Barrow Raiders battled to the end but still went under 23-14 at Widnes Vikings.
The defeat keeps Paul Crarey’s men in the relegation zone but the coach will have been pleased with the way his side performed in this tough contest.
The Raiders had actually gone in front after an even start with a penalty on 12 minutes from Ryan Shaw.
It was the Vikings, tough, who posted the first try on 17 minutes as Adam Lawton spotted a gap in the Barrow defence and raced through it to score. Jack Owens landed the conversion.
Zach Eckersley added to the Widnes lead on 22 minutes after a kick from Owens had been kicked on by Ince and eventually the debutant was in the right spot to score. Owens converted.
Jarrod Sammut almost put Danny Langtree in from Barrow’s best attacking moment but the only other score before half-time was a field goal from Owens for a 13-2 lead.
It was Barrow who were first on the scoreboard in the second-half. From a scrum on 52 minutes the ball was moved smartly left and Luke Broadbent went in for the try which Shaw converted.
Widnes responded and Danny Craven did well to make space and then use his strength to get over for the try which Owens converted.
At 19-8 the next try was going to be vital and it went to Widnes on 72 minutes. The Vikings moved the ball smartly and Eckersley sent Ryan Ince diving in at the corner.
Barrow scored again in the last minute when Sammut’s angled kick was collected by Josh Wood who drove over. Shaw converted.
