WHITEHAVEN 23

BARROW 22

JAKE Carter came back to haunt his former club with a match-winning drop goal in the 75th minute at the Recreation Ground.

Barrow had gone ahead 22-12 only for Haven to pull back to level at 22-22.

Up stepped Carter as the game went into the last five minutes and to the delight of the home fans, he sent the ball between the posts.

Barrow were off to a flying start when former Haven winger Andrew Bulman in his first game for several weeks went in at the corner.

It came off the back off a strong drive from Tom Walker. The ball was in the hands of skipper Jarrad Stack on the last tackle, and he found Bulman who touched down despite the efforts of Chris Tear.

The reliable boot of Ryan Shaw made it 0-6 with a touchline conversion.

Haven came back strong when danger man Jamie Doran sent Luke Castle downfield before parting to Will Evans, but his kick ahead was well covered by Luke Creswell.

Barrow were having to defend their line, but in trying to get upfield a Ryan Johnston kick was charged down by Connor Holliday who was held short of the line.

Unlucky for some 13 (minutes) as Haven drew level, a chip ahead from Doran saw Aussie full-back Nathan Connell first to react and dot the ball down for Carter to convert 6-6.

Barrow then lost Shane Toal who was only drafted into the line-up when Max Clarke pulled out.

Johnston then committed the cardinal sin when Barrow were awarded a penalty - trying to find touch with a lengthy kick he failed and within a minute, Haven were ahead with a fine try from former Barrow player Carter, who was in like a flash to latch onto a kick through from Doran, the conversion from Carter sailed between the posts 12-6.

Haven lost Ryan King for 10 minutes after a tackle on Stack. Wigan loanee Tom Forber came on for Wood and within a minute chipped ahead for Johnston to gather and he sent the ball to Forber who crossed the whitewash. Shaw adding the goal 12-12.

Hard tackles from both sides were coming in thick and fast with Costello bringing on a bone crunching tackle on Carter.

With three minutes of the half remaining, Brad Walker put in a high kick, and waiting in the wings was Stack who gathered to dot the ball down. Shaw added the goal to close the half at 12-18.

The second half had only briefly got underway when Barrow increased their lead.

The alert Forber took play to the line with Creswell joining the attack to send Shaw in at the corner, but he was unable to convert 12-22.

Ramon Silva was a workhorse for Barrow, but it was the home side who pulled back to 18-22 when Ryan King forced his way over for Carter to convert.

On the hour mark, the scores were level when Mazien went in for an unconverted try, 22-22.

The closing stages were tense as both teams went for broke. Brad Walker failed with a drop goal attempt prior to Carter sinking his hometown club with that drop goal to make it two losses for Barrow who now have three successive home games starting next Sunday against York, with Doncaster and Dewsbury to follow.

Barrow: Creswell, Shaw, Toal, Costello Bulman, B Walker, Johnston, T Walker, Wood, Silva, Greenwood, Stack, Wilkinson. Subs: Emslie, Forber, Rothwell, Burke.

Whitehaven: Connel, Teare, Corkill, Evans, Maizen, Carter, Doran, Castle, Newton, Ainley, McCarron, Holliday, King. Subs: Hanneghan, Graham, Desmond Walker Hill.