Raiders complete sensational fightback to stun Rams

Paul March made only two changes to his Rams squad from two weeks ago when they were brushed aside 46-0 by Widnes Vikings.

Connor Carr made his debut after signing during the week on a season-long loan from Huddersfield Giants while Bailey O’Connor switched into full-back after Craig and Jack McShane both left the club for family reasons.

Ellis Lingard was another addition to the squad after signing a week loan from Wakefield Trinity.

It was a shaky start for Barrow and after a repeat set of six, Danny Addy opened the visitors’ scoring when he barged over with only six minutes gone, after a quick play the ball on the goal line.

The Rams’ advantage was doubled when Jacob Hookem’s grubber ricocheted off Curtis Teare and Tom Delaney was quickest to react to touchdown in the corner.

It went from bad to worse for the hosts as straight from the kick off, George Senior intercepted a Barrow pass and raced 70 metres upfield to score a third try for the visitors.

The Rams were very much the stronger side in the heat, and on the half-hour mark, Jacob Algar scored the Rams’ fourth try of the evening after a sublime pass from Jacob Bateman put him through under the sticks.

Barrow tried to respond with a raid deep into the Rams’ territory with 36 minutes played, setting up a whole set on the goal line but the Rams were able to hold them out.

At the other end of the pitch, the Rams were not done and on the stroke of half time, Liam Copland made it 28-0 after some quick passing from Hookem and Monty Lumb. Hookem converted all but the last of his of his five attempts.

The half-time team talk transformed the hosts and Barrow made the perfect start to the second half, with just two minutes played. An overhead pass from Brad Walker fed Andrew Bulman to score in the corner, although Walker’s attempt at goal went wide.

The hosts then gave their home crowd some belief with their second try in five minutes when a repeat set of six saw Ryan King force himself over the line. Walker’s conversion this time was successful.

It was nervous times for the Rams as the defence began to weaken and Barrow were in for their third try of the match when Ellis Robson powered over after Alex Bishop had put him through. Walker converted to reduce the deficit to two converted tries.

With only 15 minutes to go, Barrow were firmly on the comeback trail, Shane Toal dotting the ball down under the sticks after a repeat set of six, before Alex Bishop crashed over. Walker was able to convert to level the scores.

Teare then almost sent the home crowd into raptures as he broke the Rams’ line but the defence managed to hold him up. Toal then knocked-on, giving the Rams a sigh of relief.

With five minutes to go however, Brad Walker completed the comeback after Bishop played the ball back to him and he was able to kick a field goal.

Joe Bullock then secured the two points for Barrow when he went in under the sticks, Brad Walker adding the extras.

Straight from the kick-off, Teare broke Rams’ defence again to score a superb try.

In a bad-tempered climax to the game, the referee issued five yellow cards and a red. Barrow’s King, Teare and Toal all saw yellow for fighting, while Collinson and Coates received yellows and Jacob Bateman saw red to complete a miserable day for the visitors.