Barnsley 34

North Ribblesdale 32

THIS was a topsy-turvy game until the result rested on a difficult conversion where the kicker had to ascend a slope to kick the ball.

Sadly for Ribb in the last minute this kick to draw the match was short.

Ribb put themselves under pressure in the first 10 minutes when weak tackling let in two early tries, while Ribb did bounce back with a penalty try when Omari Kaup-Samuels was headtackled into touch.

The visitors made a sparkling start, with penetrative back play and ball for both wingers.

Ribb scored first when Tom Frik put the ball into the corner. Ribb won the ball and got a penalty for offside which Nathan Harding converted with a fine strike.

Barnsley regained the ball from the kick-off and showed the strong running feature of their game when second row Reed burst through the middle handing on to Davies, who scored wide out with a fine conversion from Smith.

Ribb responded and a fiery burst by Ryan Sumner made space for Matt Speres to go over halfway out, converted by Harding.

Ribb showed their best attacking play of the match with Frik making another raking kick, forcing Barnlet to scramble the ball into touch.

The visitors drove from the line-out, but lost the ball over the line. The 22 went deep from a Ribb throw the ball was lost. Ribb's usually reliable midfield defence was opened and French scored, with the accurate Smith converting.

Just before half time poor tackling from Ribb let O'Loughlin score from 50 yards which Smith converted. Ribb's Ray Fromm went off with an eye injury.

Barnsley started the second half with a 10-minute period of retaining possession culminating in a penalty for Smith followed by a try for second row Reed, converted by Smith.

At 31-17 the game looked lost but Ribb, now depleted further by the loss of Speres with a shoulder injury, battled away with sub James Bradley working hard with Jim Tunney in the back row.

On 70 minutes a strong run by Ryan Sumner made space for Howarth to get round his man to score in the corner for an unconverted try.

Almost from the kick-off Ribb were back into the home half. They rumbled a line-out over with Fromm scoring for another unconverted try.

Ribb were back in the game, but Sith kicked a long range penalty to push them further ahead.

Ribb had the last word and, in the last minutes, Howarth was put away again, he went round the cover and scored in the corner with the conversion missed the game finished 34-32.