The Good Friday Cumbrian derby ended in an agonising defeat for the Raiders as they were beaten 16-14 by Whitehaven in the Betfred Championship.
In a hotly contested opening 20-minute period, the Raiders were hit by a setback as Jack Wells was sent to the bin following a scuffle between the two sets of players.
The hosts pressed their one-man advantage and registered the game’s first try 26 minutes in through Ryan King, before adding another one just six minutes later after Curtis Teare palmed down a grubber kick, though both conversions were missed.
Shortly after Wells’ return to the field, the Raiders finally got their first points on the board, Jarrod Sammut kicked a high ball which bounced over the defensive line, eventually being finished off by Ryan Johnston, leaving the score 8-6 at half-time.
The second half followed the same pattern as the first as both sides went set for set, before Sammut converted a penalty to level the scoring.
Nevertheless, the visitors would once again restore their lead through Dion Aiye, who overpowered the Raiders defenders and crashed over the line.
The hosts fired back through Jarrad Stack who was on hand to dive over the line following another Sammut bomb. The conversion was successful, levelling the score at 14-14.
A penalty for Whitehaven on the 67th minute mark was converted by Josh Rourke edging the visitors in front.
Barrow found themselves in a similar position following a high tackle five minutes from full-time, but the kick was missed by Sammut, and the Haven defence held out to claim all two points.
The Raiders are next in action away at Widnes Vikings on Sunday 16 April (3:00pm kick-off).
BARROW RAIDERS 14
Tries: Ryan Johnston, Jarrad Stack
Goals: Sammut 3
WHITEHAVEN 16
Tries: King, Teare, Aiye
Goals: Rourke 2
Post-match reaction
Head coach Paul Crarey reacts to Friday’s defeat.
Man of the Match
Ellis Gillam was chosen as the Man of the Match by matchday sponsors EJ Parker Technical Services.
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