Barnsley 20 West Leeds 30

Barnsley extended hospitality to West Leeds both off and on the field, when the home team allowed a first half lead of 11 points to be over-turned in a second half dominated by the West Leeds back division. This hospitality included a succession of poorly placed kicks that gave possession away, and a low level of fitness which lost the advantages gained in a first half that was dominated by the Barnsley team.

West Leeds are doing really well, and their initial play showed why as they swept into attack. It was good defence by Barnsley that held them out and limited their scoring chances to kicks at goal. The West Leeds full back made sure that the home team were punished for their sins by kicking 3 early penalty goals, but the visitors were unable to cross the home try line.

It was good work by the Barnsley pack that began to take control of the game, and the return of Watt, the redeployment of Iles into the back row and the general forward drive led by skipper Reed, Nick Davis and Todd Cheetham worked well,. They were supported by some powerful running by Gaunt at his best, and he was instrumental in enabling Will Smith to score the opening try of the game converted by Appleyard. It got better as Smith scored again, doing really well to pick up a low pass and beat the opposition to the line. Tom Naisby, Luke Hatfield and Dale Hobson all made inroads into West Leeds who were increasingly driven onto the back foot and Jeff Watt drove forward at every opportunity. Good line out ball was gathered by Tasker and Reed, and the half time score of 12-9 in Barnsley’s favour gave the home fans some confidence.

The second half began where the first had ended, with Gaunt driving through, and Appleyard increased the lead with a good penalty. Another fine move and great handing among the Barnsley backs saw Appleyard score a really good try, and the game should then have been won. Then Watt hobbled off to be replaced by the young Szabo, but West Leeds were still in the game and began to turn the screw. A minor change among their backs, and a surge from their pack as the home team began to tire, was enough to turn the tables. Increasingly desperate, Barnsley lost control, and began to kick the ball away, almost anything to clear their lines, Unfortunately many kicks landed in places where West Leeds speedy backs were waiting, and they ran back with determination and skill to first pull back the Barnsley lead and then overtake it in the last quarter of the game, Three tries in quick succession came from good passing at speed, and Barnsley began to fall off and miss tackles. Chris Beck came in for Wayne Thomas who had another very good game at the back of a Barnsley pack going forward for the first time in weeks…but it was not enough to hold back the advancing Leeds side who ran out deserving winners in the end.

Even allowing for the disappointment of another defeat, this was a much better showing from Barnsley, at least for half the game, and although the remainder of the season is full of tough away fixtures, there are reasons to be cheerful. The spirit shown the endeavour and the skills of the first half were undone by poor game management – why didn’t we oppose their front of line throwing? – and by wayward kicking. All in all a good game of rugby, and a better performance from Barnsley, who next travel to promotion favourites West Park Leeds next weekend.