Rishies rue missed early chances

Playing at Old Crossleyans’ Broomfield ground because their Copley pitch is still unplayable after the Christmas floods, they dominated the beginning of the Yorkshire Two match.

They might have scored with a move in the backs, but the ball failed to reach the wing.

They had five efforts at catch and drive lineouts, but messed them all up. Four of them were from lineouts after penalties, with at least two of them in very kickable positions.

But their failure to score came back to haunt them.

Barnsley held out and then broke away, even though they had a player yellow carded for a high tackle, and scored with their first raid into the Rishworthian 22.

Initially the home side held firm but a short pass brought an unstoppable forward drive for an unconverted try.

Left wing Anthony Shoesmith almost got in after a good move in the backs. The pressure was maintained and another chance of three points was wasted.

Other than a strong run by Fraser Swarbrooke, Rishworthians did not threaten again and went into the break 5–0 down.

They were much improved in the second half but a number of decisions went against them.

The referee failed to spot a knock-on, which allowed the Barnsley stand-off to kick through and then win the race to touch down a second unconverted try.

Rishworthians fought back. Nick Faulkner gathered the ball in his own 22 and put in a strong run. He got the ball away to supporting centre Taniela Bakoso, who put Shoesmith in under the posts. Josh Kelly converted.

Barnsley scored a converted try with the scrum half darting round the blind side from a scrum near the home line.

Then Rishworthians appeared to score in the corner but the referee brought them back and gave them a penalty which Kelly kicked.

Kelly then made a good break and linked with Bakoso and Shoesmith. The ball came across the field and player-coach Chris Stone put right wing Lee Atkinson away. He got the ball away to supporting fullback Liam Phillips for a try in the corner.

Barnsley came back with a penalty to lead 20-15, but Rishworthians replied in the final minutes with a try, Bakoso bursting through after a lineout drive. Kelly converted to give them a two point lead.

From the restart they attempted to keep the ball tight, but failed to get out of their own half and, having failed to get the ball downfield, gave away a penalty for Barnsley to win the game.