BARNSLEY Ladies RUFC gained their first win of the Championship Division One North season.
After two narrow losses in their first two games, they won 31-7 at Novocastrians.
The Shaw Laners are fifth out of ten and are now set to host early leaders Sale 1861 on Saturday.
Coach Alix Taylor-Roberts said: “The game was played in tough conditions.
“We were dominant right the way through.
“We controlled the set pieces and the tempo of the game which allowed us to come away with a bonus point win.
“The first two games were frustrating because I think we had opportunities where the result could have gone our way.
“But we’ve got new players in key positions and it’s just a taken a little bit of time to embed those players into how we want to play.
“On Saturday, that came together.”
Alix played for hometown club Barnsley for 11 seasons, the last three of which were as player/coach.
She has now retired from playing and taken over as coach.
“We want to stay competitive.
“We’ve been in the Championship for four seasons.
“Ideally we want to push into the top three. The key thing is making sure we stay consistent
“It’s massive that we’re at this level and we stay there comfortably – we’ve finished fifth, sixth and seventh.
“It would be great to see if we can challenge at the top of the table.”
Barnsley’s men lost 24-17 at home to Thornesians in Yorkshire Division Three.
That left them sixth with one win and two defeats this season.
They are now due to visit third-bottom Skipton on Saturday.
Dearne Valley lost 31-8 at home to Hemsworth.
Luke Robinson scored a try and Steve Shaw kicked a penalty.
They are bottom, having lost all three games since promotion.
Dearne are now set to visit Leeds Corinthians.
Wath continued their perfect start to the season with a 28-8 success at home to West Leeds in Yorkshire Division One.
Oscar Bramhall, Jake Keogh, Harry Hermitage and Anthony Davies scored tries, all of which were converted by Jack Whitlam.
Wath have won two cup ties and all three league matches.
They are second, having collected two bonus point while leaders Hullensians have three.
They are now due to visit Beverley who have lost all three games and are second-bottom.
Wortley lost 38-25 at home to Withernsea in Yorkshire Division Four.
There were tries for Dan Trainer, Findlay MacBean, Steve King, Ciaran Hayden and Dan Higgins. Wortley are now due to visit Hessle on Saturday.
