BARNSLEY RUFC men ended a ten-game losing run with a 15-13 success at home to mid-table Rotherham Phoenix.

They moved off the bottom of the Yorkshire Division Three table to second-bottom with ten points from 13 games. They are unsure as yet whether one team or two will be relegated into Yorkshire Division Four.

Barnsley are hoping the Christmas break will give them time to calm down an injury crisis which has seen them missing as many as 22 players for some games.

Oscar Dyson and Harry Harvey scored tries with Joe Perry kicking a penalty and a conversion.

Coach Tom Kittrick said: “It’s a relief. A win will give us a lot more confidence.

“We played well. We were disciplined. At the start of the second half, we had two lads in the sin bin but managed it really well. We scored with a great bit of play to go into the lead with five minutes left then it was touch and go but we got the win.

“We had people back in the positions we want to play them in and our forwards were outstanding.

“Up until the last two games, which have been a no contest and we haven’t scored, we haven’t been far off. So to finish before Christmas with a win and get off the bottom was what everyone needed.

“We had about 16 players out including some really big players for us. But a lot of them are back after Christmas which gives us competition for places.

“Training will start to matter.”

With nine games to play, Barnsley are six points adrift of of third-bottom Thornesians who they are due to visit in their next match on January 4.

“Thornesians is a big game. If we win there, it will put us in touching distance. Losing became a habit but winning is a habit as well so we need to back up this win with another.

"At the minimum we need some points from that game. We want to get something from every game and keep clawing our way up the table.”

Barnsley Ladies lost 43-14 at home to leaders Buckingham Swans in Championship North One. That left them third-bottom in the second tier of English rugby with 14 points from nine games which is the halfway point. They are nine clear of the bottom two.

Wath completed their 2024, which included promotion to Yorkshire Division One, with a 26-12 loss at home to West Leeds.

Wath are now sixth with six wins and seven losses from 13 matches.

Dearne Valley won 8-7 in their top-of-the-table Yorkshire Division Four clash with Sheffield Medicals.

Antony Hamilton scored a try and Steve Shaw kicked a penalty.

Dearne extended their lead at the top to nine points, having won ten of their 11 games, with seven to play.

Wortley are up to third after a home walkover against bottom club Knottingley.