SSE Yorkshire Division Two

Bradford Salem 67, Leeds Medics & Dentists 7

BRADFORD Salem back-rowers Marc Gibbons and Joe Fawcett both bagged a brace of tries in an 11-try demolition of SSE Yorkshire Division Two strugglers Leeds Medics & Dentists.

In crisp conditions at Shay Lane, the leaders were expected to make light work of opponents occupying the next to bottom slot in the table but the students showed some nice touches in the opening exchanges and had clearly come to play open rugby.

Despite the Medics' endeavours, Salem's well-organised defence held firm and, after 12 minutes, the home side opened their account when Kiwi No 8 and man-of-the-match Gibbons scored from a catch and drive, fly half Andy Robinson landing the conversion.

Two minutes later, the hosts extended their lead to 12 points when scrum half Jack Mitchell went over in the left corner, and on 20 minutes, Gibbons scored in almost identical fashion to his first effort, Robinson adding the extras for 19-0.

Salem were then guilty of trying to force the game, and a loose midfield pass from centre Chris Clough went to ground.

The ball was hacked through and speedy winger Edem Ahiaku won the chase to score under the posts to give the students renewed hope at 19-7.

However, any thoughts of a comeback were quashed as Salem went on a scoring spree in the remaining ten minutes of the half. First, outstanding open-side flanker Fawcett was in support to score the all-important fourth try to earn the hosts a bonus point, and shortly after Clough made up for his error as he showed great upper body strength to brush off several would-be tacklers on his way to the line.

Blind-side flanker Dan Snowden was next to cross the whitewash to ensure that the whole of the back-row were represented on the scoresheet, and when Fawcett got over for his second, things were looking extremely bleak for the visitors at 45-7 down.

Medics' cause was not helped when they conceded a penalty try when a certain scoring pass was deliberately tapped down, and to make matters worse, referee Phil Ashton had no alternative but to apply the letter of the law and send the guilty player to the sin-bin.

As a result, the visitors went into the break with the unenviable position of being down to 14 men with a 52-7 deficit.

To their credit, the Leeds side came out fighting in the second half and Salem were unable to make the most of their one-man advantage.

Salem were then reduced to 14 men when Clough was yellow carded for an illegal tackle and, in increasingly gloomy conditions, the leaders were unable to make their superiority count.

It took until almost midway through the second half for Salem to register a further try, Kiwi prop Ryan McKessar using his bulk to cross from close range to extend the advantage to 57-7.

Full back Ryan Smith, who always looked dangerous, then showed his elusive skills to score in the corner for 62-7.

The Heaton high-fliers then scored the try of the game when some brilliant handling in the backs created an overlap on the right, allowing 18-year-old winger Alex Wood, who had come on as a replacement, to dive in at the corner.