Davies hat-trick shocks the leaders

Salem took the lead with an early try by winger Amesh Ahir, converted by Matt Booth. Although continuing to dominate possession, they gifted Malton two tries, both by full-back Ian Cooke, and the visitors turned round 17-7 ahead.

Simon Davies, the Salem captain and prop, then scored two tries to level the score at 17-17. Malton went ahead again when hooker Carl Muscroft crossed for a try which Tom Gravell converted, but with five minutes remaining Salem tied the match when Davies completed his hat-trick and Booth landed the all-important conversion kick.

Second-placed Sheffield suffered a setback when they were defeated 18-8 at home to Heath, who moved up to third place ahead of Keighley, who were defeated 24-13 as hosts Scarborough maintained their revival.

Keighley had led 13-12 early in the second half through a try by centre Adam Horsfall and a conversion and two penalties from Alex Brown.

Centre Billy Parker and winger Matt Lucas scored first-half tries for Scarborough, the latter converted by Matty Jones, and Jones also converted a try by full-back Graeme Jeffrey before the game was halted in the 70th minute when Keighley prop Ben Blackwell suffered concussion and a neck injury.

Blackwell was taken to hospital by ambulance but later released, and after a 20-minute delay the game resumed for Scarborough flanker Louis Karl to score a bonus-winning fourth try from a rolling maul in the 79th minute.