Bradford Salem 26, West Park Leeds 3

Bradford Salem secured a bonus-point win against fellow SSE Yorkshire Division Two promotion contenders West Park Leeds yesterday to move into third place.

With confidence at a high after the second-half demolition of Yarnbury the previous week, Salem started the game in positive fashion and soon got on the scoreboard when fly half Mark Barlow crossed after some good handling in the backs, centre Jonny Robinson adding the extras to put the home side ahead 7-0.

The lead was then extended to 14 points when Romanian lock forward Alex Savin powered over for a trademark try.

The Heaton side continued to dominate and blind-side flanker James Cunliffe drove over from close range to score his first try for the club to extend his side’s advantage to 19 points.

Salem had an opportunity to really turn the screw but a number of scoring chances went begging due to unforced errors.

The visitors then reduced the arrears to 19-3 with a penalty but winger Danny Thomas settled any Salem nerves when he intercepted a pass in midfield to race 40 metres under the sticks for a try, improved by Robinson, to give the Shay Laners a 26-3 lead at the break.

Early in the second half, Salem failed to capitalise on excellent breaks from prop and skipper Simon Davies and full back Chris Savva, and when Robinson missed a simple penalty attempt, the home side seemed to go into their shell.

For the rest of the half, both sides created scoring opportunities, West Park Leeds in particular being denied by some tenacious last-ditch Salem defence. The Bradford side finished the stronger but the last pass always seemed to let them down.

The second half eventually ended in stalemate and Salem ran out winners by 26-3 to secure five vital league points to keep them in the thick of the promotion battle.