BARNSLEY Woolley Miners will look to bounce back from a disappointing week when they host near neighbours Rockingham on Saturday in the SYL Championship.
The Shaw Laners had won six straight matches but were beaten in league and cup this week.
They are in the second promotion place, 12 points off top, and two ahead of third-placed Elsecar.
Last-placed Rockingham have lost all eight league games and are 29 points adrift in the bottom two.
Captain Boeta Beukes said: “It will still be a tough game. This league has surprises in it.
“We will prepare well.
“I am sure Rockingham will be really up for it like they always are.
“Their overseas player scored a hundred last week so they have quality.
“We want to get on top quite early.
“We’re happy with where we are.
“We have only lost twice and we’re picking up points consistently.
“It’s a tough and close league so we have to be very consistent.
“Elsecar and Ackworth played when we were rained off which has put us behind a bit.”
Barnsley fell 64 runs short chasing 285 in a top of the table clash at leaders Ackworth on Saturday.
Rizwan Ishfaq took five wickets then Zarmash Tarakhil made 53.
Beukes said: “Ackworth was a hard one. We put them into bat and they showed their quality.
“We didn’t particularly bowl well again and we need to work on that.
“But we got four bonus points in the end which was good.”
They then lost at home to Moorlands in the Heavy Woollen Cup.
Beukes made 50 and Lucas Slatter a run-a-ball 56 in their 235 which the visitors chased with four overs and three wickets left.
“We put a good performance in with the bat.
“We didn’t have our top-scorer Ali Zaryab because we let him have a rest.
“Getting 240 against a good side without him is something we’re proud of.
“They had one player who batted really well. It was one of those weekends.”
Rockingham lost by three wickets at home to Coal Aston.
Lasith Lakshan made 112 off 114 balls with 16 fours and two sixes in Rock’s 227.
Elsecar won by eight wickets at Oughtibridge who were restricted to 157.
Arsalan Mir took four wickets then Curtley Louw whacked 86 off 51 balls with six fours and five sixes.
