Yorkshire Division One: Bradford Salem 30 Bridlington 22

BRADFORD Salem moved up to sixth with a hard-fought victory over third-placed Bridlington in icy conditions at Shay Lane.

Despite the freezing temperature, Salem started brightly and were on the scoreboard within three minutes, courtesy of a penalty from full back Danny Belcher.

Things got even better for the hosts when, two minutes later, after being held up short from a catch and drive, No 8 Conor Wood forced his way over on the blind side for a try improved by Belcher to give Salem a 10-0 lead.

However, the home side then suffered a lapse in concentration and, after turning over possession, Bridlington hit back when quick hands in the backs created enough space for winger Gary Stevens to score in the right corner to reduce the deficit to 10-5 with still less than 10 minutes on the clock.

The scoring spree continued shortly afterwards when the visitors went in front for the first time as they scored a converted try to take the score to 12-10 but Salem regained the lead when a magnificent penalty by Belcher from inside his own half just crept over the crossbar.

Belcher then missed a penalty before man of the match Sam Savage, who was filling in at scrum half, scored a try, improved by Belcher, to put the home side 20-12 in front.

However, Savage was hero turned villain as he inexplicably took a quick tap from inside his own 22 and a comedy of errors on their own line gifted Bridlington a try to give them a 20-17 half-time deficit.

After 10 minutes of the second half, prop Adam Hewitt showed good strength to force his way over the line from close range, Belcher adding the extras to increase the home side's advantage to 27-17.

Despite missing a penalty which would have got them back to within a score, Brid started to put Salem under increasing pressure in the final quarter.

Although, the Heaton side showed great determination to keep their opponents out from successive five-metre scrummages, the pressure eventually told as scrum half Otis Floyd darted over in the corner to set up a nail-biting finale, with Bridlington now trailing by just five points.

However, Belcher settled Salem nerves as he kicked his third penalty to seal a 30-22 win.