HAVING lost four of their first six league matches and won four of their following five before losing six in succession, there is no doubt that there has been a streaky element to Bradford Salem's results in Yorkshire Division One this season.
That is why the Heaton club are hoping that last Saturday's 34-5 home victory against Selby is the start of something good as the tenth-placed club try to re-ignite their bid to finish in the top six.
Salem are eight points off that ambition and are 18 points above a demotion berth but their first-team manager Neil Klenk said: "Winning against Selby was more of a boost to confidence than a relief, although we didn't want to get sucked into a relegation battle."
Salem should have been playing a home match in the RFU Intermediate Cup against Gosforth, and Klenk admitted that, although it would have been nice to bring such an iconic club to Shay Lane, it would have been a pointless exercise in terms of getting to Twickenham as Durham City had already won the group and the Salem v Gosforth match would have been a 'dead rubber'.
This opened up an opportunity to play a league match, and Salem are at home to fifth-placed Scarborough.
The hosts are without Conor Wood, director of rugby Sam Gardner stepping up, while the experiment of playing Harry Hall at fly half continues.
Klenk said: "Harry put his hand up for the position, and it has worked so far, with him giving a lovely pass to Ryan Smith for our last try against Selby."
Second-placed Keighley continue their quest to get out of Yorkshire Division Two with a home match against fourth-placed Pontefract, while Old Grovians, who are tenth, host relegation-threatened Knottingley.
Wibsey start their quest to win the Yorkshire Division Five Cup with a home match against Rossington Hornets, and had a debut to prop Joe Worsnop, as well as welcoming back Adam Dutton, alias Kirklees' strongest man 2011.
Bradford Salem (home to Scarborough): D Belcher; N Fontaine, S Savage, S Gardner, R Smith; H Hall, M Child; J Bradbury, T Craven, R McKessar, J Cunliffe, D Snowden, J Booth, C Bain, A Veitch.
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