Barrow Raiders picked up a huge win in their fight for Betfred Championship survival as they beat play-off hopefuls Bradford Bulls 14-10 in Round 20 of the Betfred Championship.
A last-gasp 23-22 victory at Odsal last season was the Raiders’ first win at the iconic ground since 1963, but a performance filled with effort and determination in front of the Viaplay cameras ensured they would leave West Yorkshire with both competition points for the second successive year.
The boot of Ryan Shaw caused the damage in the first half, with three penalty goals putting them 6-0 up with less than a half-hour gone.
The moment which swung the game in the Raiders’ favour came on 32 minutes when Jorge Taufua was shown a straight red card for an alleged bite on captain Jarrad Stack.
Shaw kicked the subsequent penalty to make it 8-0 but couldn’t add a fifth two-pointer from out wide on the stroke of half-time.
He would add another penalty 10 minutes into the second half to make it 10-0, but the Bulls responded quickly as Jayden Myers managed to touch down in the corner.
Not to be outdone, the Raiders kept the ball alive on their next foray into Bradford territory and came away with their first try of the night. It was played right through the hands as a cut-out pass from debuting half-back Adam Jackson found Stack, who sent Shaw over for a diving finish out wide.
That made it 14-4, but with an injury to Danny Langtree leaving both sides down to 12 men for the final eight minutes, a late score from Ben Blackmore set up a grandstand finish.
However, the Raiders showed all their doggedness and grit to repel the Bulls and pick up a memorable win at Odsal, and in the process climb above Swinton Lions and Keighley Cougars in the league table.
BRADFORD BULLS 10
Tries: Myers, Blackmore
Goals: Gaskell
BARROW RAIDERS 14
Tries: Shaw
Goals: Shaw 5
Paul Crarey reaction
Head coach Paul Crarey reacts to Monday night’s victory at Odsal.
Ryan Johnston reaction
Man of the Match Ryan Johnston aso spoke to Viaplay following the win.
???? @BarrowRaiders' Ryan Johnston reacts to a massive win to take his team out of the relegation zone
"I think from 1 to 17 it was absolutely outstanding today." ????️ pic.twitter.com/NCXucRYVoC
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) July 31, 2023
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