BARROW RAIDERS 26, WIDNES VIKINGS 18

In a cliffhanger of a finish with Barrow leading by two points, Craven Park erupted as Shane Toal swooped upon a loose ball and with the encouragement of 2,150 supporters (bar a few Widnes fans) the winger-turned-centre raced in from 30 metres to seal the victory, 26-18.

Barrow were in total control in the first period building up an interval lead at 18-0. Widnes never looked like scoring, but they hit the home side with a double whammy with 12 points inside two minutes early in the second half for 18-12. This lifted the Vikings who were now a different team, they ran with force letting the ball do the work with Barrow defending continuously.

Barrow rarely put pressure on the Widnes line in this second period and were thankful when Ryan Shaw slotted over a vital penalty goal almost on the hour mark 20-12.

Widnes battled hard for points but Barrow pulled out all the stops with some determined defensive work.

However on 56 minutes Aaron Brown crossed for Tommy Gilmore to convert, the substitute crossing the whitewash. The attack came when four Barrow defenders trying to force a Viking player into touch suddenly saw the ball released to set up the try.

Barrow got off to a flying start with Anton Iaria going over the line taking a slick ball from Josh Wood to crash over, Ryan Shaw converting 6-0. Slack marking allowed Tommy Gilmore to race upfield but nothing materialised.

Ellis Gillam then took play deep with a forceful run only for the Raiders to run out of tackles. Barrow were then forced on the defensive having to soak up 18 tackles, turning defence into attack to double their lead.

Charlie Emslie came off the bench and within a minute swooped on a neat side kick from Jarrod Sammut to dot the ball down, Shaw tagging on the extra two points 12-0.

Andrew Bulman was then denied a try as he swept in at the corner. The Vikings then broke through, and Eckersey the on- loan Wigan player raced clear and within ten yards of the home line Luke Broadbent pulled off a try- saving tackle.

On 35 minutes Barrow forced a drop out with Broadbent being held ten yards out, but from the play-the-ball Sammut and Johnston combined and in for try number two was Iaria, Shaw closing the half with the conversion 18-0.

Three minutes into the second half the Vikings were on the scoreboard as pressure paid off with Sam Wilde forcing his way over, Gilmore adding the goal to make it 18-6.

A further three minutes on the clock and with the luck of a bouncing ball the Vikings raced upfield with Joe Lyons touching down, Gilmore converting 18-12 and it was game on.

The Vikings were on a high but Barrow defended soundly, and had breathing space came when Johnston was taken out off the ball, and the boot of Shaw sent the ball between the posts for 20-12.

The Vikings refused to leave town and narrowed the deficit on 56 minutes with the easiest of tries as Brown put the ball over the line for Gilmore to tag on the goal 20-18.

Gilmore failed with a 40 yard penalty kick, while at the other end Wood was held up.

Anxious final moments for both teams, but as the Vikings threw one last throw of the dice, the ball came loose allowing Toal to swoop and with the crowd roaring him on, went in by the posts, Shaw rounding off the scoring with the goal.

BARROW RAIDERS: Broadbent, Shaw, Brand, Toal, Bulman, Sammut, Johnston, Gillam, Wood, Evans, Langtree, Stack, Iaria. Subs used: Mossop, Emslie Brooks Burke.

Attendance 2,150. Mail man of the match: Ellis Gillam.