IN the first of a four-part review of 2016, the Evening Mail Sportsdesk team look back at January, February and March. Barrow AFC begin to hit an upward curve, Barrow Raiders start out on a long season, and there are impressive displays from junior teams in the Lancashire Cup

JANUARY

BARROW AFC start 2016 with a 1-1 draw at Gateshead as new signing Jordan Williams nets his first goal for the club just days after joining.

Barrow Raiders face a hefty bill after Storm Frank causes part of the Duke Street end of Craven Park to collapse.

Furness take the new year rugby union spoils with a 35-31 win at Hawcoat Park in the annual charity match.

Darter Dee Bateman sees her BDO World Championship bid cut short by nine-times champion Trina Gulliver at Lakeside.

Goalkeeper Sam Pratt is the hero as Holker Under-13s reach the semi-finals of the Lancashire Cup with a penalty shootout win against AFC Monton.

Dowdales RL products Brad Walker and Liam Paisley are named in the England Academy squad. Millom’s Tyler Lancaster makes the England Youth numbers.

There is a game to remember at Holker Street – but not for the right reasons for AFC fans. Barrow blow a 3-1 lead with one minute of normal time to go to lose 4-3 to Tranmere Rovers. Manager Paul Cox blasts his players in the aftermath.

Askam’s Jacques O’Neill is named as part of the Castleford Tigers Super League squad, aged just 16. Haverthwaite’s Will Maher is also in the squad.

Crooklands Casuals lift the inaugural Barrow Junior Football League Under-eights Autumn Cup. The much-delayed finale takes place in pouring rain at Furness College.

Barrow AFC complete loan deals for Nick Wilmer-Anderton – later to drop the Wilmer after a mistake in paperwork is discovered – and Andy Parry, while Raiders land Walney’s Danny Morrow on a two-year deal.

Brad Marwood scores a late try as Raiders open pre-season with a 10-10 draw against Workington at Craven Park.

Steve Eilbeck produces an explosive performance to cap a good night for Barrow Amateur Boxing Club at the South Lakeland Freemasons Show in Grange.

Walney’s former Warwickshire and Somerset cricketer Mike Burns is named on the First Class umpires list.

The Bluebirds crash out of the FA Trophy with a 1-0 defeat at National League rivals FC Halifax Town.

Holker Under-13s clear the snow and sweep aside Walshaw Juniors to reach the Lancashire FA Cup final.

After two months without a league game, the Holker open-age team turn on the style with an 8-0 win over Whitchurch Alport on Rakesmoor Lane. Ben Rebello scores a hat-trick.

Barrow Raiders are beaten 22-0 at home by Oldham in their latest friendly.

Barrow AFC claim a vital win on the road as Ashley Grimes nets the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory at Welling United.

Supporters pledge £18,500 to boost Barrow Raiders’ coffers at sponsors night.

Snooker ace Ronnie O’Sullivan is heading the Barrow, with tickets selling fast for a date at Hawcoat Park.

Warrington promise to unleash first-team players on Barrow Raiders for Liam Harrison’s testimonial. Then they demand a pitch inspection, then an unexpected second, then leave town in a hurry after the game is called off, to the disappointment of the Barrow RL public.

Furness Rovers Under-15s make the Lancashire Cup final with a semi-final win against Standish Panthers.

Andy Cook is on the mark to help Barrow AFC take a point from a 2-2 draw at Woking.

Millom overcome the University of Hull to reach the Challenge Cup second round.

FEBRUARY

BARROW Island RL product John Winder is aiming high in Super League after being appointed assistant coach at Wigan Warriors.

Barrow AFC and Gateshead fight out a dour 0-0 draw amid the remnants of Storm Henry at Holker Street.

Bluebirds owner Paul Casson reveals a collapsed move for Margate striker Freddie Ladapo would have set a new club transfer fee record had it gone through.

Windermere golfing ace Adam Chapman is picked for the England team at the European Nations Championships in Spain.

A Ryan Fieldhouse double helps Barrow Raiders to an 18-14 pre-season win over Keighley Cougars at Craven Park.

Barrow AFC come close to a shock result against National League leaders Cheltenham Town before falling to a 2-1 defeat.

Coach Alex Meechan, sports therapist Dan Anderton and strength and conditioning coach Paddy Maher are given the bullet by Barrow AFC. Gary Simpson comes in as new assistant manager, with Paul Odgen chief scout and Ben Marvin technical sports analyst under Paul Cox.

AFC also make a transfer move to sign young Everton winger Michael Donohue on loan.

Windermere’s men’s hockey team beat Urmston 6-2 to knock the North League Two West leaders from their perch.

Millom under-nines win the delayed Barrow JFL Autumn Cup.

Forward Ben Tomlinson makes the move to Barrow AFC on loan from Barnet.

Barrow Island teen Morgan Knowles makes his St Helens first-tem debut in a 44-10 defeat to Salford in Super League.

Pilkington Recs knock Millom out of the Challenge Cup with a 46-12 win at Devonshire Road in round two.

Holker Old Boys make it 11 games unbeaten with a 3-1 win over Widnes in North West Counties Division One. Chris Wraighte, John-Paul Stanway and Guy Heffernan net.

Tributes are paid to Barrow Island RL stalwart Harry Dawson, who dies aged 89.

Driver Aaron McClure suffers Welsh woes as he crashes out of the Cambrian Rally.

Ulverston Victoria High School are the Chance to Compete cricket champions.

Sonny Dutton-Rosconie joins an elite Barrow Celtic club as he scores 10 goals for the club’s under-sevens side.

Australian duo Joel Smith and Jake Schofield join Ulverston RL.

Rochdale Hornets knock Barrow Raiders out of the iPro Sport Cup with an 18-4 win at Craven Park.

Liam Conroy wins the British Challenge Light Heavyweight title with a points win over Krzysztof Golec in Preston.

South Lakes make it 12 wins in a row with a 6-1 victory over Wigton in the Cumbria Women’s Hockey League.

Ross Rimmer wins the Frank Irvine Darts Memorial competition.

Cottages win the Barrow Monday League darts title with two weeks to spare.

Hunslet Hawks dispose of Barrow Raiders 46-12 in the Challenge Cup third round.

Barrow AFC hold high-flying Forest Green Rovers to a 2-2 draw at Holker Street. Danny Livesey and Jordan Williams score the goals to bring them back from 2-0 down.

Barton Townley Cup holders Walney Central beat Barrow Island 20-12 to reach the semi-finals.

MARCH

BARROW Raiders kick off the 2016 Kingstone Press League One season with a 37-18 victory away to North Wales Crusaders, with Liam Harrison and Andy Litherland grabbing two tries apiece.

Ben Tomlinson and Andy Cook net in the first half to fire Barrow AFC to a 2-0 victory at Boreham Wood, which lifts the Bluebirds seven points clear of the National League relegation zone.

Tributes are paid to Challenge Cup-winning former Barrow prop Les Belshaw and multi-sport star Johnny Lowes after they die aged 88 and 75 respectively.

Former BARLA Great Britain international Jamie Dallimore signs a two-year contract with Barrow Raiders after leaving North Wales. He is joined at the club by Karl Ashall.

The first game for the Furness Raiders under-19s team sees them beaten 34-20 by a Barrow and District Select side at Craven Park.

Highly-rated New Zealander Seth Rance is confirmed as Furness Cricket Club’s overseas professional for their North Lancs and Cumbria League title defence.

Barrow Striders’ senior women’s A-team clinch second place in the Mid Lancs cross-country Division One, with the B-team finishing runners-up in Division Two and the senior men taking third.

Charles Payne and co-driver Carl Williamson claim victory in the Malcolm Wilson Rally after leader David Wright is hit by mechanical problems.

Ben Mounsey, of Calder Valley Fell Runners, takes victory in the opening race of the English Fell Running Championships at Black Combe, while Victoria Wilkinson breaks the 19-year-old course record in winning the women’s race.

Windermere Ladies claim the Lancashire Central Division Two hockey title following a 9-0 triumph at home to Clitheroe and Blackburn. Elsewhere, South Lakes close in on the Cumbria Women’s League title with wins over Kendal seconds (5-3) and Keswick (3-0).

Furness Raiders exit the National College Cup in the first round after a close-fought 26-18 loss to Hopwood Hall in Darren Carter’s side’s first competitive outing.

Askam table tennis prospect Emily Bolton follows up her Junior National Cup victory by winning team gold and double silver medals with England at the Italian Youth Open.

Barrow Amateur Swimming Club product Fraser Minnican is called into the England squad for April’s Four Nations international meet in Lignano, Italy.

Ulverston runner Harry Stainton makes it back-to-back podiums in the Coniston 14, finishing third behind Sam Stead (Keswick AC) and Lewis Rodgers (Loftus and Whitby AC).

Barrow Raiders end the month unbeaten after four matches in League One, but are denied a win against Newcastle Thunder on Good Friday as the game ends in a 24-24 draw.

Askam and Millom set up a meeting between the area’s two National Conference League teams with wins over Walney Central and Ulverston respectively in the Barton Townley Cup semi-finals.

Goals from Jordan Williams, Andy Cook, Jason Walker and Ben Tomlinson make it just one loss in 11 games for AFC as they climb to 13th in National League with 4-1 victory over Halifax.