BAILDON, fielding a mixture of first and second XV players, defeated understrength Bradford Salem 29-7 at Shay Lane in their traditional Boxing Day friendly.

In front of a decent derby crowd of about 200, the visitors, against what was largely a second string, took a 10-0 half-time lead via tries by Luke Strauss and Jake McFarland, who finished off a sweeping attack in the left-hand corner.

Baildon, now playing towards the houses, soon added to their advantage in the second half when a trialist scored, with George Hahn popping over the conversion.

In the 53rd minute, Joe Murphy scored Baildon’s fourth try, with Nathan King getting their fifth 13 minutes later after good work by Jake Duxbury.

The only question now was whether Salem, who play in Counties One Yorkshire, a division higher than their fellow promotion-seeking opponents, would get on the scoreboard.

And the answer came at the death when centre Charlie Bannen strode through a large gap in the middle of the field for a converted try.

In the other traditional Boxing Day fixture locally, Cleckheaton won 22-17 at Old Brodleians to retain the Fred Scott Trophy.

Fielding what was a mixture of first, second and third XV players in their squad of 22, Cleckheaton gave a run out to first teamers Niall Jackson, Brad Marsden, Archie Rika-Rayne. Joe Flanagan, Tom Hainsworth, James Wilson and Tom Breakwell.

Cleckheaton tries were scored by Richard Noble, Matt Hall, Hainsworth and Wilson.