Barnsley RUFC could win their basement battle with Knottingley tomorrow and still finish bottom of Yorkshire League One.

The Shaw Laners were beaten 45-16 at York on Saturday and slipped into last place, behind Knottingley who beat North Ribblesdale to go four points ahead of Barnsley.

The town team will complete their season with a home game against Knottingley on Saturday and need to win by more than seven points and score at least four tries in order to go a point clear of them. Even if they do that, Knottingley could still finish above Barnsley if they win their final match of the season at Bridlington on May 11.

Although the relegation zone is the bottom two, the league is set to review how many teams go down to Yorkshire League Two at the end of the season and the Shaw Laners were hoping they would be saved if they avoid finishing bottom.

Barnsley took the lead at York with a penalty by Andrew Appleyard in the 11th minute but the hosts took control of the match between 18 and 24 minutes when they scored three tries, two of which were converted, to take a 13-3 lead.

Appleyard slotted his second penalty of the day but York scored another try just before the break to make it 24-6 at half-time. Two further converted tries early in the second half made it 38-6 before Todd Cheetham got Barnsley's first touchdown which was not converted. York got their seventh try of the match then Appleyard crossed for a consolation score with two minutes remaining.