WIDNES 23 BARROW 14

Barrow remain in the bottom two of the Championship following this defeat, but they put up a creditable show.

The Raiders were in contention on the hour mark until a Danny Craven try converted by Jack Owen gave the Vikings breathing space.

Barrow coach Paul Crarey made six changes in the team that lost at home to Whitehaven on Good Friday.

Coming into the 17 was Nathan Mossop for his 267th career appearance – his first outing of the season. Others in the line-up were Charlie Emslie, Tom Hopkins, Ryan Shaw, Luke Creswell and Brett Carter.

The opening exchanges were even prior to Adam Lawton trying to force his way over the line, but good defending by Barrow kept him at bay.

On the ten minute mark, Barrow went ahead when the home side were caught offside allowing Shaw to kick a penalty goal 0-2.

Barrow again pressed and a high ball from Ryan Johnston was gathered by Shane Toal, but he was held short of the line.

Widnes then took play upfield only for Sam Wilde to lose possession on the first tackle. However, Barrow’s Jack Wells did likewise, leading to Widnes opening their account.

From the resulting scrum, the ball moved sharply and a massive gap opened up and in for the try was Lawton, Jack Owen adding the conversion 6-2.

The Vikings doubled their points tally six minutes later when on the last tackle, Owen chipped over the cover for Ryan Ince to kick into the arms of Zac Eckersley who dotted the ball down for Owen to convert 12-2.

Barrow worked hard to get back in the game and following a strong run from Anton Iaria the ball was in the hands of Sammut who chipped through the cover, and though taken out off the ball no penalty came his way.

Mossop came on for Josh Wood and was soon in the action trying to spearhead attacks to which one broke down when the ball to Charlie Emslie was too fierce and possession was lost.

Barrow were defending well, while in attack Sammut dummied his way through parting to Langtree who threw out a loose ball to Johnston, again errors letting the Raiders down.

On the half-time hooter Owen dropped a goal making it 13-2.

Barrow came back into the frame on 55 minutes when Luke Broadbent went in at the corner for Shaw to land a touchline conversion making it 13-8.

However, all the hard work was undone five minutes later when Craven dummied his way over after Sammut had pulled off a great tackle on Lawton, the try was converted by Owen 19-8.

A further try from Ryan Ince making it 23-8 gave Barrow an uphill task, but they hit back when a high kick from Sammut enabled Wood to cross for his first try of the season, Shaw added the goal but time ran out on a plucky display from Barrow who now have a two week break before Bradford head to Craven Park..

BARROW:

Creswell, Broadbent, Shaw, Toal, B Carter, Sammut, Johnston, Gillam,Wood, Iaria, Stack, Langtree, Wells.

SUBS:

Emslie, Mossop, Hopkins, Burke.