Raiders on the brink after Keighley win

Last updated 16:31, Monday, 18 August 2008

BARROW put themselves within touching distance of National League One with victory over Keighley last night.

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THE EYES HAVE IT: Mike Backhouse (second left) and Liam Harrison (4) congratulate James Nixon after his try for Barrow against Keighley in their 22-8 victory last night REF: 0445727

Barrow ran in 16 points in the second half to claim a vital victory and leave them one win away from promotion.

And Barrow now know victory at Swinton a week today will seal the second automatic promotion spot behind likely champions Gateshead and send them up.

Coach Dave Clark was delighted to see his side record only their second win in seven games and put themselves in pole position for the rise.

“It was a great second half,” he said. “In the first half we gave a lot of penalties away, there was a lot of dropped ball and we gave them a lot of opportunities.

“I thought we were lucky to go in at half time with them only having scored six points.

“But we hung in there, kept on going in that first half and defended quite well and that set up the second half for us.

“We had good go-forward, Andy Ellis round the rucks played really well and Mick Cassidy and all the boys drove the ball really well for us to set up some play out wide.

“It was a great second half for us today. We had to complete sets of six, we didn’t want to give them the ball and we did that well – our defence was spot-on.”

Clark was especially praiseful of hooker Ellis, who scored his 18th try of the season, with yet another effort from acting half-back in front of the posts.

The Australian coach added: “His try was great. It lifted us a lot.

“To have his ability out there, he reads the game really well around the ruck area and he has scored a few tries for us from there this year.

“That was the big turnaround of the game for us.”