BARROW RAIDERS 14 FEATHERSTONE ROVERS 22
LORRAINE MARSDEN, Speed Competitions Stadium, Saturday

BARROW RAIDERS once again came agonisingly close to their first win of the season, but ultimately penalties cost them against Featherstone Rovers, who clung on at the end to claim the points.

It was a nip and tuck affair for much of the opening hour, but it was the bottom-placed side that were in front at the break.

And it was a well deserved lead, after they started strongly and opened the scoring after just four minutes.

On the back of a Rovers knock-on, Barrow earned strong field position and the ball found its way to Nicole Stewart, playing in an unusual position in the halves, who threw a dummy and then crossed.

Stewart then added the conversion, but was not able to do the same just over five minutes later after Vanessa Temple intercepted a Rovers pass to race 40 metres for Barrow’s second.

But Rovers soon hit back and took advantage of poor Barrow discipline to gain valuable field position and allow Ellie Lamb to go it at the corner. The kick was missed, but Featherstone kept pressing and, with just four minutes left of the half, they took advantage of more penalties when Nat Carr went in at the corner.

Barrow had the final say of the half though when Stewart’s pinpoint kick hit the post and bounced back into her path for her to touch it down. Again she was off target with the conversion but the hosts went in 14-8 up at the break.

Two minutes after the restart Tilly Churm pulled Featherstone back to within two points, and they eventually took the lead eight minutes later when Beth Macmillan crossed after Barrow had been called offside on their own line.

Perhaps crucially the visitors took a two point lead with just over 20 remaining when Emillie Holmes crashed over with Brogan Churm adding their first successful conversion.

Blossom Howell thought she’d pulled one back for Barrow, but the referee called an obstruction in the build up, and as hard as they tried, Featherstone kept them out and held on for a second consecutive win in the Shield.

RAIDERS: 1 Sam Norman, 2 Chloe Capstick, 3 Emily Stirzaker, 5 Emma Hutchinson, 19 Blossom Howell, 13 Nicole Stewart, 7 Bethany Pattinson, 15 Jodie Crawford, 14 Leah Cottier, 10 Jodie Morley, 8 Leah Clough, 12 Vanessa Temple, 9 Beth Lindsay. Subs (all used): 16 Mia Dobson, 11 Lucy Dickinson, 18 Megan Mayhew-Beach, 21 Hannah Thompson

Tries: Stewart (4, 39), Temple (10); Goals: Stewart 1/3

ROVERS: 13 Beth Macmillan, 2 Ellie Lamb, 3 Chloe Billington, 4 Lydia Fawkes, 21 Nat Carr, 6 Charley Blackburn, 7 Liv Grace, 8 Katie Evans, 13 Dani Waters, 14 Gabby Harrison, 11 Tilly Churm, 16 Kacey Davies, 12 Brogan Churm, Subs (all used): 10 Emillie Holmes, 29 Cerys Gregory, 24 Sammy Watts, 31 Tessa Benmalek

Tries: Lamb (19), Carr (36), T Churm (42), Macmillan (51), Holmes (62); Goals: Waters 0/1, Watts 0/3, B Churm 1/1

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 10-0, 10-4, 10-8, 14-8; 14-12, 14-16, 14-22

Half-time: 14-8; Referee: James Broomhead