BARROW 40
WHITEHAVEN 6

Barrow completed the double over Cumbrian rivals Whitehaven with an emphatic second-half display in which they ran in 30 unanswered points.

It was nip and tuck in the first half, with Haven scoring on the hooter to make it 10-6. However in the second half Barrow stepped up a gear to out pace and outclass the visitors with some electric tries.

It was not a dream start for Barrow-born Luke Broadbent on loan from Warrington. The son of Barrow and Haven favourite Gary was sin-binned for crashing into Brett Carter after the ball had gone out of play with only three minutes on the clock.

Luke’s 100-year-old grand mother Irene was watching from the sideline.

While Broadbent was in the bin, Barrow ran in a brace of tries – the first within a minute when Ryan Johnston and Jarrod Sammut combined for Sammut to throw out a long pass for Try machine Tee Ritson to dive over in the corner, 4-0.

It was soon 10-0 when Salford loan player Matty Costello made a telling break but with Ritson unmarked he chose to go himself before breaking a tackle to send Sammut racing in from 30 metres out, Ryan Shaw tagging on the goal.

Haven then settled into the game with former Raider Tom Walker being held up over the line. Then a forceful charge saw Liam McAvoy halted a yard short.

At the other end Anton Iaria lost the ball over the Haven line. And when skipper Jarrad Stack was penalised for talking out of turn Haven crossed the line through Broadbent, but the full back was judged to be offside from Nikau Williams’ chip through.

Haven got on the score-sheet on the half-time hooter following a knock-on by Nathan Mossop.

From the scrum a gap appeared for Connor Holiday to dot the ball down for Williams to convert.

Within a minute of the second half Sammut made a terrific break but when trying to round Broadbent lost his footing.

The home side increased their lead when Sammut delayed his pass to send Salford loan forward Greg Burke crashing over despite the attention of four defenders. Shaw added the goal 16-6.

Sammut was to the fore minutes later when his high kick to the corner was palmed back by Ritson into the arms of Costello to score, Shaw tagging on the goal 22-6.

Barrow were rampant with their attacking flair causing problems but Haven worked hard to get back in touch although the home defence stood firm.

On the hour Costello made a fine break on half way parting to Ritson who had Sammut on his shoulder to race over in a cartwheel fashion, Shaw making it 28-6 with the goal.

On 68 minutes Ryan King was sin-binned for an incident in the tackle, allowing Barrow to add a further 12 points.

First Carl Forster burst through a tackle parting to Costello who timed his pass to perfection for Ritson to outstrip the cover, Shaw adding the goal 34-6. And to round off a good day at the office Iaria crashed over for Shaw to convert.

Barrow: Creswell, Ritson, Costello, Shaw, B Carter, Johnston, Sammut, Forster, Wood, Gillam, Morrow, Stack, Iaria. Subs used: Mossop, D Toal, Emslie, Burke.

Whitehaven: Broadbent, Bulman, Evans, Dixon, Ecclestone, Coates, Williams, Dawson, Olstrom, Walker, King, Holliday, McAvoy. Subs used: Bradley, Cooper, Hudson, Singleton.

Mail Man of the match. Several contenders, with Costello winning the vote.

Attendance: 2,556.