Barrow Raiders secured their first league win of the season after edging Halifax Panthers 16-12 in Round 7 of the Betfred Championship.
The Raiders’ only victory of the 2023 campaign came against Swinton Lions in the Betfred Challenge Cup earlier this month.
But a much-improved display, both in attack and defence, saw Paul Crarey’s side climb off the foot of the league table.
The hosts enjoyed a lightning start and took a deserved 4-0 lead when captain Jarrad Stack plunged over with just five minutes on the clock.
The Panthers, who started the afternoon with four league wins to their name, turned the game around before the 25-minute mark thanks to tries from Louis Jouffret and Brandon Pickersgil.
It wouldn’t be enough for them to take a lead into the break, though, as Iain Thornley marked his debut with a diving finish out wide after Shane Toal’s tenacious flicked offload.
As the game edged towards the hour mark, the boot of Joe Keyes gave the Panthers a slender two-point advantage.
However, half-back Jarrod Sammut would come up with the telling contribution on 56 minutes, as he evaded the initial tackle before muscling his way over the line.
Halifax tried their utmost to steal the win in the final minutes of the contest, but some magnificent defensive efforts ensured the Raiders would hold on for two precious competition points.
The two sides will lock horns again at the Shay in seven days’ time, in the fourth round of the Betfred Challenge Cup.
Tickets for that fixture can be bought here.
BARROW RAIDERS 16
Tries: Stack, Thornley, Sammut
Goals: Sammut 2
HALIFAX PANTHERS 12
Tries: Jouffret, Pickersgill
Goals: Keyes 2
Post-match reaction
Listen to the thoughts of Raiders head coach Paul Crarey following Sunday’s win.
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