Old Grovians 30 - 27 Barnsley

In an enthralling encounter at the home of Old Grovians, the hosts deservedly edged a high scoring and good quality game. The hosts boast a number of potent attacking threats and their ability to keep the ball alive and offload to willing support runners posed constant problems. To their credit Barnsley responded with dogged, determined defence and pushed their hosts to the end when at one point it looked as if Grovians were going to take the game away. Barnsley also created a number of good attacking plays and scored 3 fine tries but this was to be not quite enough and in the end had to settle for a losing bonus point. Shortly before half time Barnsley were reduced to 14 men when centre Joe South was red carded.

There were several good displays for Barnsley with skipper Dave Reed again to the fore and it was he who opened the scoring for the shaw laners with a trademark physical run, brushing off a couple of defenders as he crashed over the line under the posts. The game see-sawed throughout and Dan Eaden tackled everything in a Grovians shirt to keep the game close in the first period. At the back Joe Perry revelled in his return to first team action with an assured display and cleverly making the extra man in attack on a number of occasions. The next score from Barnsley came from scrum half Jacob Lawton who showed a great turn of foot to outpace defenders and scamper over the line. Nick Davies and Arran Tasker continued to make hard yards into the Grovians defence and in the backs Eliot Copley and Will Smith posed problems out wide. Also enjoying a welcome return to first team action Arran Foye scored Barnsley's third try and capped an impressive display with two penalties and 3 conversions to ensure the scoreboard was always close.

Next week the Shaw Laners are again on the road when they make the shorter trip to Pontefract.