Report: Whitehaven 23-22 Barrow Raiders

Barrow Raiders suffered an agonising 23-22 defeat at Whitehaven on Good Friday as half-back Jake Carter came back to haunt his former club.

It was a reverse of the scoreline and result from the Raiders’ last league visit to the Ortus Rec, with Ryan Johnston slotting over the one-pointer on that occasion back in August 2023.

A bright start saw the Raiders hit the front as winger Andrew Bulman scored the afternoon’s first try after just five minutes, marking his return from injury in style.

Tries from Nathan Connell and Jake Carter put Haven ahead before the midway stage of the first half, but it would be the Raiders who went into the sheds in front as Tom Forber finished off a fine try on debut after good work from Brad Walker and Johnston, before captain Jarrad Stack rose highest to collect Walker’s bomb and go over shortly before the break.

Ryan Shaw touched down in the corner four minutes into the second half, making it 22-12 at the time, but the hosts responded well and levelled matters at 22-22 as Ryan King and Jake Maizen touched down.

The game remained on a knife-edge heading into the final 10 minutes, and after Walker missed a long-range drop-goal attempt for the Raiders, Carter would make no mistake from 30m out as Haven came away with the competition points to extend their unbeaten start to the season.

The Raiders will hope for better success in Round 3 when they enjoy their first home league game of the season on Sunday 7 April, with York Knights RLFC the visitors to the Northern Competitions Stadium.

Match tickets, sponsorship and hospitality packages for that fixture can be purchased here.

WHITEHAVEN 23

Tries: Nathan Connell, Jake Carter, Ryan King, Jake Maizen

Goals: Jake Carter 3

Drop-goals: Jake Carter

BARROW RAIDERS 22

Tries: Andrew Bulman, Tom Forber, Jarrad Stack, Ryan Shaw

Goals: Ryan Shaw 3