping to second.

Cov, meanwhile, took full advantage, moving back to the pinnacle with a five-pointer at the Athletic Ground, Richmond, in front of a meagre 811 spectators, one piper, and an overly-vociferous public address announcer.

Hosts, bottom-placed London Scottish, made a handy fight of it though, garnering two bonus points as Cov - comfortably ahead at the break - huffed and puffed their way through the second period, only securing the W through a late converted try. Five points on the road is not to be sniffed at, but the travelling Cov supporters, and no doubt the team and coaches,were duly frustrated at the host's fightback.

Top of the league again, then, but a tough test awaits when third-placed Cornish Pirates visit the Butts on Saturday, determined to pull ahead of the Blue and whites, and indeed Ealing.

London Scottish 38-40 Coventry

Tries: Hutler (2), Wand, Rigg, Poole, Ryan

Conversions: Pellegrini (5)

Another intriguing contest took place at Castle Park, as Doncaster looked to improve on their unspectacular form of late by putting Bedford to the sword.

Bedford are made of sterner stuff though these days, particularly in the forwards, and took the hosts all the way, with two late tries bringing them two bonus points, while Doncaster could only muster three tries. The win eluded Bedford due to a lack of success off the tee however, meaning two defeats on the bounce for the Blues, and joy for most of the 1916 in attendance.

Cornish Pirates continued their surge up the standings with a seven-tries to three, 41-17 victory over Nottingham at the Mennaye in front of 1594 fans.

Pirates wrapped up the bonus early in the second half, and continued to stamp their authority, with the visitors not quite able to muster any kind of bonus, leaving it until the eightieth minute to score their third. It's been a frustrating month for the Green and Whites all round.

Caldy came up against a strong Hartpury side at Paton Field, and ultimately left it suffering a 7-31 mauling, only scoring once to end up on the wrong side of a 0-5 defeat. 1245 souls braved the weather to witness what must have been a bitterly disappointing outcome for the home side.

Standings

Coventry: Played 9, Points 32

Ealing: 7, 31

Cornish. P: 8, 30

Doncaster: 9, 29

Bedford: 8, 26

Ampthill: 8, 22

Hartpury: 9, 22

Nottingham: 9, 22

Caldy: 8, 16

London. S: 8, 11

Cambridge: 9, 11

Top Points Scorers

Pellegrini: 80

Bazalgette (Har): 74

Willis (Eal): 69

Parks (Amp): 62

Maisey (Bed): 56

Houston (Cor): 55

Top Try Scorers

French (Bed): 10

Williams (Not): 9

Hutler: 8

Cavan (Cam): 7

Nelson (Cor): 7

Ramage (Not): 7

Martin: 6

Average Attendances

Coventry: 3549

Bedford: 3059

Doncaster: 1987

Cornish. P: 1621

Caldy: 1346

Ampthill: 1282

Cambridge: 1180

Nottingham: 1143

Ealing: 932

London. S: 732

Hartpury: 658