BARROW RAIDERS 28

HALIFAX PANTHERS 38

The Panthers came roaring back to pull off a fine win against a stunned Raiders outfit with defeat staring them in the face.

The home side were coasting 28-12 fifteen minutes into the second half, but lost the plot allowing the Yorkshire side to run in 26 unanswered points to go home with the two points on offer.

Barrow were in the driving seat for most of the first period going in at 16-12 with the Panthers only a shadow of the home side who 10 minutes into the second half were on a crest of a wave at 28-12.

There only looked to be one outcome: a third Yorkshire scalp on the trot for the Raiders, who in their two previous home games accounted for Batley and Featherstone.

But from the 55th minute it was all Halifax, who came out of their shell to romp away with the game.

Barrow having no answer as they fell asleep.

The home side were off to a flying start when swift play right to left instigated by Adam Jackson allowed a floating ball from Luke Broadbent to go into the arms of Andrew Bulman who crossed outside, Johnston failed to convert 4-0.

Four minutes later and coming from a tap penalty, the Panthers moved the ball wide for Ben Tibbs to fend off two defenders to cross in the corner, Louis Jouffret adding a touchline goal 4-6.

Barrow should have responded when Costello raided inside the Halifax 20 area, but with Jacob Douglas having an open invitation to cross in the corner, Costello went on his own only to be wrapped up by Saltonstall and Bibbs.

Barrow were denied when again neat handling saw Bulman in at the corner only for a forward pass to rule out his touchdown.

The Panthers were next on the scoreboard, Joe Keyes sent Matthew Gee into space before his progress was halted.

However, from the play the ball, Keyes dummied his way through the home cover to dot the ball down, Jouffret adding the extra two points 4-12.

From that point it was Barrow who took control with Halifax on the back foot.

Johnston and Costello released Douglas who cut inside and on his shoulder was Luke Creswell to touchdown, Johnston adding the goal 10-12.

Within five minutes Creswell was again on hand following a high bomb from Johnston to outjump Woodburn-Hall and dot the ball down. Johnston tagged on the conversion 16-12 and then added a penalty goal for offside making it 18-12.

 Barrow defended their own line in the final two minutes of the opening half as the Panthers applied pressure with Zack McComb and Woodburn-Hall both going close.

Five minutes into the second half, Harvey Makin made ground bringing in Johnston and Creswell into the attack from where Costello crossed with ease, 22-12.

With 50 minutes on the clock and Barrow stretched their lead to 16 points when Gillam with four defenders wrapped around him managed to slip the ball to the sniffing Creswell, who completed his hat-trick 28-12.

Then the game turned completely on its head and on the last tackle on 55 minutes Keyes sent out a long ball for Saltonstall to dive in at the corner, Keyes adding a great touchline goal 28-18.

Four minutes later after Adam O’Brien was held up over the line, the ball was in the hands of Matty Gee who fed Woodburn-Hall and diving in at the corner for his 100th career try was Saltonstall. Keyes failed to convert 28-22.

The Panthers were on a roll, running Barrow ragged and came within two points when after Ryan Shaw lost the ball near his own line, Widdop’s long ball sent Woodburn-Hall through a gap with ease to score 28-26 and game on.

Barrow failed to make any response and when Douglas lost the ball in the tackle the pressure was on a defence backtracking, failing to stop McComb wriggling out of a four man tackle to get the ball down between the posts. Widdop adding the goal 28-32 with three minutes left on the clock.

Barrow won the ball from the kick off and one last attempt for victory failed as Broadbent’s attempted pass to get Douglas in at the corner was intercepted by Saltonstall.

From that point the Panther went on attack and racing in to pull off a great victory was Keyes the goal from Widdop rounded off the scoring.

Barrow: Creswell, Bulman, Costello, Broadbent, Douglas, Jackson, Johnston, Silva, Wood, T Walker, Greenwood, Stack, Worthington. Subs: Shaw, Gillam, Wilkinson, Makin. Mail Man of the Match: Luke Creswell. Attendance 1,994.