Barrow 14 Whitehaven 16

JARROD Sammut failed with a penalty goal attempt five minutes from time ensuring Whitehaven took the points back to west Cumbria before a crowd of 3,139.

It was a typical Cumbrian derby game with no prisoners taken, but for Barrow, after two sterling performances against Halifax, it was a poor day at the office.

However, the match referee Mr Woresley halted proceedings on the hour mark for over fifteen minutes when fighting broke out behind the Duke Street end of the ground in what appeared to be fights between fellow Haven fans. 

But it was the Haven followers and players alike who were jumping for joy on the final hooter.

Barrow put themselves under early pressure conceding three penalties which resulted in Marcus O'Brien being held up over the line.

Barrow’s first raid came to a halt when a long pass from Ryan Johnston found Shane Toal, only for the winger to be bundled into touch on the flag.

Johnston was involved in a second raid parting to Danny Langtree, but he failed to ground the ball correctly.

O'Brien then tested the home defence with a dart to the line, but Broadbent was on hand with a timely tackle. 

Barrow did apply pressure forcing two goal line drop outs but failed to take advantage with nothing materialising.

And when Josh Wood knocked on at a play the ball, Haven moved upfield ably assisted with what looked like a forward pass to open their account.

On hand to cross the whitewash was the returning Ryan King, 0-4.

Ben Evans replaced Ellis Gillam and immediately handed Haven a try on the plate.   

The big forward forced a pass out the back door into the hands of a Haven player.

The ball moved swiftly along the line and a neat kick through from Alex Bishop, grandson of the former Barrow great Tommy, was pounced upon by Curtis Teare 0-8.

With three minutes of the half remaining Barrow reduced the deficit, Sammut put in a high kick which Dave Eccleston failed to gather, and in like a flash was Johnston to dive over for Sammut to convert 6-8.

Then on the stroke of half time, Rio Corkill forced his way over only to lose the ball.

Former Barrow player Tom Walker was a force in the Haven side as Graham Guy raced downfield, fortunately for Barrow he lost his footing.

Sammut brought the scores level with a penalty goal, but it was Haven who were most dangerous with ball in hand, and only good covering from Toal and Broadbent prevented Guy from scoring.

Slack marking from the home side proved fatal as Dion Aiye crossed with ease for Rourke to convert 8-14.

A high kick from Sammut resulted in Stack going in at the corner, Sammut adding the conversion 14-14.

Barrow applied enough pressure to get ahead, but couldn't find a way through. Rourke put Haven ahead with a penalty goal prior to Sammuts failure to bring the scores level late on.

Barrow: Broadbent, Bullman, Worthington Corkill, Toal, Sammut, Johnston, Gillam, Wood, Iaria, Langtrtee, Stack, Wells. 

Subs: J Carter, Brooks, Evans, Burke.