Report: Salford RLFC 20-22 Barrow Raiders

A late penalty goal from Brad Walker saw Barrow Raiders edge past Salford 22-20 in a dramatic Betfred Championship encounter at the CorpAcq Stadium.

As the Raiders looked to record a sixth straight win, their credentials were tested to the extreme, during a game which saw Salford lead throughout until the final minutes.

The home side posted first points through Owain Abel, but Barrow responded midway through the first half when full-back Luke Cresswell went over from close range.

An acrobatic Keane Gilford finish in the corner saw Salford re-take the lead soon after, and they made it 18-6 with a half-hour gone as Oli Garmston touched down.

The Raiders only trailed by six at half-time, however, after a looping pass from Ryan Johnston sent Luke Broadbent over in the corner.

Before the hour mark, Broadbent went over again in the corner for his second, tying the game up at 18-18.

Minutes later, the Raiders were caught offside and Kieran Dixon took the chance to nudge his side back ahead from the resultant penalty.

As the match entered the final 10 minutes, heroic defending from the Raiders kept them in the game, and three minutes from time it paid dividends as Alex Bishop’s pass struck a retreating Salford player in an offside position and Brad Walker knocked over the resultant penalty to tie the game.

Then, moments later, Barrow earned another penalty 40m out after a Salford player failed to escape the ruck, and Walker again went for goal, nailing the penalty to win the game for the Raiders.

Sunday’s victory sees the Raiders remain within two points of Championship league leaders London Broncos, and level on points with second-placed Newcastle Thunder ahead of a mouth-watering meeting between the two clubs on Sunday 11 July.

Tickets are available to buy here.

SALFORD RLFC 20

Tries: Abel, Gilford, Garmston

Goals: Dixon (4)

BARROW RAIDERS 22

Tries: Cresswell, Broadbent (2)

Goals: Walker (4), Johnston

Paul Crarey reaction