Raiders in a game of two halves at Halifax

Stand in skipper Jarrod Sammut was sensationally sent off in the dying seconds of the first half with Barrow leading 16-12 at the Shay, and with key forward Ellis Gillam off injured from the 23rd minute the home side took full control in the second half.

As the half time hooter approached, Sammut put in a high kick to the Halifax line, full back James Woodburn-Hall gathered then slipped on the surface.

Sammut followed through with the tackle only for referee Craig Walmsley to punish Sammut for the tackle.

Sammut spoke out of turn and was sent off.

Barrow were off to a flying start when after Louis Jouffret’s kick off went dead, the Raiders went up field to score in the first minute of play.

In- form Ellis Gillam drove hard to the line and dotted the ball down for Ryan Shaw to convert 0-6.

Jouffret then had the opportunity to make amends, but with the Barrow line insight, dropped the ball. Barrow turned defence into attack with a neat Ryan Johnston kick forcing James Saltonstall to put the ball dead.

From the drop out, Emslie and Langtree combined to send Broadbent to the line, but he was held short. From the play the ball, Brett Carter’s looping pass found Ryan Shaw who crossed and converted 0-12.

Halifax rarely had ball in hand, and were reduced to 12 men with Saltonstall spending time in the sin bin for pulling back Shane Toal as he raced to the corner.

Barrow applied further pressure with try number three coming through Andrew Bulman, his first for the club, the former Whitehaven winger went in after good work from Johnston with no goal 0-16.

Halifax came slowly into the game having more ball in hand as Barrow lost key forward Ellis Gillam who failed to return to the action. Barrow came under pressure and defended well, until an error from Sammut put Halifax back on the attack.

The half back sent the ball into touch on the full and from the tap penalty, Lachlan Walmsley went in for try number 26, Jouffrey adding the goal 6-16.

Barrow did go close through Iaria and Wood only for the Raiders to run out of tackles.

On 35 minutes the home side reduced the deficit when after Barrow were caught offside,

Adam O’Brien went in by the posts for Jouffret to convert 12-16.

Then that dismissal of the Barrow skipper, the Maltese international put in a high ball to the Halifax posts which Woodhall Burn gathered and slipped, Sammut went in with a tackle and spoke out of turn when the home side were awarded a penalty. Disaster for Barrow on the half time hooter.

It was one way traffic in the second half, Halifax after conceding 16 points with nothing in reply, hit the straps against 12 men to run in 42 unanswered points prior to Ryan Johnston crossing for an unconverted try.

Aussie winger Lachlan Walmsley had the final say in the final minute with his fourth try of the afternoon, his 29th of the season.

Other second half try scorers were Ben Kavanagh 2 Fleming Walmsley a further 2 and Woodburn-Hall Juffret added four second half goals.

Barrow now face second placed Batley at home next Sunday who lost 20-18 at home to London Broncos while fellow strugglers Swinton pulled off a 25-18 win at Widnes.

Barrow: Broadbent,Bulman B Carter,Toal,Shaw,Sammut, Johnston,Gillam, Wood, Evans,Emslie Langtree,Iaria.Subs used : Archer,Mossop,Burke,Brooks.