In a pulsating 80 minutes of action at the Odsal Stadium, Barrow pulled off an almighty victory with former Bulls player Jarrod Sammut clinching victory with a late drop goal.

It was Barrow’s first victory at the Odsal Stadium since November in the 1963-64 season, when they won in the second division 29-0. Bill Burgess, the Great Britain winger, crossed for two of seven tries, and two weeks later Bradford folded.

For yesterday’s match, Barrow were forced into action without top try scorer Tee Ritson, Luke Creswell, Danny Morrow, Ryan Johnston, Dan Toal and Anton Iaria – but still found enough strength to take the two points on offer.

However it was a game they had in the bag and almost lost. The Raiders came back strong to lead 22-4 after the Bulls took a 4-0 lead but in a dramatic 10-minute spell late in the second half the Bulls ran in three converted tries to level at 22-22 to make it a grandstand finish.

As the clock ticked down to 80 minutes Jake Carter failed with a drop goal attempt. However it was his half back partner Sammut who sent the ball between the posts for a drop goal winner.

The Bulls had one last raid but their hopes of a point faded when Dec Patton failed with a drop goal attempt.

The Bulls applied constant pressure on the Raiders line for most of the first half but could only muster an unconverted try from Chester Butler 4-0.

Barrow survived the onslaught to pull back two points with a Sammut penalty goal prior to crossing the line as half time approached, but not before Sam Brooks was sin-binned for offside on two occasions.

The try came courtesy of Gary Wheeler, his first for the club, following good work from Jake Carter, Danny Langtree and Charlie Emslie, Sammut adding the goal for 4-8 at the break.

Barrow took the game to the Bulls in the second half and ran in tries from Jake Carter and Brooks, with Sammut converting both plus a penalty goal for 4-22.

The Bulls had it all to do and came back with a Elliot Hall try and Patton goal on the hour mark, 10-22.

Barrow had a 12-point cushion but were down to 12 men with Nathan Mossop in the bin for a late tackle on 68 minutes. The Bulls moved up a gear going on the rampage, and with the Raiders line stretched drew level with tries from Doyle and Dawson, both converted by Patton.

Both lines had narrow escapes before Sammut sent the travelling supporters home happy with that late one-pointer.

Another difficult trip follows on Friday when Raiders face Featherstone.

Barrow: Miloudi, B Carter, Croft, Wheeler, S Toal, J Carter, Sammut, Forster, Wood, Gillam, Stack, Langtree, Crellin. Subs used: Mossop, Brooks, Emslie, Hopkins.