SSE Yorkshire Division Two

Bradford Salem 41 Moortown 14

BRADFORD Salem moved into second place in SSE Yorkshire Division Two after securing a bonus-point win over Moortown at Shay Lane.

However, they were given a bit of a scare by the side occupying last place in the table, the Leeds club having incurred a 20-point penalty for player-registration irregularities.

In near-perfect conditions, Salem made a confident start, and they were unlucky not to score in the opening passage of play, centre Chris Clough being tackled inches short of the line following a fine midfield break from fly half Andy Robinson.

Despite the early pressure, the home side had to be content with a 3-0 lead courtesy of a penalty from full back Danny Belcher, but, in literally their first foray into Salem territory, Moortown got back on even terms with a penalty.

Lifted by this, the visitors seemed to grow in confidence but they suffered a setback when Salem's open-side flanker Joe Fawcett intercepted a speculative pass and just managed to evade the cover defence in a 50 metre foot race to the line to score an excellent individual try, improved by Belcher to make it 10-3.

Moortown hit back with two penalties but a second successful penalty from Belcher gave Salem a 13-9 lead at the break.

The hosts Salem launched a promising attack down the left straight from the restart but, after an attempted chip was charged down, the ball ricocheted into the path of a Moortown player, and, although he appeared to be in an offside position, he managed to hack through and score a try to put his side 14-13 ahead.

This was perhaps the wake-up call that Salem needed as they responded almost immediately when blind-side flanker and man-of-the-match Jamie Booth scored from a catch and drive, Belcher adding the extras to put the Bradford side back in front at 20-14.

They soon increased their advantage but they had some good fortune when a forced pass from Robinson fell kindly for Belcher, and the classy full back ghosted through for a try he improved himself to make it 27-14.

The Heaton side were now on top, and some excellent handling in the backs allowed winger Carl Walker to dive over in the corner, Belcher landing the touchline conversion to give them an unassailable 34-14 advantage.

Salem then finished off in style and scored the try of the game when some intricate off-loading put Belcher through a gap, and his inside pass allowed supporting No 8 Damien Pearson to stroll nonchalantly under the posts.

Belcher then kicked his fifth successful conversion for a personal haul of 21 points to seal a 41-14 victory.