Bradford Salem 8, Crusaders 12 - The Crusaders were disappointed with the margin of this win, as they knew they should have won by a much clearer margin than the final score reflected.

There were a few changes in the team from the previous week. One of the significant ones being colt Ian Woodwiss starting his only second senior game at scrum half; thus following in the footsteps of his father Paul.

Early in the game the Keighley backs looked as if they would have too much speed and guile for the opposition. This speed of back play was put into practice when quick passing gave Nigel Curr on the right wing chance to beat his opposing wingman and then brushed off the fullback's tackle with ease to cross for the first try. Gary Davy missed the conversion.

That was the end of the weak tackling by Salem, as they stopped all the other attacks, which came from all quarters both through the Crusaders' backs and the forwards. Warren Knowles on two occasions seemed to be clear only to be pulled down by the cover defence. John Flaherty's strong running caused havoc amongst the Salem team, but the support play was not up to the standard it had been on previous weeks to create further tries. Matthew Fitch, playing in the second row, was putting in some powerful runs, and he was revelling playing against his older brother who was one of the Salem props.

Against the run of play Salem scored through their stand off who kicked a very good drop goal from 40 yards out. This shook the Crusaders into further action but could not score before half time. They even had to weather a five-minute assault on their try line by the Salem forwards.

Changes were made early in the second half due to injuries. Rick Emmott replaced Nigel Curr and Richard Leech replaced Fitch in the second row. The Crusaders' backs soon were on song again and good play by Flaherty gave Knowles chance to cross in the corner for what everyone except the referee believed to be a good try.

This reversal of the try gave Salem heart and their forwards started to put together some good drives. Things however swung back the Keighley way when after a couple of darting runs by young Woodwiss started off a series of Keighley attacks. Woodwiss then created a try of the ever present Flaherty when Woodwiss made half a break to feed a short pass to Flaherty five yards out from the try line. From so close to the line no one was going to stop the strong running centre. Davy was able to convert the try with ease.

Salem's fullback who had looked so suspect in the first half was now like a small iron door and Keighley's attackers instead of trying to beat him for pace were trying to run through him and the result was always that the attacks failed.

The game ended with Emmott fooling the Salem back line to give him a run to the try line only to run into the all enveloping tackle of the fullback who was in the end Salem's man of the match.

Although the margin of the win was not as high as the Crusaders would have liked some good play had been seen by John Flaherty and Matthew Fitch and the scrum half play of Woodwiss is certainly something to watch for in the future.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.