Barrow Island march on with big Challenge Cup win – PICTURE SPECIAL

BARROW Island advanced to the second round of the Challenge Cup with a convincing win over Brighouse Rangers at Rating Lane.

The match had been put in jeopardy, as injuries and holidays left the travelling team short, however a solution was found as Barrow agreed to lend Brighouse players it could go ahead.

The encounter began at tremendous pace with some strong running from player-of-the-match Michelle Larkin and Jodie Crawford for the hosts.

Brighouse were on the back foot, and Kelly Friend took advantage to score under the sticks with a powerful run. Jodie Litherland converted.

Barrow continued playing some outstanding rugby and were soon on the scoresheet again as Litherland fed Larkin to touch down under the sticks. Litherland converted again for 12-0.

The next few minutes saw Brighouse find their composure, with powerful running from their forwards and strong tackling in defence.

This culminated in Louise Clancy coming on for the injured Tara Haley for Barrow, who withstood the storm and scored again as Beth Lindsay jinked her way over following some fine passing from Jess Parker and Litherland, whose boot was again accurate.

The hosts started to open up and scored two well-worked tries, firstly as Emily Stirzaker drew in the Brighouse defence and fed the unstoppable Larkin, before Louise Clancy and Litherland sent the pacey Stirzaker in. Litherland converted both for 30-0.

Brighouse were working hard but found it hard to break Barrow’s resolve. Even following a mistake in the home defence, giving them six tackles five yards out, they could not find a way through as Stirzaker, Friend and Lizzie Herring made some fine tackles.

As half-time approached, Barrow pressed forward through Kayleigh Stockdale and Jodie Moncur. A kick through by Litherland was caught well by the Brighouse defence, but a thumping tackle from Lindsay saw the ball pop up for the supporting Leah Cottier to pounce and score.

Island ended the half well, and following good play from Parker, Cottier and Litherland, Katie Gower retrieved a difficult ball and scored in the corner. Litherland missed her first conversion and it was 40-0 at the break.

Brighouse pressed at the start of the second half, but their powerful were well-marshalled and Barrow stood firm.

The hosts then produced another outstanding individual try, as Larkin found the gaps and raced clear to complete her hat-trick from 50 yards.

Brighouse began to play good, controlled rugby, and following some fine defensive work from Barrow on several occasions, they finally crashed over the line to score and make it 46-6.

The Barrow forwards matched everything the opposition did, with good running from Moncur, Crawford, Haley and Sarah Muncaster. This led to Crawford driving through the Brighouse defence to score under the sticks, with Litherland uncharacteristically missing the conversion.

Brighouse showed what they could do as they crashed over again under the sticks, and they would have scored more but for some fine defence under sustained pressure.

Barrow proved they still had the upper hand as great thinking from Zoe Ashford set up another attack, with Parker feeding Litherland. She passed to Larkin, who showed all her pace by out running the Brighouse full-back to score. Larkin scored the conversion to cap off a fine individual display.

Before the final whistle, the home side pushed forward again, Sarah Wilkinson, in her comeback game, raced through and around the Brighouse defence to score, with Litherland's conversion adding the final points to the board.

Barrow are at home to York City Knights in the second round, on Sunday, July 1.