SSE Yorkshire Division Two: Roundhegians 6, Bradford Salem 24

BRADFORD Salem were given a scare at Roundhegians after trailing 6-0 at half-time but rallied in the second half to strengthen their position at the top.

Although Salem started positively, they were dealt an early blow when No 8 Marc Gibbons, playing his last game for the club before returning to New Zealand, left the field with a leg injury.

Despite this setback, the Bradford side were still very much in the ascendancy, and looked certain to score when winger Ryan Smith was put into space on the left. However, as he attempted to round the final defender, he was felled by a last-ditch ankle tap.

Salem went on to create further scoring opportunities but were let down by a lack of patience.

Then the inevitable happened as a loose pass was intercepted by the Roundhegians right winger, and only a brilliant cover tackle from centre Dan Scarbrough prevented what would have been a try against the run of play.

The hosts, aided by a string of penalties, started to gain momentum and took an unlikely 3-0 lead with a well-struck penalty.

Salem were then disrupted again as second-rower Dan Snowden (chest injury) and replacement No 8 Andrew Hanlon (head injury) had to leave the field.

The visitors' hastily reshuffled pack was coming under increasing pressure, and only the re-introduction of prop Simon Davies, who had to play second row, prevented a Roundhegians pushover.

Nevertheless, the Leeds side still managed to kick a second penalty for a 6-0 advantage.

In his half-time address, Salem's director of rugby Sam Gardner assured his players that if they stuck to the game plan and showed a bit more patience, they could turn things round, and his words of encouragement seemed to hit home.

The leaders started to put some patterns together but missed another chance as replacement prop John Bradbury failed to gather a pass from Scarbrough with the line at his mercy.

Perhaps the turning point came when 17-year-old referee Jake Hill sent the Roundhegians second-rower and skipper to the sin-bin, and while the home side were down to 14 men, Salem scored three tries in quick succession, Jamie Booth, who had moved from flanker to No 8, forcing his way over from a driving maul.

Salem then took the lead when a sweeping move which began in their own 22 was finished off in style by open-side flanker Joe Fawcett, full back Danny Belcher adding the extras to make it 12-6.

Then, virtually straight from the restart, more good handling in the backs put Smith clear on the right and the wingman just evaded the cover defence to squeeze over in the corner for 17-6, with a bonus point now on the cards.

Although it took a while to come, the leaders got over for the all-important fourth try when Scarbrough, who could have scored himself, unselfishly passed to supporting winger Connor Malarkey, who coasted under the sticks for a fine try, improved by Belcher to seal a 24-6 victory.

Salem have now opened up an eight-point gap following second-placed West Park Leeds' defeat at third-placed West Leeds.