Yorkshire Division One: Bradford Salem 15 Old Brodleians 31

OLD Brodleians showed their promotion credentials as they capitalised on Bradford Salem's mistakes to earn a five-point win at Shay Lane.

Salem were rocked by the late withdrawal of influential No 8 Christian Baines with a blood infection, veteran Kiwi Dean McNicholl being called up into the second row, with James Cunliffe moving into the back row.

Despite the reshuffe, the hosts started strongly, and after Old Brods had an attempted clearance charged down in the opening play, the Heaton club found themselves camped on their opponents' line.

Salem looked certain to score but first winger Ryan Smith was held up over the line and then only a cruel bounce from a chip by skipper and fly half Andy Robinson prevented winger Nick Fontaine from scoring.

However, the reprieve proved shortlived as quick handling in the backs created a try for Fontaine, full back Danny Belcher adding the conversion to give the home side an early 7-0 lead.

Old Brods responded positively, and only last-ditch tackles from Robinson and Belcher prevented them from scoring.

However, the pressure was always likely to tell, and after several phases, second-rower Ollie Ackroyd took a short pass to score a try he improved himself to make it 7-7.

A missed penalty by each side kept the scores even until the 33rd minute when referee Phil Gordge rather harshly penalised Salem for pulling down a maul.

Brods elected to go for a scrum rather than take three points, and the decision was vindicated as they scored a pushover try improved by Ackroyd to put the Hipperholme side 14-7 ahead.

A Belcher penalty reduced the gap to 14-10 and, although Brods spent the remainder of the half camped on the Salem line, some heroic defence somehow managed to stop the visitors adding to their tally before the break.

After a scrappy start to the second half, Old Brods broke away, and only a foot in touch prevented them from scoring in the left corner.

Salem then suffered a major blow as Smith could consider himself unlucky to receive a yellow card for a high tackle.

Things got worse for Salem as referee Gordge gave a knock-on when the ball from a poor pass to centre Jake Abram seemed to hit his foot rather than his hand.

However, Brods took full advantage of their good fortune and, from the resultant scrum, scored a second pushover try to increase their lead to 21-10.

Salem did their cause no favours as the ball went out on the full from the restart, and, from the midfield scrum, Brods made their one-man advantage count as swift handling in the backs resulted in a try in the left corner to give the visitors a healthy 26-10 advantage with 20 minutes remaining.

To their credit, the Bradford players did not let their heads drop and they had an opportunity to get back into game when replacement centre Kodie Brook made an excellent break downfield.

However, he chose to dummy rather than pass to Fontaine outside him and the chance went begging.

Brods were then reduced to 14 men when blind-side flanker Laurie Hamer could consider himself fortunate to receive only a yellow card for punching.

Salem took advantage as a quick tap penalty from Robinson and a half-break from centre Harry Hall put Fontaine over for his second try, Belcher adding the extras to give the home side some hope of a recovery at 26-15.

But the hosts then suffered a sucker punch as Brods capitalised on a dropped pass to score a breakaway try against the run of play to take them into an unassailable 31-15 lead.

Salem never gave up and continued to create chances in the closing stages but the Brods defensive line held firm and the visitors ran out worthy winners.