Barrow Raiders 38 London Skolars 24

Cruising 28-0 at half time, Barrow were given an almighty second-half scare before securing both points.

The Skolars were never in the hunt as the Raiders built up their first half points tally. However it was a different tale in the second half.

London took the game to their hosts in the second period and were well in the hunt going into the final 15 minutes, hitting back to 32-24.

It was nervous times for all in the Matt Johnston Prestige Stadium until Danny Morrow eased matters with a converted try. This took the sting out of the Skolars’ tail as the home side steadied the ship to take the two points on offer.

The Raiders – minus several players through injury and illness – were off to a flyer when Will o’ the Wisp Hakim Miloudi dazzled the Skolars’ cover going in and out of their defence for a brilliant solo try converted by Jamie Dallimore.

This was the signal to step up a gear and it was soon 10-0 when Jarrad Stack slipped a neat ball to Luke Creswell who had joined the attack, and the full back crossed with ease.

The Skolars were under pressure and still feeling the effect of the early-morning train journey north from the capital.

They went further behind on 16 minutes when hard-working forward Carl Forster took play deep before sending Dallimore through a huge gap to score and convert, 16-0.

Home debutant Gary Wheeler didn’t hang around for long, leaving the pitch with an ankle injury, to be replaced by Jake Carter.

The former Barrow Island youngster soon made his mark when he skipped through the cover to feed Dan Toal who dotted the ball over the whitewash, Dallimore on target with the kick 22-0.

The Skolars never had the ball in hand for long periods, and finding a way through proved difficult as they went further in arrears on 32 minutes.

Substitutes Sam Dowsett and Ryan Duffy combined for the latter to force his way over, Dallimore obliging with the goal 28-0 at the break.

Ten minutes into the second half prop forward Mike Greenhalgh forced his way over for Neil Thorman to convert 28-6.

Barrow were denied two touchdowns when Shaw was pulled back for a forward pass prior to Miloudi being brought back for obstruction in the build up.

Aaron Small crossed out wide for Thorman to convert before Oliver Leyland pulled off a try-saving tackle on Ritson who had raced clear.

However Declan Hulme did touch down, 32-12.

But the Skolars again looked sharp as Paulos Latu romped over for Thorman to convert 32-18, turned into 32-24 when Small again touched down, Thorman tagging on the goal.

Morrow then saved Barrow’s blushes with a vital try converted by Dallimore who misses out the next two games after picking up a two- match ban following his sin binning for dissent at Doncaster.

Barrow: Creswell, Ritson, Miloudi, Shaw, S Toal, Dallimore, Wheeler, Terrill, Mossop, Forster, Morrow, Stack, D Toal. Subs used: Dowsett, Carter, Hulme, Duffy.

Mail Man of the Match: Carl Forster.

Attendance: 1,486.