Barrow Raiders lost 36-18 at Featherstone today in their penultima Championship away trip of the season.
They still have to go to champions Wakefield on September 21 but will be looking for home games against Toulouse, Whitehaven and Widnes to provide their route to safety.
The Raiders will still have to keep looking over their shoulders but after a spirited display in defeat at Featherstone there’s a positive feeling about Paul Crarey’s squad going into the last four games.
It wasn’t the best of starts for the Raiders as they were 6-0 down after 10 minutes when Brad Day ran a great line before slicing through for the opening try which Ben Reynolds converted.
Barrow hit back on 19 minutes when Ryan Johnston scored a try wide out on the left which Ryan Shaw was unable to convert.
Four minutes later Featherstone were in again and this time it was Reynolds who beat Barrow’s defenders on the line to reach a high ball and touchdown. He converted as well.
Barrow had been doing well enough in defence but were caught out on 38 minutes when a clever reverse pass from Danny Addy put Connor Jones in for the try which Reynolds converted.
Six minutes into the second-Half and the home side were in again. A kick through was deflected off a Barrow hand into the path of Jimmy Beckett who helped himself to the four points on offer. Reynolds converted.
It was looking ominous at 24-4 but Barrow hit back after 50 minutes when Josh Wood burrowed over from close range and Ryan Shaw added the extras.
James Greenwood then thought he had scored a third Barrow try but it was disallowed for not grounding properly.
It was a shame because almost immediately Fev went down the other end and some slick handling ended with Connor Wynne going over in the corner. Reynolds didn’t miss that conversion either.
Barrow were again on the score-sheet after 63 minutes following a break from Andrew Bulman which was finished off by Luke Broadbent.
Sadly, though, Featherstone scored again on 70 minutes when Barrow couldn’t deal with a high ball and Jones went in for a simple score. Reynolds went six out of six with the conversion.
But it was Barrow who had the final word when Shane Toal scored after a rampaging run by Ellis Gillam.
