Barrow 39 - 28 Dewsbury
Craven Park erupted when 2,311 fans raised the roof as Barrow pulled off the impossible to defeat the Yorkshire side with two tries and a conversion at the death which ended in a massive brawl.
Barrow were shocking in the first 40 minutes, handing Dewsbury a 28-0 interval lead.
They were lethargic and sloppy to put in mildly and never looked interested. Disgruntled fans all around the ground stood in dismay as the visitors ran in four converted tries at ease with nothing to offer in exchange.
Coach Paul Crarey must have done an Alex Ferguson and blasted his troops into shame during the interval.
Whatever he said paid off, as Barrow completely dominated the second half running in 39 unanswered points. A club record comeback, ironically all 67 points came at the Duke Street end of the ground.
That talk must have worked wonders and there was only one team in the contest.
The game was barely four minutes old when Danny Addy went in from close range for Jacob Hookem to convert 0-6.
Barrow did go upfield minutes later with Tom Walker going close, but the home side ran out of tackles.
On 17 minutes the scoreline doubled, as Tom Delaney rounded Andrew Bulman to dive in at the corner for Hookem to land a touchline goal 0-12.
And to add to the misery, Brad Walker’s long pass intended for Bulman was intercepted by George Senior who raced in from 55 yards, Hookem adding the goal 0-18.
And when Luke Broadbent lost the ball, in like a shot was Jacob Algar to race over for Hookem to land his fourth goal 0-24.
A rare attack saw Harvey Makin and Ellis Robson make good yards to the visitors line only for the tackles to run out with Ellis Archer short of the line.
Barrow were not at the races and with the first half coming to a close Delaney made a neat break to send Connor Carr in at the corner 0-28.
The second half opened with Barrow registering their first points, a looping pass from Brad Walker sent Bulman in at the corner, 4-28.
On 47 minutes Ryan King forced his way over for Walker to convert, but hopes of a win were minimal 10-28.
A further ten minutes on the clock and Alex Bishop and Walker were involved for Robson to come onto the ball at speed to dot the ball down for Walker to convert 16-28 and hopes were on the horizon.
The heat was on and the visitors were under pressure as Joe Bullock and Brad Walker both went close prior to a fine delayed pass from Bishop saw Shane Toal cut through the cover to score,Walker converted 22-28, and Craven Park was buzzing as the fans could sense a victory ahead.
And when a panicking Dewsbury side lost the ball 30 yards from their own line, a rejuvenated Barrow side were on high alert as Bullock and Curtis Teare piled on the pressure.
Teare forced a drop out from under the posts when he forced Bailey O’Connor to push the ball dead. Tom Walker was held short, but from the play the ball Bishop foxed the cover to dart over for Walker to bring the scores level 28-28.
A further raid saw Jarrad Stack knock on with the line at his mercy, but massive cheers a minute later as Walker coolly dropped a goal from 30 metres out 29-28.
Barrow were rampant as Bullock crashed over for Walker to convert on 77 minutes 35-28.
From the restart, Bulman gathered the ball inside own half parting to Teare who covered 50 metres to crash over in the corner, frustration came into the Dewsbury camp a massive brawl developed with Bateman sent off and team mates Coates and Collinson sin binned along with Barrow’s King,Teare and Bulman.
Barrow: Cresswell, Broadbent, Toal, Teare, Bulman, B Walker, Archer, Bullock, Bishop, T Walker, Robson, Stack, King. Subs Richards, Makin, Emslie, Knott.
Mail Man of the Match. First half not a contender. Second half. Alex Bishop who put in an 80-minute stint.
Attendance 2,311.
Share