Barrow Raiders produced a battling display against Doncaster but fell just short on the road, losing 37-30 in South Yorkshire.

A difficult start saw the Raiders fall 12-0 down early on as Brad Hey and Watson Boas went over for converted tries inside the opening quarter.

However, the response was a good one. Hooker Josh Wood made an instant impact from the bench, racing out of dummy-half and darting over from close range.

The scores were level on the half-hour mark as Razor Silva left defenders in his wake to break free and score, but it would be Dons who led at the break thanks to an unconverted Reece Lyne score in the corner.

Joe Lovodua stretched the Doncaster lead to eight early in the second half, but again the Raiders dug deep and Luke Cresswell collected a Silva offload close to the line to touch down.

Boas scored his second to put the hosts 26-18 ahead, but a superb solo effort from Andrew Bulman – collecting the ball on his own line, stepping the winger and racing the length of the field to go over in the corner – kept things close.

For the first time all afternoon, the Raiders led shortly after as Cresswell finished off a good passing move to the right of the posts for his eighth try of the season, Ryan Shaw adding the extra two to make it 30-26 with 10 minutes to play.

However, Dons found energy at the death and re-took the lead six minutes from time, Lovodua latching onto Boas’ grubber to score his second.

Bureta Faraimo put them six points clear soon after, then a Craig Hall drop-goal secured the win late on for Doncaster.

The Raiders will need to re-group quickly, with a home game to come against Bradford Bulls next Sunday. That fixture will be part of another home double-header as Barrow Ladies face St Helens, and adults tickets for both fixtures cost just £5.

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DONCASTER 37

Tries: Hey, Boas 2, Lyne, Lovodua 2, Faraimo

Goals: Robinson 4

BARROW RAIDERS 30

Tries: Wood, Silva, Cresswell 2, Bulman

Goals: Shaw 5

Paul Crarey reaction

Raiders head coach Paul Crarey gives his honest thoughts following Sunday’s defeat.

Shane Toal / Matt Costello reaction

We caught up post-match with Shane Toal and Matt Costello, who reached 150 Barrow Raiders appearances and 100 career appearances respectively.

Photo credit: Doncaster

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