Barrow Raiders held off a spirited fight back from Dewsbury Rams to collect their second win of the season.
It finished 27-20 to the Raiders but at half-time they were leading 26-4 and it needed a late drop goal from Ryan Johnston to settle their nerves.
In actual fact there had been a delayed start to the second-half because of a medical emergency in the crowd. The late resumption seemed to knock Barrow off their stride and it was Dewsbury who dominated the second-half.
Barrow had taken the lead on five minutes when they moved the ball in-field from the left with Tom Wilkinson finishing off under the posts for Ryan Shaw to convert.
It did not take long for Dewsbury to get onto the score-sheet as after ten minutes Bailey Dawson went in at the corner. Paul Sykes was unable to level as he pulled the conversion attempt wide.
But all the remaining first half points came from Barrow, starting on 26 minutes when Luke Cresswell broke through and it was Kavan Rothwell who finished-off with the touchdown. Shaw converted.
A minute later Barrow were in again. Dewsbury’s re-start kick was taken by Shaw who sensed plenty of space down the left so he fed Luke Broadbent and he galloped away for a spectacular try. The wind swirled away Shaw’s conversion attempt.
More Barrow pressure brought them a try on 32 minutes with Rothwell charging over for his second touchdown which Shaw converted.
Then four minutes later it looked all over when Matt Costello barged over on last tackle. It didn’t seem to matter when Shaw missed the conversion.
But after the late re-start to the second-half it was Dewsbury who roused themselves to score first on 51 minutes.
The Rams had made a positive start to the second period and after building up strong pressure Jacob Hookem went in for a try which Sykes converted.
Five minutes later they were in again as quick hands ended with Owen Restall slicing through the home defence to score and again Sykes converted.
The visitors had the bit between their teeth and it was game on after 67 minutes when Marcus Walker crashed over but Sykes could not convert.
It was getting too close for comfort but when Barrow gradually forced their own pressure Johnston took the opportunity to drop a goal – and the Rams never got another chance.
