Bradford Salem bid to get back in the mix (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Salem bid to get back in the mix

3:50pm Thursday 6th December 2012 in Sport By Mike Crowther

Bradford Salem are looking to give their Yorkshire Two promotion bid a pre-Christmas shot in the arm, starting with Saturday’s trip to Selby.

The fifth-placed Heaton side are currently nine points off the top two but victory over their hosts followed by another against lowly Skipton the week after would propel them right back into the mix.

But Saturday’s task will not be easy against the division’s top scorers, who are six points above Salem in third spot.

Team manager Neil Klenk said: “Selby were top a few weeks ago but have gone off the boil recently.

“This is one of those games where, if we are going to stay in promotion contention, we really need to win.

“We had a week off last weekend and have a few back from injury so we have a reasonably strong squad.”

Ian Woodwiss will make his first start of the season, having missed the campaign to date due to injury and being away on honeymoon. He replaces the injured Dave Howcroft (ankle) at scrum half.

Klenk added: “We have Skipton at home the week after so, if we can win these two matches, it will put us in a good position to kick on and challenge for promotion in the second half of the season.”

Bradford Salem (at Selby): From – D Belcher, S Savage, J Robinson, S Gardner, D Thomas, C Walker, A Robinson, I Woodwiss, J Bradbury, S McLelland, S Davies, J Morrell, J Cunliffe, D Pearson, D Hutton, K Falwasser, J Ashworth, D Luxton, S Leach.