Barrow Raiders 44 - 18 Rochdale Hornets

Honets travelled to Barrow on Sunday and were sunk without trace by a second-half salvo from their hosts

Hornets travelled to Barrow – a town famous for building submarines – on Sunday and were sunk without trace by a second-half salvo from their hosts.

Despite not being at their best the visitors had somehow contrived to go in at the interval level at 6-6 and when stand-off Paul Crook crossed in the first minute of the second half for a converted try the portents were good.

Sadly, when Crook missed a simple penalty a short time later and an interception saw Barrow fullback Andy Ballard race 60 metres to touch down Hornets abandoned ship; the home team launching a blistering 20-minute spell to put the result beyond doubt. Hornets defence was a shambles as missed tackles and indiscipline made it all too easy for the Cumbrian outfit, who added two more tries to take their second half tally to seven, the visitors adding a late consolation from Steve McDermott.

The signs that Hornets were all at sea came as early as the third minute when Liam Harrison dived for the line, the try disallowed for a double movement. Five minutes later, Martin Ostler ripped through the soft centre of the visitors defence before handing on Aaron Low, who sailed to the line. Darren Holt converted.

Hornets’ indiscipline was another feature of a scrappy first half; five penalties in quick succession inviting Barrow pressure. Fortunately, the home team struggled to find fluency and mistakes were rife. Hornets then enjoyed their best spell of the game, John Cookson stopped just short. The ball was moved swiftly out wide where Crook found Danny Davies, who crashed in for a try, Crook added the extras. Dale Bloomfield’s run for the line was pulled back for a forward pass and Jonny Leather went close; all square at break and all to play for.

The hopes of the Hornets contingent on the terraces, who had made themselves heard, were raised when from the first play of the second half Dean Gorton bustled his way through the Barrow defence, slipped the ball to Paul O’Connor for a Crook converted try. Crook then missed the penalty, Harrison intercepted to send Ballard in for a try, converted by Holt and the procession started. It swiftly became no contest as Hornets returned the ball to Barrow from the restart and they ran in tries at three-minute intervals – Chris Larkin, James Nixon (2) and Liam Campbell (2) taking advantage of a comatose Hornets’ defence. Holt tagged on four conversions. Hornets rallied briefly, Chris Hough going close before McDermott squeezed in from close range, Crook adding the extras.

There was still time for Barrow to pierce a dispirited Hornets defence, Ballard nipping in for his second of the day. Holt tagged on the two.

There will be a lot of soul searching in the Hornets camp this week and as one frustrated supporter remarked at the end of the game: “It’s no good looking like world beaters in training when you play like this on Sunday.” He wasn’t wrong.


Match stats
BARROW RAIDERS: Andy Ballard, Mike Backhouse, Chris Larkin, Aaron Low, James Nixon, Darren Holt, Liam Campbell, Andy Bracek, James Dandy, Ruairi McGoff, Liam Harrison, Martin Ostler, Dan Toal. Subs (all used):

Liam Finch, Jamie Butler, Barry Pugh, Andy Dawson. Tries: Low 4, Ballard 49, 79, Larkin 52, Nixon 55, 67, Campbell 59, 62. Goals: Holt 6.

HORNETS: Paul O’Connor, Dale Bloomfield, Danny Davies, Tony Stewart, Wayne English, Paul Crook, Chris Hough, Phil Braddish, Steve McDermott, John Cookson, Chris Baines, Mark Hobson, Dave Newton. Subs (all used):

Phil Wood, Dean Gorton, Jonny Leather, Danny Ekis. Tries: Davies 24, Crook 41, McDermott 77. Goals: Crook 3.


Referee: D Merrick

Penalties: 9-3

HT: 6-6

Attendance: 1332