Jersey Reds and Doncaster Knights kicked off the weekend with a heavyweight Friday night clash at The Stade Santander, with the hosts edging a tight encounter 19-17. The Reds crossed three times in the first half to open up a 19-point lead, but a second-half fightback saw the Knights claw back three tries of their own, including an 80th-minute score from Mak Wilson. With Sam Olver unable to convert Doncaster's last-gasp score, the hosts registered a sixth straight win and - for 18 hours - go top of the table.

In the other Friday night match, Nottingham hosted Richmond at Lady Bay and ran in seven tries en route to a bonus-point 45-26 win. Josh Poullet crashed over to open the scoring after 13 minutes, and an evenly-balanced first half saw the Archers take a 19-12 lead into the break. Liam Slatem ran in the first of four second-half tries in what would prove to be a dominant performance from the hosts, although Richmond will take solace from a try bonus point, which included a brace from Ntinga Mpiko. 

On Saturday, Ampthill overturned a 17-point halftime deficit to pip Caldy 26-24 at Dillingham Park. The visitors got off to a blistering start with Nick Royle crossing twice inside 12 minutes and further scores from Michael Cartmill and Oliver Hearn wrapping up a bonus point before the break. Ben Cambriani, joint top scorer in the Championship this season, struck for Ampthill four minutes after the restart, with further scores from Tomas Bacon and Gwyn Parks edging the hosts in front at the hour mark. The Mob saw out the remainder of the match to clinch their second win of the campaign and climb to seventh in the table.

At Goldington Road, Bedford Blues overturned last season's home defeat to Hartpury with a bonus-point 28-21 win against the Westcountry outfit. Mitch Eadie scored early for the visitors but tries from Sean French and Luke Frost put Mike Rayer's side in front at the break. French scored his second 10 minutes after the restart, but Jake Polledri's 54th-minute riposte ensured Hartpury kept in touch. Alex Day struck on the hour mark to secure a try bonus point for the Blues before James Benjamin hit one back for Hartpury in the 70th minute: a score that would give the visitors a valuable losing bonus point.

Coventry overcame Cornish Pirates 32-19 at Butts Park Arena, including a brace from the aptly named Shea Cornish. The left winger scored the hosts' first with 12 minutes on the clock, with Senitiki Nayalo and Will Talbot-Davies also crossing before the half-hour mark. Peter Everett and Ruaridh Dawson scored first-half tries for the visitors, keeping the deficit to seven points at the break, but Cornish's second eight minutes after the restart wrapped the bonus point for the hosts, with penalties from Patrick Pellegrini and Talbot-Davies adding to the damage. Max Norey pegged one back for the visitors in the 67th minute but could not inflict any further damage as the Pirates fell to their third defeat of the season against a much-improved Coventry side.

At The RAG, London Scottish put in a spirited performance against Ealing Trailfinders – before eventually succumbing 21-57 to the reigning champions. Jordan Els and Cameron King crossed early for The Exiles, with Cassius Cleaves adding another in the 41st minute, but the Trailfinders' forward dominance would prove too much to handle as the game progressed. Carlo Tizzano, Steven Shingler, Bobby De Wee, Luke Daniels, Jordan Burns, and Shaun Malton [3] all registered on the scoresheet, with 10 points from the boot of Craig Willis adding to the scoreboard. Ealing's five-point win ensures they increase their lead at the top of the table to two points, having registered an impressive six straight bonus point wins on the bounce this season.