Barrow put up a superb display against Super League Huddersfield Giants before losing 30-16 in the sixth round of the Challenge Cup.
The tie was a contrast in styles, with Barrow prepared to move the ball around in exciting, eye-catching fashion while Giants relied very much on their big, powerful forwards.
It took the Giants 16 minutes to get themselves in front when strong forward drives ended with Luke Yates crashing over. Oliver Russell converted.
The visitors soon doubled their tally when Ricky Leutele stepped through two tackles to touchdown. Russell converted.
Barrow then forced consecutive sets on the Huddersfield line and at then end Tee Ritson was just inches away from reaching a little kick through from Hakim Miloudi.
But Ritson got Barrow back into the game after 32 minutes with a smart interception inside his own 20 and he went the length for a great try which Jarrod Sammut converted.
Just when it looked as though Barrow were going to go in just six points behind the Giants scored a fine individual try.
The powerful Seb Ikahihifo barged, twisted, turned and powered through several tackles to get over the line for Russell to convert and give them an 18-6 lead at the break.
Scoring the first try of the second half was going to be so important and it went to Barrow after four minutes.
A fine long pass from Sammut was helped on by Miloudi to Ritson who dived over in the corner for an unconverted try.
But immediately Huddersfield hit back, again through a powerful forward Jack Ashworth drove his way over from 20 metres. Russell hit the post with his conversion attempt.
The Raiders, however would not lie down and on 57 minutes they cut the gap again.
Sammut slipped a lovely pass in to hard-working forward Jarrad Stack who crashed over. Sammut converted to make it a six-point game going into the final quarter.
Great work by Luke Cresswell prevented a certain try when Innes Senior was going in at the corner. He just did enough to dislodge the ball as he dived over, which the video referee confirmed.
It was getting too close for Huddersfield ands when they were awarded a penalty within range Russell took the two points.
Barrow then had a really good spell on the Huddersfield line without being able to get through.
It was harsh on Barrow when the Giants scored from almost the last play of the game. The ball was spilled under pressure under the Barrow posts and Senior picked up to dot down.
The video referee checked, and there was a suggestion that the ball had been reefed out, but the try counted and Russell added the conversion.
