BRADFORD Salem’s cruel luck continued as, for the third time this season, they were on the wrong end of tight result, going down 38-35 at Leodiensian in Yorkshire One.

They were caught offside from an early catch and drive and Leos’ fly half Ed Farmer landed the resulting penalty to give the hosts a 3-0 lead.

Salem then lost a line-out on their own throw, allowing the home side to score a converted try for a 10-0 lead.

Open-side flanker Nick Fontaine was issued with a yellow card for a technical offence and, shortly afterwards, the visitors were reduced to 13 men when Booth was sent to the sin-bin for a high shot.

Farmer kicked the penalty to extend his side's advantage to 13 points. He then added a further penalty to increase their lead but subsequently had to come off with a hamstring injury.

Back to 14 men with the return of Fontaine, Salem created space out on the right and winger Jake Green scored a fine try to reduce the deficit to 16-5.

The visitors were lifted by this, and, back to a full complement, another sweeping handling move resulted in a try for full-back Jack Payne, Booth landed a fine conversion from the touchline to bring the score to 16-12, before his penalty got the Bradford side back to within a point at the break.

In the second half, a good take by Rhys Green at the line-out, followed by good hands from Payne and centre Max Trueman, led to a second try for Jake Green to put Salem in front.

However, Leos hit straight back. They drove their opponents backwards from a five metre scrum and the referee awarded a penalty try to put the hosts 23-20 ahead.

The referee then controversially ruled that Salem skipper Christian Baines had not grounded the ball over the try line before denying Jake Green what would have been a hat-trick for a forward pass. The visitors had to be content with a Booth penalty to bring the scores level at 23-23.

Salem were penalised straight from the restart and, from a line-out, Leos' centre Ryan O’Connor went in under the posts, with Jamie Dutton adding the extras to give the hosts a 30-23 lead.

A half-break by Fontaine gave Rhys Green the opportunity to reduce the arrears to 30-28 but Salem then gifted Leos a try when trying to run the ball from inside their own 22.

The hosts added a penalty to make the score 38-28, but the Salem players did not finish the game empty handed.

Following an excellent drive by prop forward Pete Tennet, Trueman crossed for a try, improved by Booth to earn the visitors two points.