Yorkshire Division One: Old Brodleians 25 Bradford Salem 11

BRADFORD Salem were outmuscled at Woodhead Park as Old Brodleians scored four tries to earn themselves a bonus-point win.

On a cold but sunny day, Salem started positively and took an early 5-0 lead as full back Danny Belcher scored from a deft chip by skipper and fly half Andy Robinson, despite being impeded on his way to the try line.

After ten minutes, Salem had an opportunity to increase their advantage but Robinson's long pass to winger Jake Green was judged to have gone forward.

Three minutes later, Brods got back on level terms when some poor defending by Salem allowed winger Zack Thompson to score in the corner.

The hosts then went in front, courtesy of a penalty from scrum half Tom Breakwell, after Robinson was guilty of a high shot and, with just over 30 minutes gone, they extended their lead to 13-5 when they scored a brilliant try following a break out from a scrum within their own 22.

However, the rest of the half belonged to Salem, and two penalties from Belcher got the visitors back to 13-11 at the break, and the Heaton side received a further boost on the stroke of half-time as Old Brods were reduced to 14 men after referee Kevin Weston sent skipper and blind-side flanker Oliver Akroyd to the sin-bin.

The first 20 minutes of the second half were dominated by the referee's whistle as both sides gave away penalties. This inevitably lead to frustration, and both No 13s, Harry Hall for Salem and Michael Briggs for Brods, were handed warnings following a skirmish.

For the remainder of the match, Salem's scrummage came under increasing pressure and, after the visitors conceded a penalty for dropping a maul, Brods were awarded a penalty try as they attempted a pushover, Breakwell adding the simple conversion to put the hosts 20-11 ahead.

Brods dominated the final stages, and in injury time they scored a pushover try from a five-metre scrum to claim a deserved 25-11 victory.