Last updated at 17:12, Sunday, 19 August 2012

CO-OPERATIVE CHAMPIONSHIP ONE RESULT

ROCHDALE HORNETS 24 BARRROW RAIDERS 18

BARROW gave up their claims to the Championship One title with barely a wimper as they fell to defeat at Rochdale Hornets.

Despite Workington losing at Oldham, Raiders could not take advantage five miles up the road and Doncaster’s victory over North Wales makes them hot favourites for the crown, with Barrow battling to even finish second.

After a sloppy start from Barrow, the home side scored the try they deserved, with Dan Donohue going through James Nixon and Aaron Low wide on the right, making it 4-0.

Paul Crook added to Barrow’s woes after Liam Harrison had moments earlier stopped him grounding over the line and the Hornets were by far the better side in the opening exchanges.

It seemed unlikely Barrow would find any way through, but Liam Finch scooped up a loose pass from Rochdale just inside his own half and set the platform for Andy Ballard to breakaway and run 60 yards for a score, making it 8-6.

Just as quickly, Raiders were in front, this time James Dandy intercepting a poor pass and laying the groundwork for Chris Larkin to score wide on the right for 10-8.

The resurgence was brief and the hosts went back ahead as Wayne English capitalised on a third Raiders drop-out of the afternoon to put the scoreline at 14-10 going into half-time.

A much-changed second-half display was needed but not produced by Barrow as Jonny Leather made the gap 10 on the back of an English break 10 minutes in.

Somehow, Barrow were able to respond again, this time a Ballard kick to the corner landed on by Ryan Shaw to make it 20-14.

It was a Kaighan kick that sent Larkin in for another Raiders score, but Shaw missed his third kick of the afternoon and still the visitors were behind at 20-18 with 10 minutes to go.

It was only brief hope though as Dane Donohue scored for Hornets with four minutes to go and Barrow needed two scores to win from 24-18 behind.

Rochdale Hornets Starting XIII: Wayne English, Dale Bloomfield, Dane Donohue, Tony Stewart, Jonny Leather, Paul Crook, Steven Roper, Adam Bowman, Ryan Brown, John Cookson, Mark Hobson, Gary Middlehurst, Chris Baines.
Substitutes: Steve McDermott, Chris Hough, Dave Newton, Phil Braddish.

Barrow Raiders Starting XIII: Andy Ballard, Ryan Shaw, Chris Larkin, Aaron Low, James Nixon, Scott Kaighan, Brad Marwood, Bradley Brennan, Liam Finch, Ryan Duffy, Liam Harrison, Martin Ostler, Dan Toal.
Substitutes: James Dandy, Andrew Dawson, Ruairi McGoff, Andy Bracek.

Referee: Peter Brooke.

Attendance: 464.

PLAYBACK

SEVEN MINUTES: Dane Donohue try, 4-0.
12 MINUTES: Paul Crook try, 8-0.
25 MINUTES: Andy Ballard try, Ryan Shaw conversion, 8-6.
29 MINUTES: Chris Larkin try, 8-10.
33 MINUTES: Wayne English try, Crook conversion, 14-10.
49 MINUTES: Jonny Leather try, Crook conversion, 20-10.
56 MINUTES: Shaw try, 20-14.
69 MINUTES: Larkin try, 20-18.
76 MINUTES: Dane Donohue try, 24-18.
 

First published at 14:21, Sunday, 19 August 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk