Barnsley 10 - 5 West Park Leeds

Emotions were running high prior to kick off as the teams and spectators took part in a minutes applause to celebrate the life of Barnsley player Ashley Salkeld who passed away last week. West Park Leeds presented Barnsley captain David Reed with a some flowers which were laid pitch side and their actions all day were full of class. A long term rival but a good rugby club.

Earlier in the day the strongest 2nd team the club have turned out in years beat league leaders Morley and a stacked 3rd team had lost out in a great game against Hemsworth, again huge credit to both opposition for their actions, so the pressure was on the 1sts to deliver in front of a huge crowd.

From the kick off Barnsley kicked long and the ball was allowed to bounce into touch but the WPL line out was much better drilled, as it was all day, and they made an early break out wide as too many defenders were attracted to their dummy forward runners. Appleyard snuffed out the danger but the occasion did seem to be effecting Barnsley with uncharacteristically hesitant defending and they were probably lucky to still be at 0-0 after 10 minutes.

As they settled into the game more they made good yards through Reed and Takser and a good deep kick seemed to have WPL in trouble but two quick penalties saw them in kickable range but a miss let Barnsley off the hook.

Beck and Eaden were relentless in defence and turnover ball saw Fisher, Parker & Will Smith combine to get Barnsley downfield. A strong carry from Cairns saw Barnsley with penalty advantage and Emery tried a crossfield kick where Barnsley heavily outnumbered their opposition. The WPL winger (giving away around a foot and a half) challenged Will Smith and did fantastic to beat him in the air challenge so Barnsley had to settle for 3 points from the boot of Emery to give them the lead.

Tyler Smith, Terrington and Hobson were rock solid in the scrum and Barnsley had a platform but the line out didn't back it up and a penalty or a good kick getting position repeatedly saw WPL take the ball. Barnsley however were coping comfortably defensively with Fisher winning the physical battle with his opposite number. Appleyard was dealing with WPL kicks and Barnsley looked set to edge the half.

With the last play Barnsley had a ruck near halfway but WPL dislodged the ball. Barnsley protested it was illegal but this fell on deaf ears and WPL sprinted away to score despite the best efforts of Eaden. The conversion was missed but Barnsley were 5-3 down and disappointed to be so.

Barnsley began the second half really well and Reed made good ground before Will Smith & Parker both got them into striking range. With penalty advantage Exley was put in for the corner but the WPL 10 made a great decision to go for the ball rather than the man and knocked it out to save the try. Emery had a kick to give Barnsley the lead but it sailed wide.

Beck caught the 22 and put a lovely chip over to see WPL back in their own 22. Reed was stealing anything overthown by WPL and took another ball and set off. Eaden was quick in support and WPL were reduced to 14 men for cynical play with Barnsley having the overlap. Beck and Emery both guilty of going for the line when spreading the play had more chance of a score.

Barnsley opted for the scrum and despite WPL best efforts Reed picked and eased over to score. Emery converted and everyone hoped Barnsley would see the game out comfortably. Not so.

WPL came back welll and a couple of poor clearing kicked were returned with interest by the WPL 15 which spelled danger. Appleyard and Emery did well to haul him down and Parker also produced some timely defensive efforts.

Green entered the fray for Hobson and scrummed well. Bunny replaced Fisher and Nick Davies made a welcome return to Barnsley colours for Perry as Beck moved to Scrum Half. Davies was straight into the action carrying and making hits but WPLs strong forwards kept battering away.

Last ditch cover tackles from Beck and then Reed saved the day when WPL looked to be away and clear and Barnsley really began to dig in. Old Barnsley favourite Tom Bagnall was in attendance and some choice heckling may well have contributed to a relatively easy pen being missed by WPL.

Emery was shown a yellow card for dissent in protest at a high tackle and Barnsley did look vulnerable but WPL chose to keep kicking for the line out or run penalties but they did not have enough to break a determined line. It seemed a Barnsley player would produce a moment of magic to ease the pressure at every breaking point. Takser with a great steal, Beck onto a ball firing from the scrum and Tyler Smith with one of the few turnover at the ruck deemed as legal when WPL were on the 22.

As the clock ticked down Barnsley looked to control the ball, both Green and Terrington working hard and Reed organising the pack to try and see the game out. When a frustrated WPL forward hit Beck late he saw yellow and the game was up. The ball hammered into touch from the line out and Barnsley celebrated their win. Beck was named man of the match mainly for his defensive work.

Barnsley travel to Old Rishworthians, who they have a great record against, on Saturday and need to add some attacking flair to their defensive efforts. Old Rish sit in a lofty second place after strengthening this summer.

The top three seem to be breaking away at present and Barnsley must target climbing through the chasing pack.

Well done to everyone for delivering on and off the pitch on a very difficult day.