Ilkley 15, Bradford Salem 7

Bradford Salem are languishing 18 points adrift at the bottom after this derby defeat.

Ilkley took an early 3-0 lead courtesy of a penalty from full back Peter Shanks after an off-side decision and the hosts scored the try of the game midway through the first half.

A sweeping move involving some excellent handling in the back line saw winger Richard Greenfield go over in the corner.

After Ilkley’s Kris Stafford was sin-binned for killing the ball, openside flanker Chris Fisher stretched out to score from a ruck and, with fly half Matt Booth adding the extras, Salem trailed 8-7 at the break.

The pivotal moment of the game came when a crunching hit from Matt Booth on an Ilkley player sparked a melee and was sent off, the referee deeming the tackle dangerous and illegal.

Despite being down to 14 men, the Heaton side were camped on Ilkley’s line as Fisher was just held up.

Salem piled on the pressure but were penalised for diving over in a ruck in a decision which could have gone either way. Ilkley cleared their lines and, to add to Salem’s woes, Fisher was sin-binned for killing the ball.

Ilkley capitalised when Pratt drove over from a driving maul for a try converted by Shanks to clinch the victory.