Bradford Salem’s experienced centre Sam Gardner will miss the rest of the season.

The former Otley and Keighley Cougars player was injured in the act of scoring last Saturday in their 14-13 home defeat against Moortown in SSE Yorkshire Division Two.

Salem’s first-team manager Neil Klenk said: “Sam got his leg wrapped around the post and has torn his posterior cruciate ligament.

“We hope to re-sign Tom Barnes in time from Otley to replace him.”

Salem, who are at Old Rishworthians, are also without new Kiwi Marc Gibbons.

Klenk explained: “Marc clashed knees with Damien Pearson but the injury is not as serious as was first thought and hopefully he will only be out for a week.

"Damien was also injured and is on the bench but Danny Belcher returns at full back.”

Baildon, who need to find a cutting edge in attack, may give a debut to scrum half Patrick Sowter at Sheffield Medicals. Sowter hails from player-coach Adam Falkner’s former club at Gosforth.

It will be a busy weekend on the junior front for Baildon as they hold their first girls’ training session on Saturday for under-11s to under-16s at Sir Titus Salt School (10.30am-noon). Further information is available from Phil Wilson on 01274-532278.

On Sunday, it is the mini-festival at Baildon for under-sevens to under-12s (10.30am).

Bradford Salem (at Old Rishworthians): D Belcher; S Savage, S Dunn, T Barnes, C Malarkey; A Robinson, M Child; J Bradbury, A Veitch, S Davies, B Scarbrough, S Leach, J Booth, J Cunliffe, J Fawcett. Replacements: S Markey, D Luxton, D Pearson.