Barrow 18
Sheffield Eagles 16
A late penalty goal from the boot of Brad Walker secured the points in a hard tussle with the Eagles.
It was a tough encounter with the game held in the balance until that late strike from Walker when the scores were level at 16-16.
However there was an anxious last five minutes, from the restart skipper Ryan Johnson knocked on close to his own line resulting in a scrum ten yards from the line.
The Eagles moved the ball sharply applying constant pressure but all credit to the Barrow defence for holding out with some gritty tackling.
They survived, and gradually took play upfield to avoid any further danger.
But in the last minute the ball was back in the hands of the Eagles who had one last shot at salvaging the game. But to the joy of the home team and supporters the visitors lost possession.
When Barrow were caught offside on ten minutes the visitors went ahead through a Jordan Abdull penalty goal 0-2.
There was little between the two sides as Barrow introduced Wigan loanee Harvey Makin.
The substitute made good yards with his first touch of the ball to the visitors line from where Ryan King after taking a short pass from Alex Bishop, spun around in the tackle to dot the ball down for his 11th try of the season,Brad Walker added the conversion 6-2.
Four minutes further on the clock, Bishop again was on hand with a timely pass and Makin try maker was a try scorer, crashing over for his first try for the club this term,Walker tagged on the goal 12-2.
At the other end minutes later, Luke Cresswell saved the home line with a crunching tackle on Billy Walkley who was heading for the corner.
But there was no stopping Walkley on the half hour mark.The Eagles broke free deep in their one half, Kieran Gill made a fine break cutting through the home cover and on his shoulder was Walkley to touchdown for Abdull to convert 12-8.
And when Ryan Miller broke free, Shane Toal was on hand with a text book tackle to prevent the wingers further progress.
Four minutes from the break, it was level pegging at 12-12 with Walkley crossing out wide.
Barrow closed the half with a fine break from Curtis Teare who parted to Johnston who was brought to ground on the hooter.
The visitors had the upper hand in the opening minutes of the second period with Abdull’s high bombs teasing Cresswell, Bulman and Broadbent, but the trio dealt with the matter under pressure.
And it was from a neat kick to the corner from Abdull that saw Bower swoop to score 12-16.
Barrow reintroduced Bullock, Tom Walker and Bishop and they gradually got on top with determined attacks and strong tackling.
And when a loose ball from the Eagles was snapped up, Toal made yards to send the supporting Ellis Robson in at the corner 16-16 and game on.
Walker failed to convert but added that vital penalty goal for a two point advantage.
However, Johnston knocked on from the restart and the home defence was on alert as the Eagles tried to find a way through to no avail.
Barrow. Cresswell, Broadbent, Toal, Teare, Bulman B, Walker, Johnston, Bullock, Bishop, T Walker, Robson, Stack, King. Subs used Makin, Forber, Richards, Emslie.
Mail Man of the Match: Harvey Makin
Attendance 1,398
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