Gnr Senitiki Nayalo (7 PARA RHA) helped Coventry to the top of The Championship table for the first time in more than 35 years as the Midlanders recorded a bonus-point 34-19 victory at Bedford Blues on New Year’s Day.
Playing in front of a sell-out Goldingham Road crowd of 5,000 – just six days after the No. 8 helped the new league leaders overcome Nottingham in front of a record attendance more than that figure at the Butts Park Arena – Gnr Nayalo was part of a side which hit the summit of English rugby’s second tier for the first time since 1988.
Senitiki played a key role in the visitors’ opener, pinching a turnover which allowed Jordan Poole to race away from 40 metres out before Tongan international Pat Pellegrini crossed the whitewash.
The fly-half added the extras, only for Bedford to hit back as Cameron King went over at the back of a maul.
However, Coventry extended their advantage to 16 points as Ryan Hutler and Poole dotted down for converted scores.
King rinsed and repeated to cut the gap, Will Maisey knocking over the kick, but Coventry’s bonus-point was secured before the break with Pellegrini again on target after Poole doubled his tally.
Playing up the slope and under increasingly heavy rain, Coventry lost two men to the sin-bin and also conceded a penalty try as another maul reduced the deficit to 28-19.
However, some resolute defence and a brace of penalties made it three wins on the bounce for Coventry, Gnr Nayalo completing the full 80 minutes as his side enjoyed the perfect start to 2024.
Words © Richard Ashton
Header and feature image – Alligin Photography © Cat Goryn
