Doncaster 22 Barrow Raiders 32

Barrow Raiders scored four second-half tries as they came from behind to defeat Doncaster and open their Betfred League One campaign in style.

The Raiders showed real grit and determination to overcome a four-point half-time deficit to claim the victory at the Keepmoat Stadium.

There is obviously still a long time to go in the season, but Barrow have struck the first big blow against a team who are expected to push them hard in the race for promotion to the Championship this year.

Barrow had the first real chance of the game after back-to-back sets on the Doncaster line, as prop Carl Forster was held-up though by some resolute defending from the home side.

The Dons were the next to go close in a tight opening to the game, Brad Foster looked to be over but landed just short of the Barrow line and the visitors survived.

With the defences coming out on top in the early exchanges, Barrow took the opportunity to post the first points when Jamie Dallimore converted a penalty goal with a quarter of the game gone.

It didn’t take long after that for the first try of the encounter to come along for Doncaster, as Ryan Boyle got on the end of a flat pass from Graeme Horne.

Doncaster piled the pressure on after that and were rewarded with their second try of the game when substitute Brandon Douglas powered his way over to extend the lead to ten points.

Barrow were dealt another blow with seven minutes of the first half remaining when back-rower Danny Morrow was sin-binned after stopping Watson Boas illegally as the Papua New Guinea half-back looked to break through.

Although they were at a numerical disadvantage the Raiders scored a crucial try in the final few minutes of the half, as Ryan Duffy received the ball from Dallimore and used his considerable strength to get him over the line. Dallimore added the two to close the gap to 12-8 at the break.

The first points after half-time came the way of the home side when after a short-side play, Jason Tali found Josh Rickett, who squeezed over in the corner for his first try of the season.

The Raiders had to find a response from somewhere and it was Duffy who provided it as he once again had too much strength for the Dons defence and went over for his second.

Paul Crarey’s side had the momentum and went in front with an hour gone, as hooker Wartovo Puara bundled his way over from dummy-half despite the Dons’ desperate attempts to stop him.

Dallimore was proving to be a real handful and it was his try nine minutes from time that took the game away from Doncaster, as he went over after finding space on the left to spark jubilant scenes from the visitors’ bench.

Tali then weaved his way through to set up a nail-biting finale but the Raiders finished off the scoring with a length of the field try from Shane Toal on the hooter.

Doncaster: Logan, Doherty, Smeaton, Tali, Rickett, Boas, Beharrell, Boyle, Carter, Spiers, Foster, Ollett, Horne.

Interchange: Cross, Douglas, Peltier, Bravo.

Tries: Boyle 23, Douglas 28, Rickett 46, Tali 76

Goals: Beharrell 3/4

Barrow Raiders: Cresswell, Ritson, Hulme, Singleton, S Toal, Dallimore, Johnston, Forster, Puara, Jewitt, Smith, Morrow, Walne.

Interchange: Tyson, Hopkins, D Toal, Duffy..

Tries: Duffy 36, 55, Puara 60, Dallimore 71, S Toal 80

Goals: Dallimore (6/6)

Referee: Billy Pearson

Attendance: 982

Raiders star man: Jamie Dallimore