PRIOR to kick-off yesterday, the good folk of the bookmaking fraternity were offering odds of 55/1 on a draw between Barrow Raiders and Toronto Wolfpack – essentially a fewer than two percent chance of such a result occurring.

Just because something is unlikely does not mean it is impossible though and the Raiders' players can attest to that, having more than earned a share of the spoils in a nail-biting 8-8 draw at home to the full-time Canadian side in the Betfred Championship.

With winter firmly set in on the Furness peninsular, it was never going to be a day for free-flowing, attacking rugby and the pitch left heavy by the snow and hail ahead of the match made for a heavy pitch at Craven Park.

Consequently, that served to level the playing field and nullify the danger from Toronto's pacey backs, but that only tells part of the story.

For this was a result which was as much a result of Barrow's impressive defence and them showing how they had learnt from the previous week's 56-12 defeat at to London Broncos, with the basics being executed well and fewer penalties being given away late in the tackle count.

And while at times it seemed as if the Wolfpack's frustrations got the better of them, particularly with regards to penalties being given away for high tackles, the Raiders showed great patience in sticking to their processes and got their reward in the end.

Had it not been for Jamie Dallimore having a drop-goal attempt blocked six minutes from time then they may well have snatched victory, but many would have seen this result as almost as good as a win.

After all, this was a match which few had given the Raiders any hope of getting anything from – to return to our friends the bookies, Toronto were 14/1 on and Barrow 12/1 outsiders – having been out-scored by a total of 96-4 in both of last year's meetings in League One and yet to score a try against the Wolfpack.

The latter was finally put to bed in the 55th minute of the match when Dan Toal chased down a kick to score, ending a run which had lasted for a combined 215 minutes. What is more, that and the conversion from Dallimore proved to be the crucial scores in getting what may well prove to be a valuable point come the end of the season.

Any thoughts Toronto may about just turning up and grinding out a result were swiftly put to bed in a tight opening quarter, although they could well have been ahead after just two minutes had Jack Buchanan not dropped the ball close to the home side's line.

Barrow weathered the early storm and started to gain some ascendancy though, getting an opportunity on 19 minutes from a penalty for a high tackle which stand-off Dallimore duly kicked over the posts from around 35 metres out.

Toronto took the lead five minutes later though when a penalty for offside was swiftly followed by Barrow being marched back a further 10 metres by referee Gareth Hewer for dissent, giving the visitors good position to launch an attack which was finished by Andrew Dixon crashing over for an unconverted try.

A knock-on from Jarrad Stack led to the Wolfpack regathering possession and Nick Rawsthorne finishing for another unconverted try two minutes into the second half, having been set up by Quentin Laulu-Togagae.

But Toronto full-back Laulu-Togage's fumble led to Barrow's try 13 minutes later, with Dallimore kicking the ball forwards and second row Toal winning the foot-race to dive on it for a try which was converted.

Only a desperate dive prevented Dallimore from getting his drop-goal effort away on 75 minutes, while Toronto pressed for a try which would put the result beyond doubt in the closing minutes, only to find themselves thwarted by some stoic defence from the home side.

Much as with last week's defeat at London, this result will not define Barrow's season. However, what it has done is shown them they can compete with the teams expected to be at the top of the division and should give them plenty of confidence to take into the visit of Leigh Centurions this Sunday.

Barrow Raiders: Ryan Fieldhouse 7; Brett Carter 8, Declan Hulme 7, Tom Loxam 7, Shane Toal 7; Jamie Dallimore 8, Karl Ashall 7; Joe Bullock 7, Dean Parata 8, Alec Susino 8, Jarrad Stack 7, Jono Smith 7, Martin Aspinwall 7. Interchange: Nathan Mossop 7, Tom Walker 8, Glenn Riley 7, Dan Toal 7.

Toronto Wolfpack: Quentin Laulu-Togagae; Liam Kay, Greg Worthington, Nick Rawsthorne, Adam Higson; Josh McCrone, Ryan Brierley; Jack Buchanan, Bob Beswick, Jack Bussey, Andrew Dixon, Richard Whiting, Jacob Emmitt. Interchange: Andy Ackers, Oisi Krasniqi, Adam Sidlow, Blake Wallace.

Referee: Gareth Hewer.

Attendance: 1,266.

Playback: 19 – Dallimore pen (2-0); 24 – Dixon try (2-4); 42 – Rawsthorne try (2-8); 55 – D Toal try, Dallimore conv (8-8).

Raiders star man: Tom Walker: Made crucial metres and carries with the ball in hand, tackled hard and got through some huge minutes off the interchange bench.