BOTH Barnsley RUFC teams enjoyed excellent away wins.
The men kept their survival hopes alive with a 25-18 win at third-bottom Thornesians. That took them off bottom of Yorkshire Division Three and left them with 15 points from 15 games, and seven to play.
They are two points off Thornesians.
It is unclear whether one or two teams will be relegated this season.
The try-scorers were Simon Lau, Dave Reed, Cuz Mazzini and Brad Wood.
Kieran Hyde kicked a conversion and Joe Perry a penalty.
Captain Danny Eden and Oscar Dyson were both sent off for striking opponents – Dyson along with a home player – while Hyde was given a yellow card for dissent.
Coach Tom Kittrick said: “It was a really good win. We were 15-5 down at half-time.
“We defended for most of the first half.
“We were trying to be too expansive and overplayed. We coughed up possession for one of their tries.
“We calmed the lads down at half-time and asked them to remember why they were all there. We won the second half 20-3. They turned to the dark arts, punching and stamping when the ref couldn’t see. They were trying to distract us and we have to be smarter than getting two red cards.
“We were down to 12 men at the end but didn’t concede any points which was outstanding. The defending was ridiculously good and that’s all we’ve worked on in training.
“It’s pleasing as a coach because they have got the fight.
“You can work with that.”
Barnsley are now due to host third-placed Leeds Corinthians on Saturday before facing bottom five sides Skipton and Burley.
“It’s a big confidence boost. We’ve got a tough game on Saturday against a side fighting for promotion. We want to see a progression in the performance.
“Then we have two big games that we will really target for ten points. We will treat every game as a cup final.
“I am confident we will stay in the league. We’re starting to click and, even though we have injuries, we’re getting consistency in selection.
“We got our third ACL injury of the season on Saturday and we have our first, second and third choice hookers out. The two lads who got sent off will probably get four-week bans.”
Barnsley Ladies won 24-7 at Kenilworth in Championship One North. Hailey Swann and Becky Patrick scored two tries each and Alix Taylor-Roberts kicked two conversions.
They moved up a place to seventh out of ten with 19 points from ten games.
They are nine points clear of the bottom two and are now set to visit Sheffield who are bottom.
Wortley pulled out of their game at Sheffield Medicals in Yorkshire Division Four. Leaders Dearne Valley did not play this week but are now due to visit Hessle on Saturday. They are nine points clear of second-placed Medicals with six games left.
Wath are back in action after a two-week break when they host Birdlington in Yorkshire Division One on Saturday – the first of four successive home matches in February.
