SSE Yorkshire Division Two: Moortown 24, Bradford Salem 24

BRADFORD Salem extended their unbeaten run to 19 games to stay top of the table but their inability to close out the game in the dying minutes cost them two valuable league points.

However, despite the fact that the Bradford side were unable to hold on to a 24-17 lead with just two minutes left, they had earlier been trailing 17-5, so a draw was perhaps a fair result.

It was always going to be an intriguing contest between two in-form sides, and it was always likely to be the team which coped best with the blustery conditions at Valley Moss that would come out on top.

Moortown kicked off with a strong wind at their backs but composed Salem took the lead when full back Danny Belcher broke out of defence. From the ensuing breakdown on their opponents' line, stalwart prop John Bradbury was on hand to bury his way over for a 5-0 lead.

Salem played more controlled rugby for the next 15 minutes but the conditions then started to take their toll as Moortown forced a number of errors.

After going close from a catch and drive, the hosts eventually crossed the line from a five-metre scrum to level at 5-5.

Moortown were now very much on top as they continued to use the wind to good effect. The home side were soon pressing on Salem's try line and, from another five-metre scrum, referee Jason Cockerill awarded Moortown a penalty try when the visitors illegally prevented a certain score, and the Leeds side went into the break with a 12-5 advantage.

Despite being behind, Salem were confident of turning things round in the second half with the elements now in their favour but they suffered two major setbacks when firstly Jordan Ashworth, who had come on at prop for the injured Ryan McKessar, was yellow-carded for dropping a scrum and, as Salem tried to re-organise, Moortown scored from close range to take a 17-5 lead.

However, to their credit, Salem somehow seemed to regain their composure and, midway through the half, their spirits were lifted when a try from centre Chris Clough got the leaders back to 17-10.

It wasn't long before they brought the scores level again at 17-17 when Conor Wood, who had moved from flanker to No 8 following an earlier injury to Kiwi Marc Gibbons, showed his unquestionable strength to score a try which Belcher improved.

Moortown were now under the cosh and their cause wasn't helped as they had two players sent to the bin in quick succession to reduce them to 13 men with five minutes to go.

With a two-man advantage, it seemed inevitable that Salem would score again, and when Wood powered over for his second try, improved by Belcher for a 24-17 lead, it looked like the visitors had won the game with injury time approaching.

Unfortunately for Salem, they then conspired to throw away their lead as firstly they failed to deal with the kick-off reception and, even though they managed to regain possession, they attempted to run the ball out of defence when a kick downfield would have been the better option.

A rare error of judgement from Belcher led to a penalty to give Moortown one last chance. In a pulsating finale, Moortown elected to go for a five-metre scrum.

The Salem pack dug deep to prevent a pushover but, after several successive setpieces, the pressure finally told and, from a wheeling scrum, Moortown scrambled over the line.

Then, despite having to kick into the wind, the Moortown fly half held his nerve to land the conversion to give the hosts a share of the spoils.