FURNESS Raiders showed the progress they have made in the build-up to their College Rugby League bow after seeing off a Barrow and District League XIII 54-6 in Wednesday night's friendly at Craven Park.
The match was split into three 25-minute periods which allowed Raiders coach Darren Carter the chance to see all 26 of his players in action, and he will have been buoyed by how the side performed.
It took just four minutes for the hosts to get on the board, with Jake Carter's deft grubber kick being collected by half-back partner Ryan Johnson who scampered over to score the opening try and duly kicked the conversion.
Barrow and District were able to force a spell of pressure from a knock-on and although they were initially repelled, the visitors were able made it all square with 15 minutes on the clock.
The Raiders retook the lead four minutes later when the Barrow and District full-back misjudged a high kick Carter took advantage, gathering the ball after it bounced and racing behind the posts to dot down followed by Johnson again converting.
And just before the whistle sounded to bring an end to the first period, Joe Crarey added a third converted try for the home side, diving over from close range after Carter had been dragged down just short following a line break.
It was all change at the interval for Furness as they switched their entire line-up and influential hooker Blain Marwood started and finished a move which led to a try, followed by converting from out wide.
Marwood was involved in the build-up to the fifth try as well, taking the Raiders to within striking distance before the ball was worked out wide for James Lashmar to dive over, and they ended the second period 32-6 in front after Elliot Campbell crashed through for another unconverted score.
The third and final period saw Tyler Batty push Furness further ahead with an early trry, while further scores from Crarey, Marwood and Carter - the latter of whom converted one try to go with two more conversions from Johnson - saw the under-19s pass the half-century mark and secure a comfortable win.
It was a further sign of how much Darren Carter's team have come on since they were beaten 34-20 by the same opponents earlier in the year.
Furness Raiders: First period - Ross Clayton; Robert Shepard, Tyler Batty, Owen Myers, Tom Askew; Jake Carter, Ryan Johnson; Scott Beanie, Joe Crarey, Josh Rankin, Del Rodgers, Eatham Furness, Matty While. Second period - Jake Stockdale; James Lashmar, Aidan Wright, Tyler Lancaster; Robert Salt, Brandon Corrie; Elliot Campbell, Blain Marwood, John Hates, Matty Brown, Eric Hill, Rowan Smedley, Danny Wright.
Barrow and District XIII: Lewis Sayle; Chris Beddows, Sam Atkinson, Dale Hampton, Joe Ward; Brian Jackson, Tez Nueto; Gaz Morgan, Declan Gavin, Paul Wilkes, Lewis Pearson, Joe Bell, James Porter. Interchange: Dan Thompson, Joss Crawford, Scott McGuinness, Conner Harper, Liam Winfield, Brad Baker, Joe Rice.
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