BARROW RAIDERS 16, SHEFFIELD EAGLES 36

DISMAL is the only word to describe this performance by Barrow as the Eagles landed and went away with the two points on offer.

Barrow fans were up in arms after witnessing a disastrous 80 minutes from the home side who looked totally disorganised. The defensive line was all at sea, allowing the Eagles to prise open gaps with ease and run riot.

The writing was on the wall as early as the fourth minute when, after Shane Toal lost possession, the Eagles went 80 yards downfield at speed for Kris Welham to score outwide, Cory Ashton adding the goal, 0-6.

Barrow lost influential hooker Josh Wood with a leg injury as the Eagles lost the ball 30 yards from their own line. However on the first tackle Mr Reliable, Luke Creswell, dropped the ball.

The Eagles raced clear again only for Shane Toal to pull off a try-saving tackle on Welham.

Barrow responded on 11 minutes when a forceful run from Ellis Gillam saw the big prop spin around in the tackle to dot the ball down, Ryan Shaw converting 6-6.

From this point it was all downhill as there was no urgency in Barrow’s play, and it came as no surprise on 19 minutes to see man of the match Anthony Thackeray prise open a gap for Welham to go in for his second try, converted by Ashton 6-12.

Once more the home cover was nowhere to be seen as Thackeray sent in Dawson-Jones at the corner 6-16.

It was becoming one-way traffic as Thackeray parted to Ross Oakes who broke through three would-be tacklers to score from close range, Ashton adding the extra two points 6-22.

It must be said those three tries came after Barrow conceded three successive penalties.

Three minutes from the break Sammut went in from close range and Shaw’s goal gave the home side a lift at 12-22.

However, more doom and gloom as the second half got underway, and from the kick off Barrow surrendered the ball, leading to Oakes swooping on a kick over the home line, 12-26.

Yet again slack defensive work enabled Uill Liu to break through five defenders who were left grasping at thin air as the substitute crossed the whitewash for 12-30.

On the hour mark a bit of spark from the home side as Johnston parted to Shaw who sent Toal in at the corner, 16-30.

More pressure saw Burke held up over the line but the hopes of a comeback were brief as Ashton burst through the weak cover to race clear and send the supporting Thackeray over the line, Ashton closing the scoring with the goal 16-36.

In the closing stages Ben Evans and Johnston were held up over the line.

Barrow now go to Swinton who pulled off a shock 30-16 win at Batley.

BARROW: Creswell, Bullman, Worthington, Shaw,Toal, Sammut, Johnston, Iaria, Wood, Gillam, Langtree, Stack, Wells. Subs: J Carter, Emslie, Evans Burk. Mail Man of the match: Ellis Gillam.