BRADFORD Salem are still seeking a first ever win away at Beverley after slipping to a 27-5 defeat in Yorkshire One.

Salem, who earlier in the season had registered a moral-boosting 21-16 win over their third-placed opponents, took the lead after five minutes when slick handling involving both forwards and backs created room for free-scoring winger Jake Green to finish in the right corner. 

The visitors then received a scare when former Bradford Bulls star Glenn Morrison went down injured after receiving a bad knock. He was able to resume after some attention from the physio.

The next 15 minutes belonged to Beverley and it needed a brilliant cover tackle by Morgan Mirzaali on Rob Smith to stop them from scoring.

However, the home side continued to press, and, after a quick tap penalty 10 metres out, centre Jacob Holmes forced his way over to bring the scores level.

Minutes later a blatant knock on by the hosts’ outstanding Isaac Keighley was missed by referee Graham Bentley. Morrison was penalised for questioning this oversight allowing second rower Callum Harvey to score from another quick tap to put Bev in front.

Salem hit back almost immediately when it looked like hooker Pete Tennet had scored in the left corner. However, the referee could not see the grounding, and, when asked, Salem touch-judge John Dobson showed great integrity to rule out the try for a knock on.

The turning point in the game came early in the second half when a great run by young centre Matty Smith got Bradford to within a metre of the try line. However, Beverley somehow managed to turn over possession and broke 70 metres downfield to get over the whitewash.

Beverley virtually sealed victory when Keighley drove over from a five metre scrum.

Salem’s cause wasn’t helped when Morrison was sent to the sin-bin for questioning the referee for a second time, and, whilst a man down, his team conceded a fifth try as man-of- the-match Keighley scythed through off a short pass. Skipper Phil Duboulay added the extras.

Salem’s day was summed up as replacement flanker Matty Veremalua was adjudged to have been held up over the line in the final exchanges. 

17-year-old debutant Callum Smith at scrum half was a bright light for Salem who are eighth going into the weekend's clash with Hullensians.