Sandal 49 Bradford Salem 21
Sandal set up the possibility of a league and cup double as they eased into the final of the Yorkshire Shield where they will face Yorkshire Two champions Old Brodleians who triumphed by a single point in the other semi-final against Ilkley. The final will be held at Huddersfield YMCA but at a date yet to be decided as the proposed date of Sunday 25th May is currently unacceptable to both finalists being too late after the end of the league season. Sandal started slowly and after been let off the hook when the visiting fly half missed a penalty from in front of the posts following an infringement in the first minute they then conceded a try shortly after to leave them seven points down. Fly half Tom Smith then kicked a penalty to reduce the arrears followed by a try from his brother Jack Smith who was driven over the line by his fellow forwards. Five minutes later Sandal scored a superb try from deep in their own half when flanker Sean Maguire broke clear and good support from prop Rob Norbury and no. 8 Richard Wade resulted in fly half Tom Smith diving over under the posts and then adding the two points from the conversion. Winger Dave Ell crossed in the corner following good work from outstanding scrum half Max Whittingham and then full back Dan McCormack intercepted and broke clear from his twenty two on a seventy metre dash and after being overhauled quick re-cycling of the ball saw him dive over in the corner and with fly half Tom Smith converting both from the touchline and then kicking a penalty the game was effectively over as a contest by the half time break as the Milnthorpe Green men led by thirty two points to seven.
Salem regrouped and came out strongly at the beginning of the second forty minutes and scored a quality try through winger Savva from deep in their own half converted by fly half Matt Booth. Sandal came back with further tries from pacy winger Dave Ell and scrum half Max Whittingham before Salem scored again to become the first side to score twenty points against Sandal this season. The Yorkshire One champions had the last word though as second row Rob Overton dived over following good approach work by flanker Sean Maguire to see his side safely into the final.
|
