Wheatley Hills 33, Bradford Salem 20

Bradford Salem lost to Yorkshire Division One leaders Wheatley Hills yesterday but it was a much closer contest than the final scoreline of 33-20 suggests.

A fired-up Salem were in the ascendancy in the early exchanges and their endeavours were rewarded when experienced centre Steve McManus intercepted a pass in midfield and raced 30 metres for a fine try.

Full back Jonathan Davies landed the simple conversion to give the visitors a 7-0 lead but they were pegged back to 7-3 when Wheatley Hills and former Doncaster Knights fly half Dan Storey kicked a penalty after referee Rob Staines penalised Salem for not releasing.

However, the Bradford side hit back with a brilliant solo try from fly half Jonny Robinson, who chipped over the home defence, regathered and outpaced the cover to score near the posts.

Davies again added the extras to put his side into a 14-3 lead but Storey reduced the arrears with another well struck penalty.

However, Davies was also on target with a penalty, which gave the Heaton side a 17-6 advantage at the break.

In the second half, injuries to Craig Buxton, Rob Bourne and Dave Hutton were beginning to take their toll and Salem found it increasingly difficult to compete in the scrums.

The Doncaster side were very much on the front foot and only desperate last-ditch tackling was keeping them out.

The pressure started to tell and two further penalties from Storey brought the South Yorkshire side to within five points.

Then a sweeping move in the backs ended in a try in the left corner by winger Tom Barker, and with Storey landing the touchline conversion, the home side went in front for the first time at 19-17.

To their credit, Salem hit back with a Davies penalty to go back in front 20-19 but Wheatley Hills' powerful No 8 Gareth Burns, who was a constant threat, scored a try, which was again improved by Storey to put the home side into a 26-20 lead.

With minutes remaining, Salem got to within metres of the opposition try-line and, with two penalties already conceded, referee Staines, who had controlled the game well, would have been forced into awarding a penalty try had the home side transgressed a third time.

After a quick tap, Salem decided to move the ball out to the backs but Robinson’s potential match-winning pass was intercepted by Wheatley Hills' scrum half Ian Barker, who raced the length of the pitch to score.

Storey maintained his 100 per cent record with the boot to seal a 33-20 win.