IN a scrappy yet dramatic encounter, Bradford Salem had to settle for a 23-23 draw at home to West Leeds, as they finished the season in sixth place in Counties One Yorkshire.

Salem kicker Jake Green missed a last minute penalty to win the match, but a draw was probably a fair result in a game strewn with errors and containing few memorable moments.

The Bradford side dominated the early exchanges but missed a big scoring opportunity when fly-half Sam Allan sliced through a gap in midfield only for his inside pass to go to ground.

Salem continued to pile on the pressure but their only reward was a Green penalty for a 3-0 lead after nine minutes.

West Leeds hit back moments later and, in their first real attack, they moved the ball wide, with slack Salem defending allowing winger Sam Marshall to score in the corner.

Keir Breakwell landed the touchline conversion to put the visitors 7-3 ahead.

Green's second penalty on 14 minutes reduced the deficit to a single point and 10 minutes later he was on target again to put his side 9-7 in front.

A crunching tackle by Salem skipper and No.8 Christian Baines forced a knock on and from the ensuing scrum, Allan put in an excellent long kick, which West Leeds' full back Eliah Chitiyo retrieved before trying to run the ball from his own line.

However, he was tackled and driven back towards the try-line, with the ball going to ground. 

As confusion reigned, Salem centre Morgan Mirzaali showed good speed of thought to touch the ball over the line, Green adding the extras to give the hosts a 16-7 lead.

West Leeds reduced the deficit to 16-10 courtesy of a Breakwell penalty and it took some determined defending to stop the visitors adding to their tally before half time.

Four minutes into the second half, Bryn Perrot, who had moved from centre to fly-half, kicked a penalty to get West Leeds to within three points.

Salem were then reduced to 14 men following Ben Markey's sin-binning for a late shot and Perrot added a further penalty to bring the scores level at 16-16.

With 20 minutes remaining, Salem lost a line-out and West Leeds moved the ball out wide.

The Bradford side then made a hash of an innocuous kick through, and, in somewhat bizarre circumstances, referee James Bex deemed that a Salem player had prevented a certain score.

He subsequently awarded a penalty try to the visitors, which put them 23-16 in front.

Salem's equalising try with 10 minutes to go also had both sets of supporters scratching their heads.

From a five-metre scrummage, the ball was moved to centre Clayden Paranihi, who showed good strength as he stretched out to score.

The ball then seemed to bounce up off a West Leeds' boot and scrum-half Kyle Carter followed up to touch down.

Referee Bex awarded a try, which Green improved, with both Paranihi and Carter claiming to have scored.

In a frantic finale, an attempted drop goal from Allan drifted just wide of the uprights, before Salem were awarded a penalty in kickable range.

However, the normally-dependable Green was unable to land the pressure kick and this proved to be the final act of the game, as it ended in a hard-fought 23-23 draw.

Bradford & Bingley will be joining Salem in Counties One Yorkshire next season, having finished bottom of Regional Two North East without a win this term.

Their season also ended on Saturday, as they lost 43-20 at home to derby rivals Old Brodleians.

In Counties Two Yorkshire, Baildon will be hoping to finish as high as they can on the final day and give themselves the best chance of promotion.

They won 36-15 at Bramley Phoenix on Saturday, and are just a point behind second-placed Harrogate Pythons and three ahead of Wath Upon Dearne.

Harrogate face a tough test at home to champions Wensleydale on the final day, with Baildon at home to sixth-placed Yarnbury and Wath at struggling Leeds Corinthians.