Rishworthians back to winning ways in Yorkshire Two after late success

It took a try with the last move of the game and then a coolly taken conversion by Josh Kelly to snatch what at times had looked an unlikely victory.

It was a vital win to restore confidence and keep their promotion challenge on track in a game in which they seemed to lack cohesion and made far too many unforced errors against a side desperately fighting for survival.

Asked how they managed to maintain their promotion challenge, assistant coach Morley Hilton had the perfect answer: “We are maintaining second position because we play to the end.”

That was exactly the case as Rishworthians found themselves trailing 25–20 with five minutes to go after a try was given despite an unseen blatant knock-on.

It set up a determined effort to salvage the game. Left wing Anthony Shoesmith went over in the corner only to be called back for an earlier infringement.

They continued to press inspired by great runs from replacement Gerard Rollings, who injected new life into his side.

As time ran out he took play close to the home line on the right, before it was sent across the field for No 8 Jacob Bower to burst through and touch down. Kelly made no mistake with the pressure kick to seal victory.

The game started poorly for Rishworthians as relegation-threatened Barnsley denied them any early possession and took the lead with a penalty. Kelly soon responded to level the scores, but the visitors then failed to deal with the restart kick and a lucky bounce brought a converted try in the corner.

They came back well, flanker Simanu Tusiga giving them good position with a strong run before the ball went out only for the last pass to go astray with the line beckoning.

Tusiga was almost in as the ball squirted back over the line from a home scrum, but the bounce beat him. From the resulting scrum Rishworthians got a penalty, which was quickly taken by Bower and the ball went out for Shoesmith, coming in off his wing with a trademark move to score. Kelly added the conversion to level.

Soon after the restart Barnsley regained the lead with a penalty. Rishworthians then played their best period of the match with good movements by the backs before Bower burst through with a 40-yard run, being stopped just short of the line. He was able to offload however for supporting flanker Ethan Pollard to score. Kelly converted.

More unforced errors and penalties led to a Barnsley unconverted try after a catch and drive attempt was initially held but the home pack then managed to force their way over.

To make things worse the half ended 18–17 with a yellow card for prop Luke Illingworth.

The second half saw more errors from Rishworthians until a great turnover by hooker Toby Muscat-Baron led to a penalty and Kelly made it 18 – 20.

A determined Barnsley hit back and scored a converted try after a series of phases, during one of which the ball was clearly knocked forward, but unseen by the referee.

It looked as if Rishworthians might have to settle for a losing bonus point, but their never give up attitude saw them through with Bower’s fine try and Kelly’s conversion.

The Development team beat Selby 43–0 on the second pitch at Copley. There were three tries for wing Lewis Taylor and others for Stevie Richardson, Oliver Marshall, Jamie Barraclough and Finn Sutcliffe, who kicked four conversions.