Salem's skipper stresses positives

7:54pm Sunday 4th May 2008

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Sandal 49, Bradford Salem 21

Bradford Salem are taking the positives from yesterday's Yorkshire Shield semi-final defeat at Milnthorpe Green.

Having been beaten there 63-17 in the league last November but defeated the Yorkshire Division One champions 13-10 on a heavy Shay Lane pitch in January, this was seen as a decider.

But a combination of poor Salem tackling and inspired Sandal handling and support play on a dry pitch meant it was largely one-way traffic to the visitors' end.

Referring to the fine tries scored by winger Chris Savva and centres Sean Thomas and Jonny Robinson, Salem skipper Steve Cowman said: "In parts we played some fantastic rugby but man for man Sandal were more confident and possibly a bit fitter.

"Conditions were firm and we knew they would run it from everywhere. Even so they caught us a bit cold in the first half but we narrowed the score in the second half and got some excellent tries.

"Sandal had the luxury of bringing off some of their bigger lads and bringing more pace on but we were winning the second half until they scored in the 79th minute.

"We put some good phases together and stuck at it up the hill, and I am proud of the lads.

"We can take that into next season, a lot of the lads have committed to next season - particularly our young students - but we have already started recruiting as well.

"Four of our students are from Leeds Met and one is from Sheffield and they are going to Australia to play rugby this summer for a couple of months and come back to us in early August hopefully as better players, although they have done fantastically well for us this season.

"I am confident that we can have a decent crack at going up. We were nowhere last August and didn't even have 15 players on the pitch but have stuck together and I am quite happy with how the season has turned out."

Fly half Matt Booth added three conversions for Salem, while Sandal's tries came from winger Dave Ell (2), scrum half Max Whittingham (2), full back Dan McCormack, flanker Jack Smith and second row Rob Overton, fly half Tom Smith adding two penalties and four conversions.

Sandal's fixture secretary Angus Moran said: "We started so poorly that it woke us up. We deserved to win the match but both sides scored some quality tries."

* Ilkley, who fielded only five first-team regulars and trailed 17-0, were pipped 18-17 at Old Brodleians in the other Yorkshire Shield semi-final today.

Their points came from tries by centre Simon Smith (2), plus two conversions and a penalty by Brendan Kelley but Brods defended extremely well to prevent any further Ilkley scoring.