Although missing several key players and others having to play in unaccustomed positions, Bradford Salem still had hopes of causing an upset at second placed Malton & Norton. They were also hoping to end a run of 4 successive defeats, Salem’s last success being an excellent 33-16 win at Hullensians in the Yorkshire Shield on 28th November 2015.

On a pitch at The Gannock which appeared a lot worse than it actually was, things looked ominous for Salem as their pack was pushed off their own ball at the very first scrum. The hosts continued to apply the pressure in the opening minutes and soon earned themselves a 5 metre scrummage in front of posts. Salem prop Adam Hewitt was then penalised by referee Carl Walsh for dropping the scrum although his opposite number Ben Boothman was perhaps equally at fault for pulling it down. Malton elected to go for another scrum rather than taking 3 points and the decision paid off as they drove over for a try improved by full back Zweli Sodladla to give themselves an early 7-0 lead.

Salem gradually began to get into the game and they were rewarded for their efforts when after 9 minutes full back Danny Belcher struck over a penalty to reduce the arrears to 7-3.

Both sides were then reduced to 14 men as the referee lost patience with Hewitt and Boothman’s repeated infringements in the scrums and he sent them both to the sin-bin. However, Salem then conceded a further penalty, and, after a long kick got them deep into the visitor’s 22, Malton skipper Sam Triffit scored from a well-worked catch and drive, Sodladla landing the difficult conversion to increase his side’s lead to 14-3.

Salem responded positively, but, just as they were making inroads in their opponent’s half, a turnover allowed Malton to ship the ball wide and right winger Jack Cranage showed good pace to score a fine breakaway try to give the home side a commanding 19-3 lead.

To their credit, the Salem players did not let their heads drop, and, deep into injury time, a sustained period of pressure lead to a Belcher try which reduced the arrears to 19-8 at the break.

Playing into a stiffening breeze in the second half, Salem were always going to find it difficult to get back to within striking distance and their task was made all the harder when, after a fine break from scrum half Paul Angus got Malton within metres of the try line, Boothman made up for his earlier indiscretions to score a close range try improved by Sodladla to give the North Yorkshire side a healthy 26-8 advantage.

Salem still refused to throw in the towel and they showed great determination as scrum half Sam Savage dived over in the left corner to bring the scores to 26-13. Although in the build-up to the try, Malton’s influential second rower John Lumley received a yellow card for going in from the side, Salem also suffered a major blow as, in the act of scoring, Savage aggravated a rib injury and had to leave the field resulting in Salem Director of Rugby Sam Gardner moving from centre to scrum half. In spite of the reshuffling of their back line, with a one man advantage, Salem looked like they might stage a comeback. However, some tenacious defending from the home side somehow prevented Salem from getting the score that would have got them back into the match.

When restored to a full complement, Malton once again had the edge and the contest was ended when a series of pick and drives opened up gaps in the visitor’s defensive line and this allowed Boothman to sprint under the posts for his second try, Sodladla adding the extras to seal a 33-13 victory.

In spite of the defeat, the guts and determination showed by the Salem players should put them in good spirits ahead of their visit to Northumberland and Durham league leaders Durham City in the Intermediate Cup next Saturday.