SSE Yorkshire Division Two: West Leeds 15 Bradford Salem 37

BRADFORD Salem's promotion bid received a major boost as they earned five valuable league points against third-placed West Leeds in a bruising encounter at Blue Hill Lane.

With second-placed West Park Leeds suffering a surprise defeat at Barnsley, the Heaton club have a healthy seven-point lead at the top with a game in hand.

Although Salem, who only managed a narrow 18-17 win over West Leeds at Shay Lane earlier in the season, came into the game on the back of a remarkable 22-match unbeaten run, their opponents were also undefeated since they lost 7-0 at Knottingley on November 22.

The game was played with great intensity from the start and, although full back Danny Belcher missed an early penalty for Salem, the visitors took the lead when a fine break down the right flank was finished off by hooker Ali Veitch to put his side 5-0 up after only five minutes.

The leaders had a number of opportunities to extend their advantage but a lack of composure let them down.

To make matters worse, Salem began to concede an increasing number of penalties in the tackle area, and West Leeds fly half Dale Breakwell took full advantage with two well-struck penalties to edge the home side 6-5 ahead.

However, that proved to be the only time the home side held the lead as Salem soon went back in front 8-6 courtesy of a Belcher penalty.

Then, following some excellent interpassing in the backs, Salem fly half Andy Robinson dived over in the corner to give the visitors a 13-6 lead at the break.

They extended their advantage early in the second half when centre Chris Clough powered his way over for a try improved by Belcher to make it 20-6.

West Leeds hit back when scrum half Keir Breakwell, taking over the kicking duties from his injured brother, got his side's third penalty, and he then traded penalties with Belcher to take the scoreline to 23-12.

With 20 minutes remaining, West Leeds reduced the arrears to 23-15 with a fifth successful penalty, and at that point the game was very much in the balance.

Salem, however, as in previous games, somehow managed to up the ante, and when centre Conor Wood crashed his way over for a bonus-point fourth try, with the score at 30-15 following Belcher's successful conversion and with the game virtually in the bag, the shackles were now off.

Within minutes of the restart, Wood, who had been a constant threat, bulldozed his way over the line for his second try, Belcher tagging on the extras to seal a 37-15 victory.