BARNSLEY Woolley Miners are pleased to be safe with three games to play but sad to see near neighbours Elsecar relegated out of the top flight.
Both clubs’ fates were confirmed this week with the Shaw Laners – who were bottom of the league in June – improving significantly in the second half of the season.
Captain Liam Johnson said: “We needed four points to stay up and took 12.
“It’s good to be safe but it doesn’t change our mentality going into the last three games – we want three wins.
“If we do that then, all of a sudden, we’re fifth and it’s not as bad a season as we think we’ve had.
“It’s much tighter than usual in the middle of the table.
“We’d like to prove we’ve been in a false position for most of the season.
“We were bottom at about halfway so we’ve done well to turn it around.
“It’s been a good learning curve.”
Elsecar have been demoted into the Championship for next season.
Johnson said: “We’ve all been in the league for a while and we’re pally.
“We get on with Elsecar.
“It’s sad to see a club of their stature go down.
“They are a brilliant club.
“They will bounce back, I have no doubt about that.
“We’ve got to play them still and it’s never an easy game.”
Barnsley bowled hosts Sheffield Collegiate out for 123 defending 171.
Oliver Jackson took four for ten off ten overs and Adam Copley claimed three wickets.
Johnson said: “It’s a good result.
“It’s always tough going to Collegiate. They have not had a season up to their standards and nor have we.
“It was a tough pitch, and their spinners bowled well.
“We were happy with 171 and thought it was enough.
“That proved to be the case.
“Oliver Jackson was back to his best.
“When he gets a wicket in his favour, he’s unplayable.
“Adam Copley and Ali Jahangir chipped in. It was a good all-around bowling performance.”
Opener Jacob Cumming played his final game for the club on Saturday, and will now return to New Zealand.
The 20-year-old averaged 29 from 24 innings with four half-centuries. He also took 23 wickets.
Johnson said: “It’s the first time we’ve not gone with a ready-made overseas who wins us a lot of games.
“We’ve gone with a young kid who will be a good player in New Zealand state cricket.
“His attitude has been class.
“Younger players have had to step up and they have done that.”
Elsecar won by 50 runs at home to Shiregreen, a third straight win, but are 26 points off safety with only 24 to play for in the last two games.
Arsalan Mir scored 77 and Tanzeel Ali 50 in Elsecar’s 244 then Haider Jahangir took five wickets and Mir three.
Cawthorne fell 100 runs short chasing 298 at Wakefield Thornes.
Archie Greaves took three wickets then Tom Jones made 50.
Third-bottom Cawthorne are 21 points clear of second-bottom Treeton with two games left, and there are 12 points for a win, so they could still be overtaken.
The two clubs are due to meet on the final day at Treeton.
