Yorkshire Division One: Malton & Norton 33 Bradford Salem 13

ALTHOUGH missing several key players and having others playing in unaccustomed positions, Bradford Salem still had hopes of causing an upset at second-placed Malton & Norton.

They were also hoping to end a run of four successive defeats, Salem's last success being an excellent 33-16 win at Hullensians in the Yorkshire Shield on November 28.

On a pitch at The Gannock which appeared a lot worse than it was, things looked ominous for Salem as their pack was pushed off their own ball at the first scrum.

The hosts continued to apply the pressure in the opening minutes and soon earned themselves a five-metre scrum in front of posts.

Salem prop Adam Hewitt was then penalised by referee Carl Walsh for dropping the scrum, although his opposite number Ben Boothman was perhaps equally at fault for pulling it down.

Malton elected to go for another scrum rather than taking three points, and the decision paid off as they drove over for a try, improved by full back Zweli Sodladla to give themselves an early 7-0 lead.

Salem gradually began to get into the game and were rewarded for their efforts when, after nine minutes, full back Danny Belcher kicked a penalty to reduce the arrears to 7-3.

Both sides were then reduced to 14 men as the referee lost patience with Hewitt and Boothman's repeated infringements in the scrums and sent them both to the sin-bin.

However, Salem then conceded a further penalty, and, after a long kick got them deep into the visitors' 22, Malton skipper Sam Triffit scored from a well-worked catch and drive, Sodladla landing the difficult conversion to increase his side's lead to 14-3.

Salem responded positively, but, just as they were making inroads in their opponent's half, a turnover allowed Malton to ship the ball wide, and right winger Jack Cranage showed good pace to score a fine breakaway try to give them a commanding 19-3 lead.

To their credit, Salem did not let their heads drop, and, deep into injury time, a sustained period of pressure led to a Belcher try, making it 19-8 at the break.

Playing into a stiffening breeze in the second half, Salem were always going to find it difficult to get back within striking distance, and their task was made all the harder when, after a fine break from scrum half Paul Angus got Malton within metres of the try line, Boothman made up for his earlier indiscretions to score a close-range try, improved by Sodladla.

Salem still refused to throw in the towel and showed great determination as scrum half Sam Savage dived over in the left corner to bring the scores to 26-13.

Although in the build-up to the try, Malton's influential second-rower John Lumley received a yellow card for going in from the side, Salem also suffered a major blow as, in the act of scoring, Savage aggravated a rib injury and had to leave the field, resulting in director of rugby Sam Gardner moving from centre to scrum half.

Despite the reshuffling of their back line, Salem, with a one-man advantage, looked like they might stage a comeback.

However, tenacious defending from the home side somehow prevented Salem from getting the score that would have got them back into the match.

When restored to a full complement, Malton once again had the edge, and the contest was ended when a series of pick and drives opened up gaps in the visitors' defensive line, and this allowed Boothman to sprint under the posts for his second try, Sodladla adding the extras to seal a 33-13 victory.

Despite the defeat, the guts and determination showed by Salem should put them in good spirits ahead of their visit to Durham and Northumberland Division One leaders Durham City in the Intermediate Cup on Saturday.