Barrow Raiders retained their crown as the kings of Cumbria, defeating Whitehaven 42-20 in an all-action derby day encounter at the Speed Competition Stadium.

The result brought the curtain down on the regular season down in some style for Paul Crarey’s men, who ran in seven tries against their local rivals.

The returning Ellis Robson opened the scoring with six minutes gone, a surging run close to the line too hot for Haven’s defence to handle.

Whitehaven responded soon after through captain Connor Holliday down the right edge, but a missed conversion meant the Raiders stayed two points ahead.

That advantage was stretched further before the midway point of the first half, as Joe Bullock ran a perfect line to collect Brad Walker’s excellent pass and touch down to the left of the posts.

Next to cross against his former club was Ryan King, a closer-range finish under the posts putting him top of the Raiders try-scoring charts with his 16th of the season.

Walker’s extras made it 18-4, but the visitors did bring themselves back to within eight before half-time through Ethan Bickerdike’s converted try.

The second half started well for the Raiders, and it was a moment to remember for Brad Singleton as he went over under the posts to notch a maiden try for his hometown club.

Again Whitehaven responded though, Xenden Callander producing a full-length intercept to score, despite the best efforts of Luke Broadbent to make up the ground from the opposite flank to bring him down.

Haven scored again soon after, Jay Weatherill touching down after Bickerdike’s break from dummy-half to make it 24-20.

But that proved to be the visitors’ last try of the afternoon.

Before the hour, slick hands saw the ball moved left by Barrow towards winger Dan Knott, who skipped inside between a couple of defenders to score.

Walker’s conversion made it a 10-point ball game, then 11 minutes from time, Alex Bishop made sure of the win.

A strong hit from Curtis Teare forced the ball free from Whitehaven’s grasp, Teare’s kick ahead ricocheted off Brad Brennan, then Bishop was in the right place to gather and score to the right of the posts.

Bishop wasn’t done there, stepping inside past two defenders and squeezing over to the side of the left post to seal a convincing win.

The Raiders now have a week off before the play-offs begin, with a trip to Doncaster looking most likely in Week 1.

BARROW RAIDERS 42

Tries: Robson, Bullock, King, Singleton, Knott, Bishop (2)

Goals: B.Walker (5), Johnston (2)

WHITEHAVEN 20

Tries: Holliday, Bickerdike, Callander, Weatherill

Goals: C.Walker (2)

Paul Crarey reaction

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