DEARNE Valley RUFC are the champions of Yorkshire Division Four and want to be in Division One within the next five years.

The Bolton-upon-Dearne club were given a walkover win at home to Knottingley on Saturday, a 14th victory in 15 league games this season which meant they had an unassailable lead at the top with three games left.

It is their first season at this level.

Director of rugby Callum Emery said: “Our five-year plan is to be in Yorkshire One.

“Some of our players could easily play at Yorkshire Two or Yorkshire One.

“We want to show we are not a one-hit wonder and we’re here for the long-term to do something special.

“Next year might be more of a consolidation year in Yorkshire Three.

“We need to build the playing group with a second team and some youth teams.

“We’ve signed an agreement with Barnsley College to create a pathway for younger players.”

The club was registered in September 2023 and spent a season in the Yorkshire Merit Leagues.

Emery said: “It’s a big group of mates who played together as kids at Rotherham, Wath and Barnsley.

“But a load of lads fell out of the game due to work or university.

“We went out for a few beers in the summer of 2023 and joked about setting a club up. It’s snowballed from there and we’ve been registered for 18 months. We have had massive help from Dearne Valley Bulldogs, sharing their facilities.

“I don’t think it’s ever been done – 18 months from being formed to going up from Yorkshire Four.

“We’ve played against clubs who have been going for years and years and been as high at Yorkshire Two.

“It’s crazy what we’ve done.”

Dearne could be in the same division as Barnsley next season if the Shaw Laners stay in Yorkshire Division Three.

Emery said: “It will be good to play Barnsley and other big clubs.

“It will be a really good test. They are the kind of clubs you really enjoy getting a win over.”

Dearne were disappointed not to win the league by playing a game, as the bottom club withdrew.

Emery said: “We all knew when we had Knottingley that maybe this would happen because they haven’t travelled much and given away quite a few away walkovers.

“We didn’t want it to happen like that but to win the league with three games remaining is pleasing.

“Consistency has been the key.

“It’s very rare at this level that teams have gameplans, structures and an identity. We have that no matter who is missing. Our focus was to go straight up this season. I knew if we were 70 per cent on it, we would get promoted.”

Meanwhile, Wortley lost 43-5 at home to Hessle and are second-bottom.

Barnsley lost 19-14 at Burley in Yorkshire Division Three, ending a three-game winning run.

Mitch Lofthouse and Dave Reed scored tries converted by George England.

That left them still third-bottom with 25 points from 18 games and four to play. They are three points clear of the bottom two.

Barnsley Ladies won 41-12 at home to second-bottom Bishop Auckland in Championship North One.

Jess Taylor-Roberts scored a hat-trick of tries while Becky Patrick, Jasmin Brankin, Amy Moxon and Danie Tierney also touched down. Alix Taylor-Roberts added three conversions.

The Shaw Laners – who have won all three games in 2025 – have 29 points from 12 games, and six to play.

Wath won 33-3 at home to Harrogate Pythons in Yorkshire Division One.

Rory Anderson, Luke Stead, Anthony Davies and debutant Isaac Winstanley scored tries with a penalty try awarded and Jack Whitlam adding three conversions.

Wath are sixth with 39 points from 18 games.

They have four league fixtures remaining and are due to host Beverley in the Yorkshire Shield on Saturday.