Salem bid to undo Sandal

4:45pm Thursday 1st May 2008

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Having lost to Sandal 63-17 last November but beaten them 13-10 in the reverse fixture in January, Bradford Salem always fancied having another crack at the Yorkshire Division One champions.

And opportunity knocks on Saturday at Milnthorpe Green in the first semi-final of the Yorkshire Shield.

Salem's match secretary Neil Klenk said: "Our results have picked up over the second half of the season, whereas Sandal's have gone in the opposite direction but they will respect us after our latest clash.

"But there is no advantage in terms of who has played most recently as we have both had an equal amount of rest, Sandal getting a walkover in their quarter-final at home to Bridlington last weekend.

"Having lost to them 13-3 in the league at home, it didn't entirely surprise me that Bridlington didn't fancy making the trip to Sandal, where they were beaten 39-0 in the league last November."

Salem are not quite at full strength, Dave Luxton and John Bradbury both being away on a stag weekend.

They will make a late call on which front-row replacement to put on the bench.

Klenk added: "We hope to start with Craig Buxton at prop and we have strength on the bench with lock John Morrell, who has recovered from the dental work he needed, and Tom Hamill, who is back after a shoulder injury."

The other semi-final is a Sunday derby between Old Brodleians and Ilkley (3.30), who were promoted to North Two East last weekend via the Yorkshire Division One and Durham & Northumberland Division One Play-Off.

It's a busy weekend for Salem, who hold their annual Richard Birkett Memorial match on Sunday between a Bradford Grammar School Old Boys' XV and a Bradford Salem Select XV (2.30). Admission is £3 by programme.

Former Bradford & Bingley scrum half Dave McCormack, who has been understudying Guy Easterby at Otley, is in the Yorkshire squad for their Bill Beaumont Cup (County Championship) opener on Saturday against Cheshire at Macclesfield.

McCormack has previously been part of the Lancashire squad, while Wharfedale scrum half James Doherty, who played his junior rugby for Lancashire, has moved in the opposite direction to the Red Rose camp.

However, Yorkshire will still rely heavily on players from Wharfedale and Otley.