Barrow Raiders 32, Swinton Lions 14

Barrow took a massive step closer to safety with this comprehensive victory over the Lions and moved three places above the relegation zone.

It was a crucial game for both teams with relegation a big threat, but Barrow took a firm grip of matters to cruise to victory.

Swinton are a team well regarded for coming back when well behind on the scoreboard, but they came up against a home team that was not going to crumble.

Barrow crossed the visitors’ line on six occasions with the trusted boot of Ryan Shaw adding four conversions from six attempts. Shaw must be one the most successful goal kickers in the game, slotting goals over from the touchline for fun.

The game got underway with torrential rain, thunder and lightning which soon eased, but it was Barrow who were lightning as they took control to lead 16-2 at the break.

The home side almost took an early lead when Jarrod Sammut put in a high kick for Jarrad Stack to gather and cross, however a home player was adjudged offside.

Swinton then swept upfield and over the line was Mitchell Cox but he lost possession in trying to dot the ball down.

Ryan Shaw went close at the other end but was forced into touch and when Josh Wood was penalised for a foul tackle, former Barrow player Dan Abram slotted over a goal, 0-2.

Luke Broadbent then pulled off a try-saving tackle as he raced back to haul down Cox who had made a telling break.

Barrow increased their lead on 15 minutes when, after Ryan Johnston put in a kick over the Lions line, Broadbent swooped to get the vital touch, and Shaw made light work of a touchline conversion for 6-2.

Shaw saved the home line minutes later when he intercepted to race clear, skipper Stack thought he was impeded in the tackle and was penalised for talking out of turn.

Swinton piled on several minutes of pressure only for a counter-attack to shake their boots.

Ben Evans took the ball upfield and swift handling saw Sammut’s lofted pass go into the hands of Keenan Brand to score outside, no problem for Shaw to convert 12-2.

Swinton almost crossed in the corner only for great defensive work from Barrow, sending Mick Butt into touch.

Then a great try for the home side, Charlie Emslie drove over half way, Creswell took up the running parting to Broadbent and he sent Bulman diving in at the corner for 16-2 at the break.

Swinton had plenty of second-half possession but the Barrow defence refused to cave in as they tackled like Tigers against the Lions.

The lead was increased on 49 minutes as the home forwards were in the driving seat, the ball moved swiftly from one side of the field to the other and sliding in at the corner was Shaw, again the goal kicking magician banged over the conversion to make it 22-2.

From the restart the Lions failed to send the ball the required ten yards which should have resulted in a Barrow penalty. However the penalty went to the visitors when Broadbent decided to pick the ball up. From the tap the Lions swept downfield for Abrams to slide over and convert 22-8.

However their joy was short lived as Sammut’s chip over the cover saw Brand swoop to cross out wide 26-8 turned into 32-8 minutes later.

Ryan Johnston’s kick to the corner saw Bulman jump high and when pushed into touch flicked a neat ball to Broadbent to score, once more a perfect touchline goal from Shaw, the entire three-quarter line scoring all six tries.

The Lions rounded off the scoring with a late try from Andrew Badrock converted by Abrams to close the scoring at 32-14, a identical score line to Barrow’s cup win over the Lions at Craven Park earlier in the season.

Mail Man of the Match had several contenders, but Charlie Emslie was a tireless worker for the full 80 minutes and is a fully deserved winner.

Whitehaven lost 25-12 at Batley and face a crucial game at Swinton next weekend.

Barrow: Creswell, Shaw, Brand, Broadbent, Bulman, Sammut, Johnston, Burke,Wood, Worthington, Emslie, Stack, Wilkinson. Subs used: Carter, Corkill, Evans, Billington.

Attendance 2,149.