HUNSLET 24 BARROW RAIDERS 29
ALFIE INGRAM, South Leeds Stadium, Sunday

BARROW remain third in the Championship table after a hard-fought win against Hunslet.

They went into half-time with a 15-2 lead, and although Hunslet fought hard the Raiders took advantage of the Parksiders’ defensive errors, and converted their penalties to hang on for their sixth win of the season.

Hunslet made a positive start to the game, earning good field position and Billy Jowitt was unlucky not to get over the line early on with a decent drive towards the corner.

Dan Knott then went over in the corner for Barrow six minutes in, but a forward pass in the build-up meant the try was disallowed.

Hunslet then won a penalty soon after, which was put away by Jowitt to open the scoring.

The Parksiders looked sharp, and appeared to be on the front foot early on, although it wasn’t to last, however, as the Raiders secured their first score of the day through Ryan King, who made the most of a lost Hunslet ball five metres out to force his way over the line.

Barrow won a controversial penalty 20 metres out, which Ellis Archer put over, and Brad Walker added a field-goal to put them seven points ahead.

And they capitalised on a short kick-off moments later to extend their lead, as Luke Cresswell broke through the Parksiders’ defence to go over underneath the posts. Archer kicked his third goal, giving the Raiders a 13-point half-time lead.

Early into the second half, Hunslet almost went over through Zak Lloyd in the corner, but the Raiders’ defence held firm. Minutes later, they had worked the ball up to the other end of the pitch, and an excellent cut-out pass from ten metres out left Curtis Teare in space for the try to put them 21-2 ahead.

Hunslet began to return the pressure, and eventually it paid off, as Lee Gaskell found a gap in the defence to score their first try.

And minutes later the Parksiders earned a second, as Charlie Graham slid through a gap in the Raiders’ defence in a brilliant solo effort. Jowitt could not convert, however.

Just when it appeared that the tide could be turning for Hunslet, the Raiders caught their defence napping, and Ritson was found on the left wing with no defence in front of him for an easy try.

In the 72nd minute, Barrow were also awarded a penalty, which Brad Walker converted. 

Despite the score, the Parksiders were still in the game, and Graham scored a second try with five minutes to go with another quality diving effort in the right corner. Jowitt once again converted.

With just a couple of minutes remaining, Jowitt drove through the defence to score in the corner, and he also converted his own try to put the pressure on Barrow in the last few minutes.

Hopes of a late comeback were high, but despite their spirited fight back, the full-time whistle blew, and Barrow hung on for the victory. 

GAMESTAR: Despite being on the losing side, Charlie Graham looked brilliant on the wing for Hunslet.

GAMEBREAKER: Tee Ritson’s 66th-minute try meant that Hunslet would have to really put in the work in the final 15 minutes if they wanted to get a result.

MATCHFACTS

HUNSLET
1 Billy Jowitt
– Bureta Faraimo
27 Charlie Graham
3 Myles Harrop
21 Mackenzie Turner
6 Lee Gaskell
7 Dan Abram
8 Harvey Hallas
36 Isaac Misky
38 Tom Nicholson-Watton
11 Harrison Gilmore
12 Darcy Simpson
13 Eddie Battye
Subs (all used)
14 Cam Berry
15 Emmerson Whittel
35 Zak Lloyd
44 Gadwin Springer

Tries: Gaskell (54), Graham (57, 76), Jowitt (78)
Goals: Jowitt 4/5

RAIDERS
1 Luke Cresswell
20 Dan Knott
4 Curtis Teare
3 Shane Toal
25 Tee Ritson
6 Brad Walker
30 Ellis Archer
10 Joe Bullock
9 Josh Wood
8 Tom Walker
11 Ellis Robson
12 Matt Costello
13 Ryan King
Subs (all used)
16 Greg Richards
17 Alex Bishop
24 Jarrad Stack
– Harvey Makin

Tries: King (18), Cresswell (40), Teare (46), Ritson (66)
Goals: Archer 4/4, B Walker 2/2
Field-goals: B Walker (38)

SCORING SEQUENCE: 2-0, 2-6, 2-8, 2-9, 2-15; 2-21, 8-21, 12-21, 12-27, 12-29, 18-29, 24-29

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Hunslet: Charlie Graham; Raiders: Brad Walker

Penalty count: 3-4
Half-time: 2-15
Referee: Carl Hughes
Attendance: 746