BARROW RAIDERS 25 DONCASTER 26
PADDY McATEER, Speed Competitions Stadium, Wednesday

A 78TH-MINUTE high tackle proved costly for Barrow as the boot of Connor Robinson sealed a one-point victory for Doncaster with a 40-yard penalty-goal.

It was a grand old tussle with both of these high-flying teams giving their all on a hot night at Craven Park.

Barrow came up against a Doncaster team who had a stroll in the park with a 120-0 victory over North Wales three days earlier.

That was a club-record margin of victory – but this one-point win will surely have tasted even sweeter.

It was a highly entertaining game with the lead changing hands on eight occasions.

Barrow nudged ahead 25-24 on 62 minutes and it was all to play for with both teams firing on all cylinders.

The Raiders looked like they were to complete the double after winning 36-12 at Doncaster in May, until that late Robinson goal.

Barrow first threatened when Ryan Johnston’s kick was knocked on by Mitieli Vulikijapani. Josh Wood set up a raid only for Robinson to get a hand to the ball and knock on.

From the scrum, Alex Bishop was taken high, resulting in Johnston kicking a penalty-goal.

Within four minutes a long pass from Bishop saw Luke Broadbent race through on the angle, and he fed Luke Cresswell who passed on for Josh Wood to score, with the conversion from Johnston making it 8-0.

Edene Gebbie reverted to fullback from the wing and made a fine break only for the cover to halt his progress.

But the Dons soon opened their account when Connor Jones sliced through the home defence to dot the ball down.

Ellis Gillam was held up for the home side and a minute later Curtis Teare broke through but the cover was on hand to prevent further damage.

Doncaster looked dangerous each time with ball in hand and went ahead when Gebbie made a telling break, and on his
shoulder was Jones again. With Robinson converting both those tries, his side were ahead 12-8.

Barrow soon responded when a slick pass from Bishop found Joe Bullock and the big prop crashed through from close range, with Johnston’s goal putting the home team back in front.

Two minutes from the break, Doncaster were caught offside and Johnston added to the punishment by not only kicking the penalty but then, on the hooter, following up with a field-goal to make it 17-12.

The second half was barely four minutes old when Muizz Mustapha scattered defenders to dot the ball down, Robinson adding the goal to put Doncaster back in front by one.

But that lasted just three minutes as Fin Dutton-Rosconie’s fine pass found Ryan King on the charge to crash over, Johnston adding the extra two points for 23-18.

It was nip and tuck, and Barrow’s defence worked overtime to halt a strong Doncaster set of forwards making progress with Mustapha leading the raids along with Gebbie.

In the 52nd minute, after the Raiders were caught offside, Gebbie powered his way over for Robinson to convert and re-establish that one-point Dons lead.

Barrow worked hard through Gillam, Broadbent and Bishop as they applied pressure, and when Doncaster were penalised for an offence in the tackle, Johnston slotted over a goal to make it 25-24 in his side’s favour.

It looked like the visitors may have blown their chance of victory after Gebbie lost possession with one try-scoring opportunity and Tom Holmes went in at the corner only for a forward pass to be ruled.

But as the clock ticked down, Robinson sealed victory with his forty-yard goal.

GAMESTAR: Muizz Mustapha was a constant threat and got a well-deserved try.

GAMEBREAKER: Connor Robinson’s clutch penalty-goal with the match on the line.

MATCHFACTS

RAIDERS
1 Luke Cresswell
2 Andrew Bulman
4 Curtis Teare
5 Luke Broadbent
20 Dan Knott
17 Alex Bishop
7 Ryan Johnston
10 Joe Bullock
9 Josh Wood
8 Tom Walker
15 Charlie Emslie
31 Ellis Gillam
13 Ryan King
Subs
16 Greg Richards
18 Finn McMillan
19 Seth Woodend (not used)
30 Fin Dutton-Rosconie

Tries: Wood (7), Bullock (24), King (47)
Goals: Johnston 6/6
Field-goals: Johnston (40)

DONCASTER
1 Tom Holmes
26 Mitieli Vulikijapani
24 Watson Boas
3 Brad Hey
18 Edene Gebbie
19 Connor Jones
7 Connor Robinson
17 Muizz Mustapha
20 Isaac Misky
25 Gadwin Springer
12 Alex Sutcliffe
22 Luis Johnson
14 Jacob Jones
Subs (all used)
10 Suaia Matagi
13 Loui McConnell
16 Pauli Pauli
21 Tyla Hepi

Tries: C Jones (15, 20), Mustapha (44), Gebbie (52)
Goals: Robinson 5/5

SCORING SEQUENCE: 2-0, 8-0, 8-6, 8-12, 14-12, 16-12, 17-12; 17-18, 23-18, 23-24, 25-24, 25-26

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Raiders: Luke Broadbent; Doncaster: Muizz Mustapha

Penalty count: 6-4
Half-time: 17-12
Referee: Kevin Moore
Attendance: 1,396