Barrow Raiders laid early claims to be Kings of Cumbria with a comprehensive 40-0 home victory over Workington Town to start the new-look Championship.
The South Cumbrians powered home in the end to underline their experience in the old Championship while Town were stepping up from League One.
It was Town’s first foray into the Championship since 2022 and they had travelled south looking to topple a side well established at a higher level.
The Northern Competitions Stadium pitch was heavy and conditions made it tricky as most players were caked in mud within the first quarter.
Town were reduced to 12 men after 15 minutes when Braden Leigh was set to the bin following a 26-man brawl.
Barrow responded quickly by taking the lead with Joe Bullock crashing over for the opening try which Brad Walker converted.
Town were generally defending well and were back to full strength when Barrow scored again.
On 27 minutes Barrow went over again through Gregg Richard’s who went over after taking a perfect short pass. Walker doubled the Barrow lead with the conversion.
Raiders decided to take a shot at goal on 33 minutes when they were awarded a penalty and Walker made no mistake.
So 14-0 at half-time, and Workington would consider they had done well enough in difficult conditions and with only one pre-season game under their belts.
However that might have been the reason they conceded 26 unanswered second-half points through being undercooked.
Indeed all those extra points came in the final quarter of the game with Barrow not adding to their score until the 60th minute when a quick offload saw Ellis Archer dive in to score. Walker’s conversion attempt hit the post.
Four minutes later Barrow were in again when a short-ball from Ryan Johnston was taken by Ellis Robson to go over. Walker converted and at 24-0 it was looking like damage limitation for Town.
Some slick handling from Barrow got them in again as Archer and Luke Cresswell combined to put Curtis Teare in for a try which Walker converted.
Still they kept going and scored again when more good handling saw Cresswell finish off in the 78th minute after more good work by ex-Town player Archer.
They still weren’t finished and in the last minute it was that man Archer with a fine break which set up Cresswell to crash over near the sticks and Walker converted.
The Raiders’ quality shone through as they underlined their play-off credentials while Town will learn from the experience and improve with more match time in the weeks ahead.
The crowd was 2,003.
Hear Barrow Raiders coach Paul Crarey’s views on the match below:
And here is what Workington Town’s Jonty Gorley had to say:
