York lost out in a tightly contested game against Bradford Salem in the Yorkshire Shield quarter final, with their Division 2 opponents showing enough class to prove they will be worthy competitors in next season's Division 1.

The game was played on Salem's tight but 'damp' pitch in mercifully dry conditions with a moderate cross wind, with the first 15 minutes played largely near the halfway. Both sides tried to show intent with Salem stealing a York lineout and driving upfield only to infringe at the scrum and allow York to easily clear from the 22. York put some decent phases of play together but due to boggy conditions underfoot and robust defence were unable to penetrate beyond the Salem 22; a penalty was awarded after 15 minutes but George Davies was short with his attempt.

Salem then turned over York ball and attacked into the York 22 earning a lineout; from here York were caught offside and Danny Belcher, the Salem 15 and the most impressive player on the pitch slotted over the penalty, 0-3. York attempted a counter attack but had to scramble in defence as they conceded an interception; the first of yet again, too many errors, which were to ultimately prove costly. On 25 minutes Belcher and no10 Robinson ran good lines to be tackled just short of the York line only to concede for holding on in the tackle and York cleared again. Salem kept the pressure on and as their broken field runners were not tackled they got within the York 22, from the ruck Robinson threw a long miss pass to winger Malarkey who slithered over in the corner; Belcher making a difficult conversion, 0-10.

York then suffered a blow as Josh Britland suffered a head injury and had to leave the field. With no backs on the subs bench, Davies moved to 10 and flanker Jeff Meredith on to the wing, with Rich Roberts coming into the back row. From a powerful scrum in the Salem 10, Marcus Britland drove on and set up an attacking maul from which Roberts crashed over from close range, Davies converted, 7-10. Salem then kicked the ball out on the full and following a series of attacking scrums, the referee Mr Downham , awarded a penalty try, duly converted by Davies, 14-10, half time.

The early stage of the second half was again centred near the half way mark, as both sides made errors with Salem earning a free kick to take them to the York 10m, excellent midfield pressure earned the turn over and York broke into the Salem half only to knock on frustratingly. On 55 minutes the mazy running of Belcher and Robinson and the ability to select mismatches, again had York pedalling backwards and supporting prop, S. Davies, crashed over with Belcher converting, 14-17.

Undeterred and with yeoman effort the York forwards drove up to the Salem 15, earning a lineout which was adjudged not straight, Salem opting for their own lineout rather than a scrum against the more powerful York pack. Fielding a clearance kick deep in his own half, full back Hugh Nicholson made good ground to over half way before floating a long pass out to Billy who was tackled within the Salem 22. A series of forward drives forced the error from the home side and Davies slotted the penalty, 17-17. Three consecutive scrums and three consecutive knock ons then occurred on the half way, unfortunately two of them by York. A lack of a hook and reliance on shove, meant slow ball for Britland at no 8, who twice fumbled under pressure from the Bradford back row. From the fourth scrum, Salem moved the ball out quickly to the backs with only two fine tackles from Davies saving a further breach of the York line; in the event Salem held on and York cleared to the half way. Good pressure from Billy chasing a Toby Atkin box kick earned York an attacking lineout on the 10m from which Salem collapsed the catch and drive, earning York an attacking 5m lineout, familiar try scoring territory if the throw is straight but alas not on this occasion.....Salem then chose the scrum on their own 5m and cleared the lines under pressure.

A York offside earned Salem a kick into the York 40m; from the lineout Salem moved the ball ponderously through the backs to the winger Savage, whom surrounded by York defenders put a speculative chip through to the line, from which, to his surprise and glee, he was able to touch down after two unnamed defenders were unable to simply kick into touch; Belcher again converted a difficult kick, 17-24. The last 10 minutes concluded with York forwards picking and driving but making little ground as the Bradford defence were well up to the task, whilst their backs again threatened the line with only desperate defence holding them out.

This was yet another game that we could have won, had our finishing been a bit more clinical in the forwards; I'm afraid the backs saw little ball and didn't seem too sure how to use it when they did, although the loss of Josh certainly didn't help. No faulting the effort though and conditions made fluent rugby difficult. Best wishes to Bradford Salem in the semi finals, they were the better side on the day and the game was well refereed by Mr Downham of the Central Yorks Society.