Scarborough edge out Salem to stay in the hunt

The Seasiders made a lively start and took the lead when fly-half Tom Harrison chipped over a flat Salem defence and number eight Isaac Faamau bustled through to get the touch in the 11th minute.

Harrison added the extras for a 7-0 Scarborough lead.

The lead was short lived and Bradford Salem struck back five minutes later when winger Nick Fontaine finished off some slick handling on their left flank to score in the corner.

Fly-half Matt Booth failed to convert.

Leading 7-5 Scarborough continued to press and increased their lead in the 27th minute when Faamau broke from the base of a scrum to power over for his second try and increase the lead to 12-5.

Two players were sin binned in the last ten minutes of the half, Salem flanker Jamie Booth in the 28th minute and Isaac Faamau in the 34th.

A Matt Booth penalty in the 55th minute reduced the arrears for Salem before flanker Chas Manchester powered over from a maul on the hour to nudge his side ahead for the first time in the game at 13-12.

Tom Harrison set up a nail-biting finish with a superb penalty from wide on the right in the 67th minute for 15-13, and although the seesaw nature of the game continued, neither side could conjure up another score and Scarborough ran out just-about deserved winners of an hard-fought game to move up to fourth in Yorkshire One.

VIKINGS 27 HULL IONIANS BUCCANEERS 0

The Vikings were also in action at Silver Royd this afternoon against visitors Hull Ionians Buccaneers.

In blustery conditions of driving rain and sleet the Scarborough second string took control early on with a penalty from scrum-half Alex Rowley for a 3-0 lead.

A James Emsley try stretched the lead to 8-0.

Turning round eight points to the good, the Vikings went on the score 19 unanswered points in the second half with tries from James Emsley, Andy Rossol and debutant winger Tom Anderson; Rowley converting two.