BARNSLEY RUFC First XV blew their big chance of closing the gap on relegation rivals Dinnington by slipping to defeat against visitors Knottingley on Saturday. Their hopes of avoiding the drop now hang by a slender thread and only a remarkable turnaround in fortunes will see them escape the Yorkshire League Two trapdoor. Barnsley, four points adrift of safety, need to win their remaining three games and hope that Dinnington fail to pick up a point. But with the Shaw Laners having lost their last five games, that would be a miracle. However, they have the perfect opportunity of gaining a much-needed win tomorrow, as they entertain basement boys York RI, who are yet to gain a point all season. Last time out, Barnsley won 48-8 and a convincing win could just be the fillip the team need. Despite the defeat last Saturday, the work-rate and commitment could not be questioned. They were the better side for much of the game and had they managed this type of display on a more regular basis, they would be clear of danger. A lack of discipline in key situations has contributed to their downfall and that was again evident on Saturday. Trailing 21-16 with around 15 minutes to go, Barnsley were knocking on the Knottingley door and it appeared only a matter of time before the winning score would arrive. However, in a moment of madness, South African Paddy Jensen kicked out at an opponent and duly spent the next 10 minutes on the sidelines after being shown the yellow card. And as so often happens, the visitors made the extra man count with a breakaway try.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for the remaining 14 players, who had given their all but the lack of discipline proved costly. Barnsley had done well up to that point. Scott Hinchliffe had kicked them into a 3-0 lead after a period of pressure led to a penalty for offside but Knottingley found a gap to race unnoposed to the line. The conversion opened up a 7-3 lead. Barnsley then worked themselves into a good position and began to threaten the Knottingley line but Andrew Appleyard’s pass was intercepted and the visiting player raced clear to double his side’s score. Barnsley were back in contention at half-time when Appleyard was held up just short of the line after a good break but Hinchliffe was on hand to pick up and dive over. Hinchliffe’s conversion made it 14-10 at the break. Another converted try on the resumption extended the visitors’ lead but Hinchliffe kept his side in the game with two penalties and at 21-16, only one side looked the more likely to win it but a mistake, with Barnsley a man down due to Jensen’s ill-discipline, gifted Knottingley the points.