Bradford Salem 41 Skipton 12

Bradford Salem kept themselves in the Yorkshire Division Two promotion hunt with this convincing victory against bottom-of-the-table Skipton.

On a bitterly cold afternoon, Salem started well on a firm pitch and were soon well clear.

However, as had happened earlier in the season in league matches, they then took their foot off the gas and allowed never-say-die Skipton back into the contest.

Skipton, who have won only one of their 12 league matches this season couldn't maintain their level though and Salem pulled away towards the end.

Player-coach mark Viner scored two pushover tries for Salem, and he was joined on the two-try mark by winger Chris Luxton. His first was a beauty. Fly half Matt Booth made a short break and passed to full back Jonathan Jacobs, who was confronted by two Skipton defenders.

He tried to go through the middle, but was tackled. However, he still managed to get his pass away to the winger, who sprinted 20 yards to the corner. Booth converted superbly into the wind. Chris Luxton's other came from broken play, helped by centre Richard Langhorn and flanker Jonny Luxton.

Salem's other try-scorers were Booth and prop Simon Davies, after a rolling maul. One of the stars for Salem was scrum half Andy Luxton, a late replacement for Dave Howcroft.