Barrow Ladies crashed out of the Women’s Challenge Cup when they were beaten 22-16 by hosts Cardiff Demons.
It was tough going for both teams in heavy rain on a 4G pitch and at half-time Barrow were chasing the game, trailing 16-6.
They won the second-half 10-6 but it wasn’t enough to turn round their fortunes and the road to Wembley ended at the first hurdle.
Barrow had made a strong side but couldn’t make the breakthrough and they suffered a set-back when they had Jodie Morley sin-binned on 12 minutes.
They almost got through to the end of ten minutes without conceding but Cardiff did take advantage of the handicap after 20 minutes when Lorraine Burnell ran 50 metres to score the opening try which Shaunni Davies converted.
The second Cardiff try came on 29 minutes when Zoe Heeley slid over in the corner and the Davies conversion attempt came back off the crossbar.
Four minutes later Barrow were on the score-sheet when Leah Cottier managed to force her way over from close range and Jodie Litherland’s conversion pulled them to within four points.
But right on half-time Seren Gough-Walters got on the end of a chip from Heeley to dive over the line for a fine try which Davies converted.
Barrow needed an early score to get back into the contest but almost immediately after the re-start Alice Rush was dragged into touch as she tried to get over in the corner.
That would have made a difference because they did score on 55 minutes through Emily Stirzaker and Litherland converted to get them to within four points again.
The Raiders were rocked on 65 minutes when Burnell scored a fine second try, converted by Davies.
Emma Hutchinson scored for Barrow two minutes from time but it was too little, too late for the Furness side.
