HALIFAX PANTHERS 20 BARROW RAIDERS 28
EMMA KENNEDY, The Shay, Sunday

ALFIE JOHNSON’S quartet of tries proved in vain as Barrow claimed their first win at The Shay in 15 years.

Halifax, who used just 15 players during the match, had started strongly, but proved the masters of their own downfall through unforced errors and ill-discipline.

Barrow were boosted by the returns of halfbacks Ryan Johnston and Brad Walker, the latter registering a perfect afternoon from the tee after having recovered from a calf injury that had kept him sidelined for the previous two matches.

Halifax, who were only able to name three substitutes after losing Lloyd Roby to illness, started strongly, taking the lead in the fourth minute when Ben Will broke through on the left before releasing Johnson into the corner.

The pair combined again for the hosts’ second try on ten minutes after Barrow had been penalised close to their line, Johnson collecting Will’s cut-out pass to score out wide in a near carbon-copy of the first try.

With Darius Carter unable to convert either from the touchline, the Raiders cut the gap to two after Halifax had made a horror show of the kick-off, with Ellis Gillam proving too strong from close range before Walker added the first of his six goals.

The Panthers, able to consistently make metres thanks to a quick play-the-ball, remained on top, but Carter was stopped short on the last before Andrew Bulman tipped a cut-out pass intended for Johnson into touch.

Halifax though couldn’t make that field position count, with Jesse Soric opting to run the ball inside despite having a free left-edge at his disposal.

And Barrow quickly made them pay.

Consecutive Walker penalties saw the Raiders hit the front for the first time six minutes before the break before Charlie Emslie twisted across from close range to extend their lead to 16-8.

Halifax continued to be the masters of their own downfall, making the worst possible start to the second half when Adam O’Brien put the kick-off out of play.

Broadbent and Bulman combined well to send the latter into the right corner, with Walker nailing a difficult touchline goal.

Johnson was denied a long-range score after referee Matty Lynn spotted a knock-on, but soon completed his hat-trick after Barrow had given away a cheap penalty, Carter’s conversion bringing the score back to 22-14.

The hosts looked to have gone back-to-back when Will sent Carter into space, but the Raiders’ left-edge defence denied him what looked a certain try.

Instead, Barrow edged further ahead just after the hour when Carter dropped the ball as he was tackled on his 20-metre line, Emslie taking several Halifax defenders with him across the line next to the posts.

Momentum though swung back in the hosts’ favour, with Johnson cutting the deficit with a fine individual effort after Jarrad Stack’s sin bin with five minutes remaining. With Carter substituted, the winger converted.

It was all hands on deck for Barrow in a grandstand finish, but time ultimately ran out on Halifax.

GAMESTAR: Ben Will was outstanding from fullback, proving a thorn in the Raiders’ side throughout.

GAMEBREAKER: Brad Walker’s quick-fire penalty-goals shortly before half time saw Barrow take control.

MATCHFACTS

PANTHERS
3 Ben Will
4 Alfie Johnson
22 Darius Carter
19 Zack McComb
2 Ben Tibbs
9 Adam O’Brien
6 Jesse Soric
33 Delaine Gittens-Bedward
7 Curtis Davies
16 Jimmy Morgan
15 Connor Davies
13 Jacob Fairbank
21 Ben Forster
Subs
8 Will Calcott
24 Lukas Stableman-Blue
29 Riley Thompson (not used)

Tries: Johnson (4, 10, 52, 75)
Goals: Carter 1/3, Johnson 1/1

RAIDERS
1 Luke Cresswell
2 Andrew Bulman
22 Jarrad Stack
5 Luke Broadbent
20 Dan Knott
6 Brad Walker
7 Ryan Johnston
8 Tom Walker
9 Josh Wood
33 Brad Singleton
15 Charlie Emslie
32 Ellis Gillam
13 Ryan King
Subs (all used)
16 Greg Richards
17 Alex Bishop
18 Finn McMillan
19 Seth Woodend

Tries: Gillam (13), Emslie (36, 61), Bulman (41)
Goals: B Walker 6/6
Sin bin: Stack (73) – late tackle

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 8-0, 8-6, 8-8, 8-10, 8-16; 8-22, 14-22, 14-28, 20-28

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Panthers: Ben Will; Raiders: Luke Cresswell

Penalty count: 7-8
Half-time: 8-16
Referee: Matty Lynn
Attendance: 1,434