Barrow Raiders confirmed their Betfred Championship status for another season, despite falling to a spirited 31-18 defeat to York RLFC Knights on Sunday afternoon.
Defeat for Whitehaven on Saturday meant the Raiders knew their survival was assured regardless of what happened in their final game of the season, but they put in a battling display nevertheless, against a York side that snatched the final play-off spot with a win.
Oli Field and Ronan Michael scored the only tries of the first half, with six points from the boot of Liam Harris making it 12-0 at the break.
A converted AJ Towse try in the corner extended the Knights’ lead shortly after the restart, but the Raiders would respond soon after as Ryan Johnston capitalised on a mistake from a Jarrod Sammut high kick to touch down.
A fine solo effort from Andrew Bulman saw him score his ninth try in six matches and bring the Raiders back to within six points before the hour mark, but Ukuma Ta’ai crashed over to restore the visitors’ two-try cushion with 15 minutes left.
Tom Wilkinson soon bulldozed his way in to set up an intriguing final 10 minutes, only for Liam Harris to kick a drop-goal five minutes from time before Brenden Santi touched down in the final minutes to wrap up the win for York.
Sunday’s result means the Raiders end the season 11th – a point clear of the drop zone.
BARROW RAIDERS 18
Tries: Johnston, Bulman, Wilkinson
Goals: Shaw 3
YORK RLFC KNIGHTS 31
Tries: Field, Michael, Towse, Ta’ai, Santi
Goals: Harris 5
Drop-goals: Harris
Post-match reaction
Hear the thoughts of head coach Paul Crarey following Sunday’s defeat.
Will you win our £25,000 jackpot? Click here to join the Barrow Raiders Lottery!
