BARROW RAIDERS 18 WIDNES VIKINGS 8
PADDY McATEER, Speed Competitions Stadium, Friday

BARROW scored three tries to two to grind out a sixth win in seven league matches this season in a closely-fought contest.

Widnes tormented the home defence with constant pressure in the first 20 minutes, but the Raiders stood their ground with some great defensive work.

Early on, the Vikings missed a great opportunity when after a neat pass from Joe Lyons, Sam Wilde coughed up the ball five yards from the line.

Widnes were throwing everything at their hosts, but finding a way through was proving difficult, and when former Barrow forward Danny Langtree tried to get Tom Gilmore over, he lost the ball just short.

Then when Jack Owens raced to the line, Matty Costello halted his progress with a crunching tackle.

Barrow rarely got into Widnes territory, and when Brad Walker put in a high kick, Ryan Ince rose to gather and avert the danger.

Then when Brad Walker sent out a long ball to Tee Ritson, Ince intercepted, only to knock on.

Widnes continued to apply pressure but to no avail, while in a Barrow raid, Shane Toal’s inside pass to Ryan Johnston went to ground.

Gilmore put in another high kick, and Luke Broadbent and Curtis Teare got in the way of each other, but possession was lost.

With 29 minutes gone, Widnes finally posted points when a long ball created an overlap for Nathan Connell to dive over. However Gilmore couldn’t covert.

Barrow came more into the game, with Jarrad Stack being halted a foot short.

After a strong drive, Greg Richards was impeded in the tackle, from where Brad Walker kicked through the cover only for the ball to go dead.

In another Widnes raid, Jumah Sambou knocked on, then left the field hobbling.

Seconds before the hooter Barrow made a breakthrough, when Johnston sliced the ball through a gap and Stack swooped to dot it down. Brad Walker tagged on the two for a 6-4 lead.

The second half belonged to Barrow as like Widnes in the first, they had most of the territory and stretched their lead through a brilliant 49th-minute Ritson try, which Brad Walker improved.

Barrow were camped in their own 20-metre area when Toal released the speedy Ritson, who pulled away to romp in from 80 metres.

On a rare occasion when Widnes got out of their own half, Matty Fozard lost the ball.

Stack almost snatched a second try but couldn’t ground cleanly, but it was at the other end that the points came on 66 minutes when from a long ball, Ince flew in wide out, although Gilmore was off target from the tee.

There were only four points in it, but Barrow earned themselves a cushion within four minutes when Teare made a telling break and Luke Cresswell was on his inside to score. Johnston added to conversion.

GAMESTAR: Barrow centre Curtis Teare was strong in defence and created the key late try for Luke Cresswell.

GAMBREAKER: Cresswell’s 70th-minute score, which with Ryan Johnston’s goal made it 18-8.

MATCHFACTS

RAIDERS
1 Luke Cresswell
5 Luke Broadbent
4 Curtis Teare
3 Shane Toal
25 Tee Ritson
6 Brad Walker
7 Ryan Johnston
10 Joe Bullock
9 Josh Wood
8 Tom Walker
11 Ellis Robson
12 Matty Costello
13 Ryan King
Subs (all used)
16 Greg Richards
17 Alex Bishop
30 Jarrad Stack
32 Harvey Makin

Tries: Stack (40), Ritson (49), Cresswell (70)
Goals: B Walker 2/2, Johnston 1/1

VIKINGS
23 Nathan Connell
2 Mike Butt
28 Jumah Sambou
3 Jack Owens
5 Ryan Ince
6 Joe Lyons
7 Tom Gilmore
8 Dan Murray
9 Jordan Johnstone
21 Jay Chapelhow
16 Danny Langtree
11 Sam Wilde
13 Nick Gregson
Subs (all used)
14 Matty Fozard
15 Lewis Hall
18 Morgan McWhirter
19 Adam Lawton

Tries: Connell (29), Ince (66)
Goals: Gilmore 0/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4, 6-4; 12-4, 12-8, 18-8

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Raiders: Curtis Teare; Vikings: Nathan Connell

Penalty count: 6-6
Half-time: 6-4
Referee: Ryan Cox
Attendance: 2,130