Coventry go top on New Year's Day.

2 Jan 2024 | 4 min |

Coventry jump to the top of the table with a bonus-point win at Bedford Blues.

Coventry enjoyed a dream start to 2024 with a bonus-point win against Bedford Blues in front of a packed-out Goldington Road. The five-point haul sees Alex Rae's side climb to the top of the table for the first time this season, albeit having played two games more than second-placed Ealing Trailfinders. Here's how the latest table looks:

Pat Pellegrini's 19-point haul against the Blues also sees the Coventry playmaker climb to the top of the leading point scorers table:

CHRISTMAS ROUND-UP

And just in case you need a reminder of what happed over the Christmas period, here's a look back at Round 8...

Bedford Blues outscored Ampthill five tries to three in the latest edition of The Battle of Bedfordshire, including a ninth of the season for the league's leading try-scorer, Sean French. The Mob started brightly, taking just five minutes to cross the whitewash when Fraser Strachan darted over, but were condemned to their third straight defeat by a resurgent second-half performance from their county rivals, with Louis Grimoldby, Henry Pollock, and Joe Howard all scoring after the restart. The win sees Bedford Blues climb to third in the table, just one point behind Doncaster Knights with a game in hand.

Caldy banked their second win in a row with an impressive victory against second-placed Doncaster Knights. The Ravers opened up a nine-point first-half lead with scores from Nick Royle and Jo Dickinson, either side of a Peter Roberts try for the visitors. Alex Dolly cut the gap with a try after the restart, but Oli Hearn's 73rd-minute score sealed the win for the Ravers. Oli Fox dotted down for the Knights with two minutes to go, but the hosts closed out the game after the restart to clinch their third win of the campaign and move six points clear of 10th-placed London Scottish.

Cornish Pirates outmuscled Hartpury by two scores to one in an attritional match at Mennaye. Matt Johnson barged over after 15 minutes for the first points, and the Pirates followed that up with a Penalty Try after a period of pressure in the Hartpury 22. The visitors hit back just before the break, with Will Crane forcing his way over against his old club, but neither side was able to add to the scoreboard after the restart, as the Pirates held out for a narrow win to move three points clear of 7th-placed Ampthill.

Cambridge stunned London Scottish at the death to clinch their first win at Championship level in a dramatic match at The Athletic Ground. A see-saw match saw the lead change hand five times during the 80 minutes, with The Exiles and The Blood and Sand both crossed four times, including a fourth score in two games from London Scottish scrum half Lewis Gjaltema, but when Morgan Veness rumbled over with the clock in the red to level the scores at 26-26, it all came down to Jamie Benson's conversion - which the fly half slotted to seal a historic Cambridge win.

Coventry and Nottingham met at Butts Park Arena in a bumper Boxing Day clash, with the hosts storming to a bonus-point win in front of a record crowd. James Martin, Pat Pellegrini, and Tobi Wilson all crossed inside half an hour to get Coventry off to a dream start before David Williams hit back for The Archers just before the break. Jordon Poole and James Martin added to the damage after the restart, while Nottingham pulled two back through Jack Dickinson and Scott Hall but were unable to rescue any bonus points as Coventry closed out their second straight win in The Championship.