Last updated at 08:40, Monday, 16 July 2012

BARROW Raiders lost top spot in Championship One and suffered a serious setback in the title bid with defeat at Doncaster.

CO-OPERATIVE CHAMPIONSHIP ONE RESULT

DONCASTER RLFC 28 BARROW RAIDERS 24

BARROW Raiders lost top spot in Championship One and suffered a serious setback in the title bid with defeat at Doncaster.

With Workington beating South Wales Scorpions 50-10 at Derwent Park earlier in the afternoon, Barrow needed victory – or a draw – to go back to the summit.

The home side were fast out of the gates and went ahead on five minutes as a hanging cross-field kick from Craig Fawcett was taken by the prolific Lee Waterman, who beat Mike Backhouse and Ryan Shaw to ground in the left corner.

There was no chance for Barrow to even get into the home half before Doncaster score again, with prop Mark Castle scoring between the sticks to make it 10-0 after 16 minutes.

The signs were ominous for Barrow, but they finally sent some time on Dons territory and, on the back of two penalties, went in as James Nixon marked his return with a close-range try wide on the left for 10-4.

Against all expectations, the scores were soon level as Scott Kaighan put in a raking kick downfield. Nixon chased it and pounced as Dean Colton fumbled – the winger hacking on for Liam Campbell to pick up and finish from 10 yards out.

Doncaster deservedly went back ahead with four minutes of the half remaining as slack defence allowed Fawcett to put Mike Emmett in and give them a 16-10 advantage, cut to 16-12 on the hooter by a Ryan Shaw penalty.

Doncaster were on the scoresheet straightaway in the second half too as Waterman scored his second on the blind-side.

Barrow were faster into their stride this time though an produced a quick response as Martin Ostler sent Shaw away down the left, the young centre racing round the outside of two defenders to score and make it 20-18.

Another penalty cost Barrow dear though, as Liam Harrison picked up a kick that had hit his own team-mate and Cooke sent Mike Kelly in through another worrying gap, the same applying as a Russ Spiers break sent Craig Fawcett away for a 10-point lead.

Somehow Barrow came back again as a Campbell kick was grounded by Mike Backhouse in the corner for 28-24.

With both team down to 12 men for the end as Andy Bracek and Ale Rowe were sin-binned, it was a tense finale, but one Doncaster held on throughout to take three points and inflict only a second league defeat of the season on Barrow.

Skipper Liam Harrison made his 200th professional RL appearance and Martin Ostler his 250th for Barrow Raiders at Doncaster.

Top-of-the-table Raiders went into their hardest away fixture of the season at third-placed Doncaster with a changed side from that which won at London Skolars two weeks ago.

Speedy winger James Nixon returned out wide in place of Lee Haney, while Andy Bracek and Andrew Dawson were back among the props at the expense of Jamie Butler and Ruairi McGoff.

Coach Darren Holt once more chose a team to suit the circumstances and opposition, with Nixon’s game more suited to the wide pitch at the Keepmoat Stadium than the narrow confines of London’s New River Stadium.

The Dons brought in Dean Colton on the wing in place of injured points-machine Tom Hodson, who looks set to miss the majority of the season with a broken thumb.

Lee Waterman, with 28 tries this season in all competitions, was set to be their main threat, while Paul Cooke was a major figure in the middle of the park at stand-off.

Doncaster RLFC Starting XIII: Mick Butterfield, Dean Colton, Chris Spurr, Lee Waterman, Stewart Sanderson, Paul Cooke, Craig Fawcett, Mark Castle, Kyle Kesik, Russ Spiers, Craig Robinson, Mike Kelly, Mike Emmett.
Substitutes (all used): Fran Welch, Alex Rowe, Carl Hughes, Nathan Powley.

Barrow Raiders Starting XIII: Andy Ballard, Mike Backhouse, Chris Larkin, Ryan Shaw, James Nixon, Scott Kaighan, Liam Campbell, Andy Bracek, James Dandy, Bradley Brennan, Liam Harrison, James Gordon, Dan Toal.
Substitutes (all used): Liam Finch, Martin Ostler, Ryan Duffy, Andrew Dawson.

Referee: Jamie Leahy.

Attendance: 997.

PLAYBACK

FIVE MINUTES: Lee Waterman try, 4-0.
16 MINUTES: Mark Castle try, Waterman conversion, 10-0.
26 MINUTES: James Nixon try, 10-4.
30 MINUTES: Liam Campbell try, Ryan Shaw conversion, 10-10.
36 MINUTES: Mike Emmett try, Waterman conversion, 16-10.
40 MINUTES: Shaw penalty, 16-12.
42 MINUTES: Waterman try, 20-12.
48 MINUTES: Ryan Shaw try and conversion, 20-18.
55 MINUTES: Mike Kelly try, 24-18.
61 MINUTES: Craig Fawcett try, 28-18.
66 MINUTES: Mike Backhouse try, Shaw conversion, 28-24.
69 MINUTES: Alex Rowe sin-binned, fighting.
69 MINUTES: Andy Bracek sin-binned, retaliation.
 

First published at 14:04, Sunday, 15 July 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk