Sandal 10 v Bradford Salem 13
Sandal's record unbeaten sixteen game start to the season finally came to an end at a wet and windy Bradford Salem who ground out a win in the difficult conditions for an ultimately deserved victory. Sandal started strongly and were rewarded with a well struck penalty from fly half Tom Smith but Salem came back and levelled through fly half Booth when Sandal were penalised for holding on in the tackle. With the Sandal back row trio of Norris, Whittingham and Maguire using their pace and power to get over the gain line it came as no surprise when captain Matt Hemingway released no. 8 Sean Maguire on halfway and with his pace taking him clear of the cover he then drew the full back and fed the ball to supporting centre Danny Mitchell who ran in from twenty metres for the first try with fly half Tom Smith converting well in the blustery conditions. Salem, though, have improved massively since the first meeting in early season and they fought back with a further penalty from Booth to move within one score. Perhaps the key moment in the game arrived on thirty five minutes when from a lineout on the Salem ten metre line flanker Sam Whittingham sustained a serious injury from an innocuous looking tackle which resulted in the game being held up for thirty minutes while the emergency services arrived. The players returned to the field to play out the final minutes of the half and turned round almost immediately to start the second half due to the failing light.
The second half was dominated by the home side who played mainly through their forwards as they went through the phases to gain territory. The next score was always going to be crucial and from a spilled pass on the Sandal twenty two metre line the Salem full back pounced on the loose ball and he fed winger Savva who chipped ahead and saw the ball bounce back into his hands and he dived over to the joy of the home support with Booth again converting to give his side a three point lead with fifteen minutes remaining. The home side played out the remaining time without any great discomfort and Sandal could have no complaints as their superb unbeaten run came to an end.
|
