THREE tries from Shane Toal helped Barrow Raiders book their place in the League One Cup final as they put Oxford to the sword with a ruthless second-half display at Craven Park.

The Raiders led by just six points at the break following an at-times disjointed showing in the first 40 minutes, but came to life when play resumed to run out comfortable 64-14 winners.

Winger Toal led the way for the home side with a hat-trick of tries, while Lewis Charnock and Joe Bullock also managed two tries apiece in the

A swift attack from inside their own half led to Barrow taking the lead after just four minutes, with Ryan Fieldhouse sending Toal streaking away down the wing before passing back inside to the full-back, who had continued his run, to go over for an unconverted try.

However, Oxford hit back three minutes when the hosts gave up good field position by knocking on from the restart, and it was hooker Casey Canterbury who scampered his way through the defence for an unconverted score.

The response from the Raiders was equally swift though as Jarrad Stack won back the ball from the restart and Oxford were then penalised for offside, leading to an attack which saw Fieldhouse return the favour to Toal by setting him up for his first try which Lewis Charnock converted.

Barrow could well have moved further ahead had Stack not been held up over the line, but instead the visitors managed to draw level after Jordan Gill kicked ahead from a pass from Callum Windley which looked forward and gathered up to race clear for a try which Scott Fleming converted on 24 minutes.

The Raiders continued to apply pressure, but Oxford's defence came to the fore as both James Duerden and Nathan Mossop were held up, and Luke Cresswell was dragged down less than 20 metres out following a strong run down the left wing.

But the away side were eventually unlocked by a fast attack which saw the ball moved through the hands of Charnock and Fieldhouse to set up Toal for his second of the afternoon, which went unconverted.

Brad Brennan then extended the lead further after barging his way over under the posts to give Charnock an easy conversion, but Oxford were able to hit back again just as the hooter sounded for half time when scrum-half Fleming scooped up a loose ball from a knock-on and sprinted clear for a try.

It was a different story when play resumed though and when Tom Walker battered his way through the Oxford defence to dot down it signalled the chance for Barrow to cut loose, with James Duerden showing great skill to get the ball down when it looked like he had been held up four minutes later.

Dan Abram's darting run from dummy-half saw him go through a gap from close range in the 55th minute and that was followed by Charnock – who kicked eight conversions as well – being set up by Stack for his first try.

The second row then provided the assist for Bullock and Toal's hat-trick try on 69 minutes took the Raiders to the half-century mark for the third game in a row. Further tries from Charnock and Bullock then added further gloss to the scoreline as Barrow ensured their trip to Bloomfield Road.

Barrow Raiders: Ryan Fieldhouse; Shane Toal, Declan Hulme, Andy Litherland, Luke Cresswell; Lewis Charnock, Brad Marwood; Joe Bullock, Nathan Mossop, Ollie Wilkes, Dan Toal, Jarrad Stack, Martin Aspinwall. Interchange: Dan Abram, Tom Walker, James Duerden, Brad Brennan.

Oxford: Kane Riley; Jordan Gill, Curtis McDonald, Marcus Brooker, Thomas Newbould; Callum Windley, Scott Fleming; Stuart Biscomb, Casey Canterbury, Dwain McRae, Harvey Bennett, William Cooke, Anthony Cox. Interchange: Bradley Moyles, Mark Hayes, Aaron Nicholson, Jordan Siddons.

Referee: Luke Moore.