Barrow Raiders earned a point at Batley Bulldogs in Round 9 of the Betfred Championship – despite playing much of the second half with no available substitutes.
It proved to be a battling point for a depleted Raiders side that lost Ryan Brown to a wrist injury, Ellis Robson to a hand injury and Jamie Pye to a failed HIA in the opening 40 minutes.
Then a facial injury saw James Greenwood leave the field before the hour mark, and he was unable to return.
A blistering start saw the Raiders take an early 14-0 lead on the road, Brad Walker knocking his side ahead with a penalty before converted tries from Tee Ritson and James Greenwood.
But the Bulldogs rallied well to lead 16-14 at the break, scoring three tries in the final 10 minutes of the half.
Andrew Bulman helped the Raiders re-take the lead five minutes after half-time, the winger scoring in the corner after Jarrad Stack had claimed a cross-field kick before getting the ball away to Luke Broadbent.
The hosts fought back through Elliot Kear, but Josh Woods’ missed conversion meant it remained a two-point ball game.
Then with 10 minutes remaining, Charlie Emslie crashed over from close range after the Raiders had turned down the opportunity to draw level from a penalty and instead chanced their arm.
It looked like they would hang on to win, but in the final seconds, the home side scored out wide to make it 24-24.
Bulldogs half-back Woods had the chance to kick the conversion to steal victory as the final hooter had sounded, but his effort went wide and the spoils were shared.
There are now two weeks until the Raiders’ next outing, and it will come in the south of France on Saturday 24 May as Paul Crarey’s side make the trip to Toulouse Olympique.
BATLEY BULLDOGS 24
Tries: Greensmith, Butterworth, White, Kear, Myers
Goals: Woods 2
BARROW RAIDERS 24
Tries: Ritson, Greenwood, Bulman, Emslie
Goals: B.Walker 4
Post-match reaction
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