Barrow Raiders went down 36-24 at Bradford Bulls in their latest Championship fixture.
It was a disappointing score-line in the end for at half-time there was little between the two sides in an open contest with the Raiders only trailing 16-12.
There was some dispute over the opening try on six minutes when Chester Butler made the line but Barrow claimed he had been held up. The referee awarded the try and Jordan Lilley added the conversion.
A defensive lapse on 12 minutes cost Barrow a second try with Jayden Okunbor the recipient, but this time the conversion was missed.
Five mionutes later Barrow conceded again to go 16-0 down. A kick to the corner and a pat back was gratefully accepted by Zac Fulton to score the try which Lilley converted.
It had been a costly first quarter for Barrow but the second was much more profitable.
On 21 minutes Adam Jackson chipped through nd with the Bradford defence unsure of what to do Max Clarke burst through to get the touchdown. Ryan Shaw converted.
Ten minutes later Barrow decided to run the ball instead of going for goal and they are rewarded when Shaw got on the end of a chip through to get the try, but couldn’t convert.
In the last minute of the half Barrow were awarded a penalty and Shaw kicked it to put them just four points behind.
Unfortunately Barrow couldn’t follow-up after the interval. Bulls were first to score on 43 minutes when Jayden Myers broke through two poor tackles and crossed for an unconverted try.
Then after 50 minutes the Bulls scored again after breaking from hal-way and with Barrow outnumbered in defence Myers goes in for his second try which Lilley converted.
Barrow desperately needed a score to revive their hopes and they got it after 57 minutes when Luke Broadbent was able to pick up a loose ball, send a dummy and cross for a try which Shaw goaled.
On 65 minutes it was Bradford who had the game sewn up when Kieran Gill blasted his way over from close range and Lilley’s conversion gave them a 32-18 lead.
Six minutes later when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts and Lilley struck it home.
Barrow did get on the score-sheet again five minutes from the end as Ellis Gillam went in unopposed from Adam Jackson’s pass. Shaw converted.
But it was Bradford who scored the last points in the 79th minute with a penalty from Lilley.
