Bradford Salem 7, Selby 36

Bradford Salem suffered a lop-sided defeat at the hands of high-flying Selby at Shay Lane in SSE Yorkshire Division Two yesterday.

Selby came into the game on the crest of a wave, having reached the final of the RFU Senior Vase at Twickenham in convincing fashion with a 36-8 win at Stourbridge Lions, and they followed this up with a crushing 115-0 win over basement club Castleford in the league last weekend.

However, it was Salem who had the better of the early exchanges and they were unlucky not to go in front after a period of intense pressure in the opening ten minutes.

Outside centre Tony Williams scythed through the opposition midfield defence but Selby’s scrambling defence somehow prevented what looked to be a certain try.

To make matters worse for Salem, Selby scored against the run of play to take a 7-0 lead but the home side soon got back on level terms when winger Sam Savage’s grubber kick bounced kindly, enabling him to regather the ball and stroll nonchalantly over the line.

Fly half Andy Robinson added the extras but, despite being on top for the remainder of the half, Salem were unable to add to their tally.

Salem suffered a setback early in the second half when Selby’s outstanding full back Dan Porter finished off a brilliant passage of play which began in their own 22.

Fly half Josh Cruise kicked the simple conversion, and shortly after added a penalty to take his side into a 17-7 lead.

The turning point came when prop Jordan Ashworth was harshly sent to the sin-bin for an innocuous high challenge, but, unfortunately for Ashworth, Central Yorkshire referee Carl Walsh had just issued a final warning following a number of earlier high-shots by Salem players.

While the Bradford side were down to 14 men, Selby ran in two tries in quick succession, both improved by Cruise, to take them into a 31-7 unassailable lead.

Then in the final play of the game, Selby stole a line-out ball on Salem’s throw-in and replacement winger Charlton McCoy went over to give the visitors a rather flattering 36-7 margin of victory.

Salem must now win their game at Sheffield Medics next weekend to stand any chance of finishing fourth in the table.