London Skolars 14 Barrow Raiders 24

Barrow turned in their poorest display of the season in maintaining their 100% record with a ten point victory in the capital.

Coach Paul Crarey shuffled his squad due to injuries with a makeshift three quarter line with Charlie Emslie making his debut - but still with experienced players on board to take on a Skolars side that were crushed at home 62-10 by lowly Hunslet last weekend.

Skolars, second bottom, came up against the League One leaders but any neutral would have thought it was the other way round with the home side playing the better rugby.

Crarey's plan was to play down the middle on a small pitch and they were made to work hard for the points on offer. When his side give the ball plenty of air they are a rampant outfit and run in tries at will.

They have probably the fastest winger in this division in Tee Ritson who ran in successive hat-tricks of tries in the last two games. But the flying winger never saw the ball out wide until he killed off a brave Skolars challenge with a 30 yard interception try on 72 minutes.

The opening exchanges were even with both sides guilty of dropping the ball on several occasions while the home side almost put points on the board with Thomas being held short of the line.

Both lines came under pressure before Barrow finally broke the deadlock on 21 minutes. Nathan Mossop broke deep from inside his own half parting to Luke Creswell only for Thomas to pull off a try saving tackle. However from the play the ball, Jake Carter prised open a gap to score, Jamie Dallimore converting.

This eased matters as the scoreline doubled eight minutes later as Carter and Forster combined for Creswell to dot the ball down, Dallimore tagging on the goal 0-12.

Danny Morrow and Brad Crellin left the field injured along with Carter five minutes from the break. Carter went down in a tackle which resulted in a red card for Mike Gallagher.

As half time approached the ball moved wide for Harry Swarbrick to cross in the corner, Dallimore on target with the kick 0-18. The visitors almost increased their lead only for Duffy to lose the ball in trying to touchdown.

However on the stroke of half time a kick to the corner from Thorman saw Chris Hammond swoop to score, Thorman adding the goal 6-18.

Barrow were down to 12 men on 50 minutes with Walne sin-binned for an off the ball incident. And Thorman was now controlling the game as the Skolars moved forward at pace. It was from a Thorman chip to the corner that Elliott Carter got his fingers to the ball .

Ritson intercepted against the run of play to touchdown, Dallimore kicking his 221st career goal for 10-24.

In the closing minutes Lamont Bryan crossed for the home side.

Barrow will now regroup and count the cost of the walking wounded before Sunday's home top of the table clash with Workington.

Barrow: Creswell, Ritson, Hopkins, S Toal, Swarbrick, Dallimore, Carter, Forster, Mossop, Walne, Morrow, Emslie, Crellin. Subs used: Duffy, Bustin, McBain, Johnston.