BARROW RAIDERS 26 SHEFFIELD EAGLES 10
PADDY McATEER, Speed Competitions Stadium, Sunday

RYAN KING crossed on 73 minutes to finally put the tie out of Sheffield’s reach and end their play-off involvement.

The Eagles were dealt a blow pre-match when key player Jordan Abdull pulled out during the warm-up because of a hamstring injury, meaning Lennie Ellis came into the halves.

Barrow took an early lead with a Ryan Johnston penalty-goal, the first of five kicks from five attempts by the scrum-half.

But the Raiders came under pressure after losing possession in their own 30, and they had to scramble to halt Josh Hodson two yards out.

It then took four defenders to stop Martyn Reilly crossing before Barrow added to their tally when Curtin Teare broke and released Andrew Bulman, who pulled away from the cover to race over for Johnston to convert.

However from the restart, Alex Bishop knocked on, again leading to pressure from Sheffield, only for Reilly to spill the ball as he tried to cross.

At the other end, Johnston thought he had scored after his high kick was palmed back inside by Teare, but it was ruled that the latter had knocked on.

On 27 minutes, Barrow were sluggish after a Sheffield play the ball ten yards out and Kieran Gill went down the short side for Billy Walkley to ease through a huge gap.

Teare then pulled off try-saving tackles on Gill, close to the home line, and Walkey, as he tore upfield.

Ten minutes into the second period, Barrow’s pressure paid off as Greg Richards forced his way over wide out, Johnston doing well to land the goal.

On 47 minutes, Gill went in wide out, but the try was ruled out due to an obstruction in the build-up.

Just before the hour, Joe Bullock thundered through from 15 metres to dot the ball down as Barrow swept the ball across the field, and the goal made it 20-4.

But on 63 minutes, a loose ball was gathered by Gill, who went 50 yards to score, Connor Bower converting.

Reiss Butterworth looked likely to reduce the arrears further, but Johnston and Luke Broadbent pulled off a fine tackle.

Barrow put the game to bed when King drove strongly and fended off would-be tacklers to score, with Johnston again accurate from the tee.

GAMESTAR: Barrow’s Ryan Johnston had a fine all-round game and kicked five goals.

GAMEBREAKER: Ryan King’s 73rd-minute try for the Raiders.

MATCHFACTS

RAIDERS
1 Luke Cresswell
2 Andrew Bulman
4 Curtis Teare
12 Matty Costello
5 Luke Broadbent
17 Alex Bishop
7 Ryan Johnston
10 Joe Bullock
9 Josh Wood
33 Brad Singleton
15 Charlie Emslie
11 Ellis Robson
13 Ryan King
Subs (all used)
6 Brad Walker
16 Greg Richards
22 Harvey Makin
32 Jarrad Stack

Tries: Bulman (17), Richards (50), Bullock (59), King (73)
Goals: Johnston 5/5

EAGLES
28 Greg Eden
2 Joe Brown
19 Will Oakes
4 Kieran Gill
5 Billy Walkley
6 Kian Morgan
18 Lennie Ellis
22 Masi Matongo
9 Corey Johnston
10 Martyn Reilly
11 Connor Bower
3 Josh Hodson
15 George Griffin
Subs (all used)
13 Jack Bussey
14 Reiss Butterworth
17 Harry Bowes
20 Lewis Peachey

Tries: Walkley (27), Gill (63)
Goals: Bower 1/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 2-0, 8-0, 8-4; 14-4, 20-4, 20-10, 26-10

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Raiders: Ryan Johnston; Eagles: Martyn Reilly

Penalty count: 5-7
Half-time: 8-4
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas
Attendance: 1,103