Barnsley secure vital victory in drop battle while Wath close in on promotion
BARNSLEY RUFC eased their drop worries with a 33-7 victory at home to fellow relegation-battlers Burley in Yorkshire Division Three.
The Shaw Laners are now seventh, four places and five points clear of the relegation zone with four games left.
The try-scorers were Dave Reed, Tom Hardwick, Sam Moss, Oscar Dyson and Will Lowe, while Joe Perry kicked four conversions.
Coach Tom Kittrick said: “It was the first game when we clicked and fully understood the gameplan.
“It was very pleasing to score as many tries as that and control the game.
“It was the first of three games we’ve said are must-wins.
“If we win them all, we feel that will be enough to keep us up.
“But others around us are getting wins as well which makes us think it will go right to the wire.”
Barnsley now have two weeks off before visiting second-bottom West Park Leeds on March 2.
Wath won 38-0 at home to Ossett in Yorkshire Division Two.
They are second, level on points with leaders North Ribblesdale and ten clear in the two promotion places.
The tries came from Joe Earp, twice, Adam Clarke, Luke Stead, Anthony Hamilton and Sean Hopper while Jack
Whitlam kicked four conversions.
Wath have four games left, starting at Baildon on March 2, and need 11 more points to guarantee a place in the top two.
Barnsley Ladies won 22-5 at Bishop Auckland in the Championship North on Sunday.
They have 31 points from 14 games and are sixth, having moved up a place.
They have two games left, starting at home to title-challengers Cheltenham Tigers on Saturday.