Bradford Salem 28, Bradford & Bingley 57

A CROWD of over 500 were treated to a hard-fought yet highly-entertaining Yorkshire Division One derby at Shay Lane, where Bradford Salem were the equal of their visitors for long periods.

Although only a single point separated the sides early in the second half, Bradford & Bingley showed just why they are champions as they ran away with the game in the final 30 minutes.

Salem were up against a much bigger pack and their failure to secure any quality possession at the set-pieces proved to be the difference as the Bees pulled clear, with Roger Raper, Ryan Wederell and hooker Masiu Akauola proving a formidable visiting front row.

The Bees took a 7-0 lead after just five minutes as some slick handling led to centre and man of the match Lachlan Moore breaking through to send supporting full back Adam Mitchell over on the left.

When the visitors doubled their tally shortly afterwards via a try from the base of a scrum by No 8 Tom Cummins, again converted by fly half Shaun Driver, things looked ominous for Salem – but they hit back with two penalties from full back Danny Belcher to make it 14-6.

A further Bees try by Akauola stretched their lead but again Salem responded positively, some excellent handling in the backs putting Belcher into space.

His well-timed pass sent winger Ryan Smith over in the corner, Belcher's magnificent touchline conversion getting the hosts to within a score at 19-13.

The Bees scored another try by centre Taylor Fiddes to secure the bonus point but a third Belcher penalty got Salem back to 24-16 at the break.

Within minutes of the restart, Salem gave the table-toppers a real scare as more good handling put Belcher over for a superb try which he improved himself to get the home side back to within a point at 24-23.

The turning point came when referee Rory Fisher then sent Belcher to the sin-bin for a late challenge on Moore after a scoring pass to Fiddes as Bradford & Bingley notched their fifth try.

While Salem were reduced to 14 men, the visitors scored two quick converted tries by winger Nick Gore and Moore, who thus collected his 22nd of the season.

To their credit, Salem still refused to throw in the towel and centre Conor Wood, who ran strongly throughout, crossed in the left corner to bring the score to 45-28 when the visitors had Michael Crotch in the sin-bin.

However, the introduction of Newcastle Falcons-bound James Pinder from the bench seemed to give them new impetus and they ran in two further tries by Gore and Fiddes (making it 16 tries in 19 appearances) to seal an emphatic 57-28 victory, Driver landing six conversions in all.