Goole 6, Bradford Salem 27

Despite securing a bonus-point victory at bottom club Goole yesterday, Bradford Salem were knocked off top spot in SSE Yorkshire Division Two after promotion rivals Barnsley moved above them on points difference.

The Salem players had two key objectives going into the game - to gain a maximum five league points and not to concede a try, and skipper Simon Davies was pleased that both of these were achieved.

The Bradford side, playing into a strong wind, were soon under the cosh and found themselves defending their own line in the opening quarter.

The home side played with an enthusiasm which belied their lowly status, dut, desspite all the pressure, they were unable to break down the determined and well-organised Salem defence.

Goole had to be content with a six-point lead courtesy of two penalties but they were then hit with a sucker punch as Salem launched an ambitious counter-attack following a turnover and an excellent break from scrum half Oli Shaw created an overlap on the right, allowing winger Amesh Ahir to score in the corner to bring his side to within a point at 6-5.

Goole continued to dominate possession from the restart but another error allowed winger Tony Williams to race virtually the length of the pitch for a superb solo effort to put his side ahead 10-6.

The visitors, as if to rub salt in the wound, then scored another breakaway try, this time outside centre Jonny Robinson racing 70 metres for another excellent individual try to give Salem a 15-6 advantage at half-time.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Salem expected to run away with the game but their cause wasn’t helped when influential Romanian No 8 Alex Savin had to leave the field with a knee injury.

Nevertheless, Salem soon secured a bonus point when James Cunliffe, who had moved from the second row to No 8, dummied his way through a gap, and, after a 30- metre burst, fed the supporting Shaw, who raced over for a try improved by fly half Mark Barlow to extend the lead to 22-6.

The Heaton side then began to get increasingly frustrated by the whistle of Yorkshire Central referee John Eyre and, due to the number of penalties conceded, they were unable to secure enough possession to increase their lead.

However, with the seconds ticking away, Salem created sufficient space on the left for Williams to score his second try to secure a 27-6 victory.