A STRONG home performance against a combative Barnsley saw North Ribblesdale claim a 24-8 win and claw their way up two places to give them a real chance of avoiding relegation.

Ribb's pack were on top most of the game but once again they were on the wrong end of a stream of penalties or the win would have been even more decisive.

John Thwaite opened the scoring after five minutes with a characteristic burst up the wing for a try in the corner. Mick Thwaite kicked a tremendous conversion.

Unfortunately, Ribb spilled the kick of a gave Barnsley their first taste of possession, and their quick inside centre got over for an unconverted try.

Ribb's pack played well for the next 20 minutes and Mick Carr got Ribb's second try with Mick Thwaite converting.

Barnsley got back into the Ribb half and Barnsley kicked a penalty to take the score to 14-8 to Ribb at half-time.

Ribb started the second half with a try by sub hooker Adam Stubbs but Mick Thwaite narrowly missed the conversion.

Ribb's pack had their best spell of the game with Carr making a lot of ground.

However, Ribb gave away eight penalties in the second half and consequently, despite their forward dominance, were constantly driven back into their own half.

In a rare five minute period when they remained penalty free, they forced their way into the Barnsley 22 and after a series of scrums Carr got over for a deserved try.

Barnsley did keep fighting but Ribb dominated territory for the last 15 minutes and were camped on the Barnsley line, a series of forward rushes could not get over but Nathan Harding at ten called for quick ball and kicked wide to outflank the cover for Kyle Handy to muscle over for a bonus point try.

Ribb are away to Wath this Saturday.