RFU Intermediate Cup: Durham City 43 Bradford Salem 3

Bradford Salem suffered a heavy defeat against Durham and Northumberland League Division One leaders Durham City to to snuff out their hopes of a trip to Twickenham.

On a pitch which was surprisingly firm, despite persistent rain, Salem dominated the early stages.

However, the visitors had to be content with penalty from fly half Danny Belcher for an early 3-0 lead.

Salem continued to press, and looked certain to score when Conor Wood burst through on a 50-metre charge to the line, but the powerful flanker chose to take on the final defender rather than look for support and was bundled into touch inches short of the line.

The Heaton club were then dealt a sucker punch when, against the run of play, Durham City centre and man of the match Bradley Pears sliced through some weak midfield tackling to score a fine individual try, improved by full back Phil Stewart to put the hosts 7-3 ahead.

The Durham high-fliers then doubled their tally as Pears won a kick and chase for a 14-3 lead.

A Stewart penalty extended the advantage to 17-3 before Durham Society referee Ieuan Davies harshly awarded the hosts a penalty try after Salem were guilty of pulling down a driving maul, Stewart landing the simple conversion to give his side a healthy 24-3 lead at the break.

The contest was effectively ended after six minutes of the second half as referee Davies missed some blatant obstruction in midfield which allowed the outstanding Pears to score his hat-trick.

Slick handling in the backs then created an overlap on the left, which enabled winger Sam Heron to score in the corner to give the Durham side a 36-3 lead.

Then in the final minutes, Durham City were awarded a second penalty try after Salem collapsed a five-metre scrum, Stewart adding the extras to seal an emphatic victory.