JON DAWES grabbed a brace of tries and kicked three conversions as York recovered from a sticky start to defeat Bradford Salem 43-13.

The Yorkshire One leaders also saw Shane Goulding cross the line twice, with Rob Hodges, Sam Forbes and Josh Parker adding further tries and George Davies kicking the remaining points with his boot.

Despite the final scoreline, York anticipated a tough game against Salem at Clifton Park and that’s exactly what they got.

Lee Denholm made a number of changes from the previous weekend with Liam Hessay and Joe Maud dropping to the bench, Dawes moving to number 10 and Lewis Hannibal coming in to the back row.

The hosts started well running through the phases, but the first penalty went to Salem, who pulled a 40-metre attempt just wide.

Two further penalties quickly followed, though, with the West Yorkshire outfit establishing a six-point lead.

With 20 minutes gone, the away team were the sharper side with Davies, at full-back, called upon to make two try- saving tackles.

That proved a wake-up call and York finally managed to control possession only to knock on.

But, after winning the scrum with a powerful drive, the ball was spread wide for Hodges to score in the corner.

Dawes missed the difficult conversion, but York were now starting to control the ball and, from another scrum, he found Forbes to power through the middle and score under the posts.

Just before half-time Dawes received a yellow card, however, for a high tackle.

The second period started with James Hartley replacing Darren Rutherford, but that didn’t affect the home side’s scrum superiority.

After 45 minutes, Davies made a good break only to be stopped by a high tackle, but York took the scrum and scored a straightforward pushover try through Goulding.

Davies secured the conversion, but Salem were not finished though and came straight back at the table-toppers, only for a last ditch tackle by Harry Taylor to save a certain try.

Joe Maud and Liam Hessay went on to replace Hannibal and Dawes, while Salem began to press the York line with some powerful drives and eventually scored a converted try to reduce the deficit to 19-13 with 25 minutes to go.

York subsequently stepped up a gear and started to play some good, attractive rugby, with a scrum in the corner leading to another try for Goulding, which was converted by Dawes, who was back on the wing for the injured Hodges.

Now moving the ball with more speed, the hosts surged forward with a 30m-break by Hessay stopped by a good tackle, but the ball was quickly recycled and spread wide for Dawes to score in the corner.

He then added the difficult conversion and Salem were struggling to contain the York backs, with another flowing move seeing Dawes again score in the corner but miss the conversion.

York rounded off the scoring with a break by Chris Fox, who offloaded to Parker, who touched down in the corner for a try that was converted by Dawes.

Meanwhile, Selby crashed 57-7 at Middlesbrough to leave them deep in relegation danger.

York RI lost 29-15 at home to high-riding Bramley Phoenix in the Yorkshire Four Shield.