BARNSLEY RUFC are hoping to maintain their positive start to 2026 and fight at the top end of Yorkshire Division Three this season.
The Shaw Laners won 29-19 at home to Skipton and have won both their games this year.
They are sixth the 12-team table, with 31 points from 12 games, 17 off both the top two and the bottom two.
Coach Tom Kittrick said: “We targeted these first three games at the start of the year and said: ‘look, these teams are below us and if we want to be pushing up to top end, we’ve got to beat the teams below us.’
“If we can get another five-point victory on Saturday, it really puts us up into closing that gap on the top five then the next three games are all in that top five.
“So that’ll be the big, big testing point for us.
“We can go 11 points clear of the teams below us if we win on Saturday and really just give us that bit of breathing space for that mid-table. But we don’t want to finish there.
“We want to keep pushing and finish as high as possible just as everyone does.”
Barnsley are not totally ruling out a promotion push.
Kittrick said: “I think, if we are realistic, it is a little bit too early for us.
‘This year was another building year for us.
“But obviously if we do go on a crazy run and the opportunity presents itself, we’re not gonna shy away from it.
“It’s 17 points but it can be a big swing.
“All it takes is one of the top teams to pick a few injuries up.
“If we keep in touching distance, you just never know if we can finish in the top four.
“Wheatley Hills finished third last year and now they are flying.
“So it’s really a bit of a springboard for the season after for us.
“When you’re trying to recruit players, it’s always easier if you’ve had a good season and they think they’ve got that chance to go up and grow.
“Recruitment has been a challenge over the last few years.”
The try-scorers against Skipton were Tom Bagnall, twice, Simon Lau and Dan Eaden with Kez Hyde converting three and adding a penalty.
Kittrick said: “Our performance was pretty pleasing.
“We stuck to our task for the majority while of the game.
“There are a few little things we need to scrub on up on especially in the 22.
“We still left a few points out there but we did take more of our chances and we got three tries straight from set plays which is always pleasing when it’s stuff you’ve been working on on the training ground on.
“Fair play to Skipton because they made a real fight of it.”
Barnsley are now due to host third-bottom Hornsea on Saturday.
Kittrick said: “When teams are travelling that far every weekend, it’s always hard for them.
“But they’ve always shown up and credit to them.
“They’re going to be scrapping for everything.
“They want to stay in this league and it will be to our peril if we take it lightly.
“So the main message to the players this week is going to be about attitude and professionalism, taking the right positive message from the last two games and build upon that and not take them lightly.
“If we come with the wrong attitude and don’t prepare properly, we’re there to be taken.
“We want to make sure that we get that win and keep that positive run going and keep the points ticking over.”
Meanwhile, bottom club Dearne Valley lost 55-18 home to high-flying Leeds Corinthians.
They have lost six in a row.
Steve Mason and Charlie Hunter scored tries which were both converted by Shaun Roberts with Andy Thorpe kicking a penalty.
Dearne remain last and are eight points adrift in the bottom two ahead of a trip to eighth-placed Skipton on February 7.
Barnsley Ladies lost 25-17 Kenilworth in Championship One North.
The Shaw Laners are eighth, seven points clear of the bottom two.
They have won two of 11 games this season.
Barnsley are due to host Bury St Edmunds on Sunday.
Wortley gave hosts Sheffield Medics a walkover win in Yorkshire Division Four. They are now due to visit Hessle.
Wath won 71-17 at home to lowly Beverley – a sixth straight Yorkshire Division One win.
Burrows and Anthony Davies scored hat-tricks while Oscar Bramhall and Jake Keogh added two each and Ben Cairns also touched down.
Jack Whitlam kicked eight conversions for Wath.
They are now three points behind leaders Dinnington and five clear of third-placed Yarnbury who have played two extra games.
They are due to visit mid-table West Leeds on Saturday.
