Bradford Salem will be looking to bounce back at Beverley tomorrow in Counties One Yorkshire.

Both sides are looking for a first win, Beverley after a narrow 31-29 loss to Wetherby, and Salem after being thumped 53-24 at home to West Leeds.

And yet the game was there for the taking at half-time last weekend for the Shay Laners.

They wasted a big opportunity to take the lead just before the break, but, even though they went into the interval 20-17 behind, there was still a general feeling of optimism, with the hosts playing towards their favoured Heaton Woods end in the second half.  

However, a hamstring injury to key player Danny Belcher, plus a yellow card for influential flanker Morgan Mirzaali and a red for experienced centre Chris Clough, changed the momentum of the game and West Leeds took full advantage to record an emphatic victory.

In bright sunshine at Shay Lane, Salem got off to the worst possible start when in the very first minute, lightning quick centre Eliah Chitiyo, jinked passed six would-be tacklers before out-pacing the cover defence to score a brilliant individual length of the field try.

Fly-half Keir Breakwell added the extras and moments later kicked a penalty to put the visitors 10-0 up after just three minutes.

Salem hit back soon after when second rower Dom Bailey's excellent take in the line was driven on by the pack.

Following a period of pressure on their opponent's line, prop forward Conor Wood crashed over from close range, Belcher's conversion reducing the arrears to 10-7.

Breakwell and Belcher exchanged penalties to take the score to 13-10 with 15 minutes played, and, at that point neither team seemed to be getting the upper-hand.

However, some clever off-loading then created a converted try for West Leeds to give them a 20-10 lead.

Salem responded well yet again and they got back to within three points when scrum-half Kyle Carter crossed for a try, improved by Belcher to take the score to 20-17.

On the stroke of half-time, it looked almost certain that Salem would take the lead for the first time, only for No.8 Tom Cummins to be held up inches from the line.

In spite of this close call, Salem still had a chance to score, but, unfortunately, Carter over-cooked his attempted cross-kick and the ball went out of play.

But with Belcher going off injured, West Leeds' speedy backs started to create some holes in Salem's defensive line, and when full-back Sam Neave scored after four minutes of the second half, the visitors never looked back, and crossed for two more converted tries soon after.

On one of the few occasions Salem got to within striking distance, slick handling created a simple run in for Clough, but, at 41-24 down, the only real hope for the home side at that stage was a fourth try bonus point.

However, Salem suffered a further blow when referee Pablo Costa dismissed Clough for a high tackle on Chitiyo, whose exceptional turn of speed must surely make the former Yorkshire U18 and U20s star a target for some senior clubs.

Playing against 14 men, the rest of the game belonged to West Leeds and they scored two late tries to run out 53-24 winners.