Yorkshire Division One strugglers Guisborough came close to recording a deserved first victory of the season but Bradford Salem somehow managed to hang on for a 17-17 draw.

Missing several keys players, including skipper Christian Baines, the game always had the potential to be a banana skin for Salem.

Guisborough, despite being winless, had still managed to amass 11 bonus points in their previous 10 matches.

It wasn’t long before heavy showers created some testing conditions on a deteriorating pitch at Belmangate.

With 10 minutes gone, Salem began to get the edge in the scrums and a quick tap penalty by Number 8 Rhys Green and darting run from scrum half Jamie Simpson got them into the opposition 22 for the first time.

Guisborough were penalised for pulling down a maul and from a dominant five-metre scrum, flanker Nick Fontaine scored a try which Danny Belcher improved to put the visitors 7-0 ahead.

A superb tackle by blind-side flanker Sam Savage forced a knock-on when Guisborough were on the attack. However, after 23 minutes, the hosts won a turnover and some excellent ball retention saw fly half Joe Whyman burst through to score a try he improved himself.

The visitors hit back to take a 10-7 lead courtesy of a well-struck penalty from 40 metres after a Guisborough player was guilty of leading with his elbow.

A minute later, fly-half Chris Clough made a superb midfield break before passing to the supporting Fontaine, and, though he didn’t have the legs to go all the way, prop Mike MacDonald gathered from the breakdown and crossed for a try improved by Belcher.

However, the rest of the half belonged to Guisborough. Their endeavours were rewarded as a flowing move in the backs created an overlap on the right and full-back Phil Shields cantered over, Whyman’s conversion getting the hosts back to 17-14 at the break.

Guisborough suffered a set-back early in the second half when prop Conner McFarland was yellow carded for a technical offence, but despite being a man down, the hosts got back on level terms as Whyman kicked a penalty from 35 metres.

There was a pivotal moment as Guisborough were penalised for killing the ball and Salem elected to take a scrum rather than go for three points. This decision backfired as Salem inexplicably lost possession.

To make matters worse, they were also reduced to 14 men when Savage joined McFarland in the bin for a high shot.

With 20 minutes left, the momentum started swung in Guisborough’s direction as the home pack got the upper-hand in the set-pieces.

It looked like they had got over for the all-important try but referee Tom Howard could not see the grounding and awarded a five-metre scrum to Guisborough.

Salem’s front row replacement Jordan Ashworth was thrust straight into the hornets' nest as he went on for the injured Will Collins.

Incredibly, Salem kept their opponents out and, after being held up over the line for a second time, Guisborough eventually conceded a penalty.

Things then got worse for the hosts as Guisborough replacement Ross Sadler was yellow carded for accidentally taking out the referee!

Guisborough had one last chance to snatch victory but a massive hit by Clough forced an error.

In the final play, Salem almost stole an unlikely victory. Centre Harry Hall was blatantly obstructed and, had this been seen by the referee, the visitors would have had a kick at goal to win the game.

However, this would have been cruel on Guisborough and the game ended in a draw.