Barrow Raiders won back the bragging rights after a deserved 32-16 win over county rivals Whitehaven at the Summer Bash in York.
The Raiders had been narrowly beaten at home by Haven earlier in the season in a Championship fixture so this was an important win for them.
More significantly, though, the win lifted Barrow out of the relegation zone’s bottom two for the first time this season.
Whitehaven had taken the lead on 11 minutes when they worked the ball well for Curtis Teare to finish off.
But it took only five minutes for Barrow to draw level and then take the lead with Ryan Shaw’s conversion. Danny Langtree made the break, slamming through two tackles before feeding Shane Toal who finished-off from 20 metres.
When Barrow were penalised for offside Whitehaven didn’t think twice – going for the two points from the kick and Josh Rourke levelled the score.
Parity didn’t last long for on 24 minutes another good break from Langtree opened up the Whitehaven defence and Luke Cresswell scored the try which Shaw improved.
Langtree started a promising Barrow attack by a forceful charge up field and Haven were caught out four minutes from the break. Jarrod Sammut hadn’t much room but enough to make the line for Barrow’s third try. Shaw converted for an 18-6 interval lead.
Haven hit back 11 minutes into the second-half when Barrow were penalised for a high tackle and when they set-up an attacking position Teare scored acrobatically in the corner for his second try.
It was a crucial stage of the game when the next score was going to be vital; and it was Langtree, having an outstanding game, who crossed for Barrow to register his 100th career touchdown. Shaw converted for a 24-10 lead.
Keanan Brand then kicked a penalty for Barrow and the game was virtually all over when Langtree made another try, this one for Anton Iaria. Shaw converted.
There was only time for another Haven try in the 79th minute with good work from Rourke to show and go round the Barrow defence for the touchdown which he converted.
