Yorkshire Shield: Bradford Salem 24, York 17

YORK'S head coach Sean Bass called this a great game for the neutral – and it was.

He said: "Both teams had the lead, then it was level (at 17-17) before the home side got a late winning try.

"Losing our fly half (Josh Britland) after ten minutes with concussion didn't help us but we made a very poor start and then the half-time whistle came at the wrong time for us as we were in the ascendancy."

Salem, who oozed team spirit, claimed their third straight Yorkshire Division One scalp on their way to the semi-finals, following wins over Wath Upon Dearne and Old Brodleians.

"If you count our pre-season friendlies, we have beaten five Yorkshire One teams this season – Brodleians, Yarnbury, Wath, Brodleians again and York," said experienced Salem prop Simon Davies.

But, with Salem stretching their unbeaten run in competitive matches this season to 17 matches (13 wins and a draw in Yorkshire Division Two and three victories in the Shield), he also handed out a couple of reminders to his team-mates.

He added: "One, this season is only half over, and secondly if we do get promoted we must maintain our intensity for 80 minutes.

"We beat Goole 46-0 last weekend but we switched off for 35 minutes, and we cannot afford to do that if we go up.

"Having said that, this win over York was one of the best of the season for intensity, matching our game against West Park Leeds, and it all starts with our defence.

"It would be unfair to pick anyone out after a performance like that but Conor Wood, Marc Gibbons and Chris Clough, who was in the second team last season, deserve a mention."

On a cold afternoon, York had the initial use of a stiff breeze but conceded the first points in the 19th minute when York prop Freddie Potrykus was sin-binned for a shoulder charge, Salem full back Danny Belcher stroking over the penalty.

Salem then missed two half-chances to get a try before fly half Andy Robinson's trademark long pass gave Connor Malarkey the chance to go over but it was at some personal expense, the right winger tweaking a hamstring in catching the ball before scoring.

Belcher converted superbly from the touchline before the hosts were their own worst enemies, a long pass on a counter-attack being ruled forwards, giving York the chance to score a try on the half-hour via replacement Rich Roberts, which full back George Davis converted.

The visitors missed a golden opportunity, knocking on in the 36th minute when deep in home territory, but still went into the interval leading as referee David Downham (Yorkshire Society) awarded them a penalty try two minutes later which Davis converted.

Trailing 14-10, Salem's second try after 50 minutes was neatly taken, Davies crashing over after good work by Belcher and Robinson, Belcher adding the extras, but eight minutes later the scores were tied when Davis landed a penalty.

It always likely the final margin was going to be seven points or less and, after stern defence in their own 22, Salem's left winger Sam Savage hacked ahead and, when the ball was fumbled, he had the simple task of dropping on it over the York line, the accurate Belcher again converting.

There were then 11 minutes left but York failed to score again, despite Salem having replacement winger Alex Wood sin-binned for pulling down a maul in the 73rd minute.

York also missed a trick when skipper Chris Fox went for the line himself a minute later when a pass to his left might have brought a try.