BRADFORD Salem came agonisingly close to pulling off a last-gasp win, before having to settle for losing bonus point in a 22-21 defeat at Selby in Yorkshire One.
The Heaton side made an inauspicious start as second rower Damien Pearson and prop Jordan Ashworth both made errors to gift the hosts a penalty.
Selby captain Josh Cruise kicked for touch rather than going for goal and the gamble paid off, as hooker Miller McCoy drove over for a converted try from the lineout.
The hosts increased their lead courtesy of a Cruise penalty before Salem were then reduced to 14 men when full-back Max Trueman was sent to the bin for killing the ball.
Selby took advantage as Liam Hogan drove over from a five-metre scrum, with Cruise adding the extras to give the hosts a 17-0 half-time advantage.
Salem came out a totally different side after the restart and within two minutes, they were back in the game.
Teenage open-side flanker Morgan Mirzaali scored a fine try, which was improved by winger Jake Green to reduce the deficit to 17-7.
Salem then narrowed the gap to just three when centre Nick Fontaine broke free to score an excellent try, which Green improved.
But after a controversial line-call against Salem flanker Rhys Green for stepping into touch, Selby's Sam Broughton scored from the ensuing scrum to make it 22-14.
Salem were still not done, and, with five minutes left, a break from fly-half Glenn Morrison found Fontaine in support. He scored his second try, which Green converted to put the visitors within a point.
However, in the dying seconds, Salem unfortunately conceded a penalty, allowing a relieved Selby to close out the narrowest of victories.
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