BRADFORD Salem have one more game at home to Dinnington before amateur rugby union's Christmas break, and it has been a season of two parts for them so far.

Having lost four of their first five Counties One Yorkshire games, they have won five of their last seven to shoot up to mid-table.

That fine run has come as no surprise to coach, and former Bradford Bulls player, Glenn Morrison, who told the T&A: "I last spoke to you just after we ended that losing run with a one-point win at Huddersfield Laund Hill, and said then that we hadn't been far off.

"That one win was probably all we needed for a bit of confidence and we've had some good victories since that day too.

"We've been able to keep the majority of our strongest team, in terms of availability for selection, on the pitch for a run of games of late, which we're pleased about.

"We'd have liked a couple more wins earlier on in the season, but we're in a good spot now.

"There's competition for places and we have real depth at the club.

"That's meant some quality players have been missing out on selection, which can only be a good thing."

That has not always been the case at Salem, with Morrison saying: "We lacked that young and old balance last season.

"With no relegation in place last year due to the leagues restructuring, we used that opportunity to blood the young lads, but we didn't have that experience on the pitch with them.

"It did the youngsters good to get 12 months of rugby against men in a competition like this, and it's helped get them ready for this season.

"With experienced heads around them now, they've been able to show how good they really are.

"We want to keep hold of these young lads and keep on producing juniors, as that's what Salem is all about."

A 39-19 defeat for Salem at Beverley in their last game on December 3 halted a run of three wins in a row, with Morrison saying: "We were missing our regular number 10 Sam Allan, and we had a few lads playing out of position.

"But that's no real excuse, as we had Harley Robertshaw move across to play at fly-half and he did well.

"We were in the game though, and were ahead until quite late on, but a few late tries turned it into a big win for them.

"We have to take the loss and learn from it, and it was a shame we couldn't bounce back last week at home to Wetherby, as we had a good team available for that one, but it was called off due to a frozen pitch."

Morrison is hoping that the game with second-bottom Dinnington tomorrow does not go the same way.

He also warned against complacency, saying: "The way this competition is, everyone can beat anyone else, so we don't want to go into games with a favourites or an underdogs tag.

"We just want to prepare for each game as well as we can, and if we do that, we'll win more than we lose.

"We're confident in the squad we have."

Counties One Yorkshire leaders Keighley are due to visit fellow high-flyers Old Rishworthian, while in the division below, Baildon are looking to maintain their title push with a win over fifth-placed Leeds Corinthians.

In Regional One North East, fourth-placed Cleckheaton travel to runaway leaders Billingham, while in the league below, rock-bottom Bradford & Bingley will be seeking their first win of the season at home to a strong Malton & Norton side.