TWO tries apiece from Luke Cresswell and Dan Toal helped Barrow Raiders kick off the year with a victory as they overcame Keighley Cougars in the first friendly of the year at Craven Park

The Raiders were without several familiar faces for the opening game of 2018, with new skipper Martin Aspinwall, Shane Toal, Ryan Fieldhouse and Lewis Charnock all rested, and Karl Ashall unavailable due to illness.

That meant Nathan Mossop was captain for the day, while Cresswell slotted in at full-back, Ryan Johnston lined up in the halves and Tom Loxam got a start on the wing. Meanwhile, new signings Glen Riley, Alec Susino and Jono Smith were on the interchange bench.

And there were welcome returns from long spells out injured for Andy Litherland and Matty Holmes, with the former lining up in the centres and the latter among the replacements.

It was Keighley who enjoyed the best of the opening minutes, with Adam Ryder knocking on five metres out after the visitors had a gained a repeat set, but the Raiders took the lead in the sixth minute.

A penalty led to Mossop sending 2017 player of the year Bullock rumbling over under the posts for a try, with Jamie Dallimore adding the extras.

Then 10 minutes later, a break from Delcan Hulme was followed by him passing inside to Johnston, who in turn set Cresswell up for Barrow’s second converted try.

The Cougars, who had been denied a try when prop Ryder knocked on after Lewis Fairhurst had charged down a kick from Dallimore, hit back as the half approach the midway point when Harry Aaronson breezed past several would-be tacklers for a score which Fairhurst converted.

Then half-back Fairhurst sliced through the Raiders defence in a similar manner seven minutes later, although this time the try went unconverted.

However, Barrow regathered and ensured they would lead by eight points at half time when Jarrad Stack flicked a pass inside for fellow back row Toal to go over near the posts on 36 minutes for another converted score.

A yellow card to Brett Carter for throwing a punch which sparked a brawl just as the hooter sounded for half-time ensured the Raiders would start temporarily down to 12 men when play resumed though.

That had little effect on the hosts though and they could hardly have asked for a better start to the second half, with Hulme scoring an unconverted try and then Mossop burrowing over from a play-the-ball after Susino had been stopped just short.

A try from Tom Walker, plus Cresswell and Toal’s second scores of the day – all of which were converted by Dallimore – put the seal on the win for the Raiders, although Keighley did reply through tries from Leeming and Ryder.

Barrow Raiders: Luke Cresswell; Brett Carter, Andy Litherland, Declan Hulme, Tom Loxam; Jamie Dallimore, Ryan Johnston; Joe Bullock, Nathan Mossop, Tom Walker, Bradd Crellin, Jarrad Stack, James Duerden. Interchange: Dan Toal, Glenn Riley, Alec Susino, Matty While, Jono Smith, Matty Holmes.

Keighley Cougars: Harry Aaronson; Hamish Barnes, Cameron Leeming, Adam Ryder, Andrew Gabriel; Lewis Fairhurst, Ryan Wright; Matthew Bailey, Billy Gaylor, Matthew Ross, Joshua Lynam, Liam Senior, Michael Emmitt. Interchange: Trae O’Sullivan, Joe Lumb, Harvey Hallas, Brad Nicholson, Jose Kenga, Calvin Barker.

Referee: Bradley Milligan.