A FRANTIC finish could not produce a winner as Barrow Raiders and Dewsbury Rams had to settle for a share of the spoils in this afternoon’s Betfred Championship clash at Craven Park.

Seeking to rebound from the previous week’s heavy loss at York City Knights, the Raiders made a flying start and two converted tries from Jarrad Stack – moved to centre rather than the second row – helped them into a 14-8 lead at half time.

But errors started to creep into their game as the match wore on and Dewsbury punished them for it, only for a 75th-minute try from Ryan Johnston and subsequent conversion from Lewis Charnock being enough to earn them a point

The Raiders made a much better start than seven days prior at York and got their reward on eight minutes when Stargroth Amean made inroads with a strong run and, after the hosts were awarded a penalty, Charnock set up Stack to dart through for the opening try followed by the latter converting.

However, interference at a play-the-ball 20 metres out on 17 minutes gave Dewsbury a good platform to attack from and they took advantage when Kyle Trout powered through for a score converted by Paul Sykes.

Barrow rallied though, playing with greater fluency and with confidence, and Willie Minoga thought he had scored his first try for the club on 24 minutes when he won the contest for a high ball from Charnock – only for it to be ruled out for a forward pass.

However, a steepling Charnock kick did lead to a try three minutes later, with Stack living up to his nickname of ‘The Fish’ and leaping high to grab the ball and dot down for an unconverted score.

Ryan Johnston then edged the home side further ahead with a penalty after Charnock had been hit late and temporarily forced off the field, but veteran half-back Sykes cut the deficit with the last play of the half with a kick of his own after some chaotic play led to Barrow being penalised for offside.

Charnock – back on the field – kicked another penalty in the 42nd minute and then had a try for winger Amean ruled out due to a forward pass.

That was one of several unforced errors Barrow started to come up with and the Rams punished them for it, first when Trout crashed over for his second converted try on 53 minutes and then again nine minutes later when Sykes burrowed through to score and convert after the visitors had forced a goal-line drop-out.

Sykes and half-back partner Simon Brown then missed drop-goal attempts in the final quarter of an hour, and the Raiders eventually got up a head of steam which allowed them to pressure the Dewsbury line before Johnston was sent over for a try converted by Charnock to level the scores with five minutes to go.

Charnock and Johnston failed in drop-goal attempts too and Sykes mishit his second – and Dewsbury’s third – effort at a one-pointer as it finished honours even.

Barrow Raiders: Tee Ritson; Startgroth Amean, Jarrad Stack, Deon Cross, Jake Spedding; Ryan Johnston, Lewis Charnock; Tom Walker, Wartovo Puara Jr, Josh Johnson, Jono Smith, Jordan Walne, Martin Aspinwall. Interchange: Nathan Mossop, Glenn Riley, Bradd Crellin, Willie Minoga.

Dewsbury Rams: Luke Hooley; Rob Worrincy, Cameron Leeming, Adam Ryder, Dale Morton; Paul Sykes, Simon Brown; Tom Garratt, Sam Day, Lucas Walshaw, Daniel Igbinedion, Kyle Trout. Interchange: Robbie Ward, Mike Knowles, Tobias Richardson, Jordan Andrade.

Referee: Michael Mannifield.