BARNSLEY RUFC suffered a seventh successive loss this week but remain confident of another great escape from relegation once a ‘freak’ injury crisis clears up.
The Shaw Laners were beaten 29-3 at fellow strugglers at West Park Leeds in Yorkshire Division Three.
They are second-bottom with six points from nine games, leaving them ten points adrift in the bottom two.
Coach Tom Kittrick said: “It’s been a freak season with injuries.
“I have coached rugby at all levels for more than a decade and never known a season like it. It’s been horrendous.
“We have had no consistency all year and never got anywhere near our strongest team.
“At one point we had 19 players out.
“We get one or two back fit then lose another two. On Saturday we had players go down with a broken collarbone and torn quad. It feels like we are pushing water up hill.
“We’re having to play a lot of players out of position, where they have never played before. Some players are playing in the first team who aren’t really ready. That’s hampering their development a little bit and affecting their confidence.
“At the start of pre-season, the numbers were really good and we were aiming to get two teams out this season. We’ve got nowhere near that.”
Barnsley lost their first seven games of last season, and 29 in a row in total after losing every game in the relegation campaign the previous year. But they put a strong run together and stayed up. They are now likely to need something similar.
Kittrick said: “It’s very frustrating and everyone is feeling it.
“But we just have to keep positive.
“We are showing glimpses in games.
“At West Park Leeds, we scored just before half-time which would have made it 12-10 but the referee ruled it out.
“They scored a try just after half-time and we were deflated. That was it.
“The players are understanding we are in a fight again. But a big chunk of our injured players will be back in the next three weeks. We have Castleford on Saturday, which will be tough, then two weeks off so, after that, we should have a much stronger team and I think our fortunes will change.
“I am confident that, when we get everyone back, we can move away from the relegation zone.
“With the squad we built this year, we were aiming to push at the top end.
“But we haven’t had that team out.
“We have just got to worry about us and not the league table. One result can give us real momentum.”
It is unclear how many teams will be relegated this season. Kittrick said: “Only one went down last season.
“It usually depends on how many want to come up from Yorkshire Four but I think there are some ambitious teams down there. We just have to make sure we’re not in the bottom two at the end of the season.”
Barnsley Ladies are due back in action after a two-week break when they visit bottom club Bishop Auckland on Sunday.
The Shaw Laners have won two and lost four of their six games in Championship One North, leaving them 13 points clear of the bottom two.
Wath lost 34-28 at home to Hullensians in Yorkshire Division One.
Sean Hopper, Luke Stead, Brandon Coult and James Dobson scored tries, all converted by Jack Whitlam.
Wath came from 20-7 down to lead 21-20 but conceded two more converted tries before scoring another of their own.
Wath are now sixth with 24 points from nine games. They are due to visit third-placed Keighley on Saturday.
Dearne Valley won 27-8 at home to Maltby in Yorkshire Division Four.
Kyle Finan and Sam Holt scored tries with Steve Shaw converting one and adding five penalties.
Dearne are first in the table with six wins from seven games. They now visit Stocksbridge on Saturday.
Wortley are due back in action after three weeks off when they visit Maltby on Saturday.
