Table-toppers Bradford Salem feared that their 24-match unbeaten run had come to an end when trailing 17-0 at home to Pontefract after 30 minutes on Saturday.

But they fought back valiantly to secure a 26-20 bonus point win in a pulsating and intense Regional Two North East battle against their fourth-placed visitors at Shay Lane.

The tone was set in the early exchanges when a huge hit by Salem's outstanding prop forward Conor Wood forced a knock on.

However, Ponte returned the compliment minutes later as a combined hit on Salem centre Pauli Pauli earned them a penalty.

Will Cooke stepped up and stroked the ball through the uprights from 35 metres to give his side an early 3-0 lead.    

With 20 minutes gone, Cooke sent a long-range penalty wide of the mark, but he soon had further success from the kicking tee.

Salem put themselves under pressure when a 22 metre drop out sailed straight into touch, and, from the resulting scrum, swift handing created a try out wide, Cooke landing the conversion.

The hosts suffered a further blow when referee David Rhodes sent influential openside flanker Morgan Mirzaali to the sin-bin for a technical offence and Pontefract took full advantage.

They quickly scored a second try, which was improved by Cooke to put the visitors 17-0 ahead.

Ponte were very much in the ascendancy but they lost some momentum when winger Josh Milthorpe was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on.

The turning point came when, with half time approaching, Ben Whitaker broke out from inside his own 22.

Following some brilliant inter-passing with Wood, he finished off the move he started and with fly-half Harry Williams adding the extras, Salem were mightily relieved to go into the break with a 17-7 deficit.

Returning to the fray in the second half, Mirzaali immediately made his presence felt with an excellent run.

And following further strong carries by Tom Cummins and replacement winger Watsoni Radaubale, the ball was moved wide.

That allowed Adrea Vasuitoga to stretch over in the left corner to reduce the arrears to 17-12.

With 30 minutes to go, head coach Bob Hood pulled off a masterstroke when he brought on the imposing figure of Ian Maycock in the second row.

The move seemed to instantly galvanise the Salem pack, which started to dominate the scrums.

From a catch and drive, after skipper Christian Baines, Williams and Cummins had all gone close, the ball was moved to Vasuitoga who dotted it down for his second try.

Christian Baines helped puncture the Pontefract defence ahead of Adrea Vasuitoga's crucial second try.Christian Baines helped puncture the Pontefract defence ahead of Adrea Vasuitoga's crucial second try. (Image: JT Sports Media.)

Williams added the extras to put Salem in front for the first time by the slender margin of 19-17.

The lead lasted just 12 minutes, as Cooke's penalty gave Pontefract a one-point advantage with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Salem pushed hard for for the all-important try to restore their advantage, and following a series of punishing runs, they looked certain to score, only for Radaubale to knock the ball on.

Nevertheless, the Salem players managed to keep their heads, and, after more pressure on the visiting line, Wood powered over from close range to score a crucial bonus point try.

Williams tagged on the conversion for a 26-20 lead, meaning Ponte needed a late converted try to claim victory.

With time ticking away, the visitors threw everything at Salem in search of a win, but, when a big Radaubale tackle forced a knock on, referee Rhodes blew for time, much to the relief of the victorious hosts.

Over in Counties Two Yorkshire, Baildon won their derby at Bradford & Bingley, leaving Wagon Lane with an impressive 34-16 victory.

It means both sides now have nine points from their opening four games of the season.

In Counties One Yorkshire, Keighley sit third after crushing winless Old Rishworthian 60-14 at Rose Cottage.

Finally, in Regional One North East, Cleckheaton leapt up to seventh with an entertaining 36-29 home victory over Blaydon.