BARROW RAIDERS 16 LEIGH LEOPARDS 8
LORRAINE MARSDEN, Speed Competitions Stadium, Sunday

BARROW finally earned their first win of the season, and with it kept alive their hopes of remaining in Super League by avoiding the dreaded promotion/relegation play-off.

By beating Leigh 16-8, the Raiders are now just two competition points behind the seventh-placed Leopards with three games remaining.

After going so close against Featherstone last weekend, it will have come as a welcome relief to coach Amanda Wilkinson that the Raiders were able to turn a dominating performance into points, and not let their opponents back into the clash in the later stages.

Once again, Barrow got off to the best possible start when Leah Clough stormed over inside the opening two minutes, with Nicole Stewart landing the conversion.

Despite both teams’ best efforts, there was no further score until just after the half-hour mark, when two tries came in as many minutes.

The first went to Leigh’s Storm Cobain, who touched down in the right corner, before the hosts immediately retained possession from the restart, worked the ball downfield and sent substitute Jodie Crawford over.

Stewart missed the conversion, as Melvin, on her 50th appearance for the Leopards, had for Leigh, and Barrow went into the break with a 10-4 advantage.

Barrow further increased their lead 15 minutes after the restart when Stewart got the ball away to Emma Hutchinson on the wing to score in the corner.

Stewart’s conversion attempt initially hit the crossbar before going over to give the hosts an important two-score advantage.

And it was a lead they held onto despite Leigh having the final word with ten minutes remaining.

When Barrow were penalised for offside, the visitors took full advantage with Nicole Barnett the quickest to react to a grubber kick and subsequently touching down. Melvin was once again off target, but it mattered little as Barrow held on.

RAIDERS: 19 Blossom Howell, 2 Chloe Capstick, 3 Emily Stirzaker, 17 Kelly Friend, 5 Emma Hutchinson, 13 Nicole Stewart, 7 Beth Pattinson, 16 Mia Dobson, 14 Leah Cottier, 10 Jodie Morley, 8 Leah Clough, 11 Lucy Dickinson, 26 Darcy Southward. Subs (all used – only three named): 15 Jodie Crawford, 18 Megan Mayhew-Beach, 23 Kendall Dutton

Tries: L Clough (2), Crawford (33), E Hutchinson (55); Goals: Stewart 2/3

LEOPARDS: 2 Toryn Blackwood, 3 Nicole Barnett, 29 Caitlin Padgett, 27 Rachel Lane, 17 Macy McDermott, 1 Hattie Dogus, 13 Storm Cobain, 8 Eleanor Dainty, 14 Abi Gordon, 16 Lucy Johnson, 12 Charlotte Melvin, 28 Hollie Bawden, 19 Libby Wall. Subs (all used): 10 Mairead Quinn, 21 Olivia Hill, 23 Albany-D Coates, 28 Andrea O’Leary

Tries: Cobain (32), Barnett (69); Goals: Melvin 0/2

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

Half-time: 10-4; Referee: Jack Woolass