Barrow Raiders 16 Halifax 24: Halifax overcome Watene’s dismissal and bolster confidence ahead of final

Matt Calland’s side, who lie just two points behind the sixth-placed Cumbrians with a game in hand, played 43 minutes with 12 men after Kiwi prop Frank Watene was controversially dismissed just before half-time.

Watene was sent off after pushing Gary Broadbent, the Barrow full-back, into a concrete barrier behind the deadball line as the pair chased Sean Penkywicz’s kick through.

A lengthy stoppage followed while Broadbent received medical attention and referee Jamie Leahy gave Watene his marching orders.

The incident will be discussed by the Rugby Football League’s disciplinary committee – crucially after Sunday’s trip to Bloomfield Road – but while Watene certainly shoved Broadbent as they contested possession, the major factor was the proximity of the barrier to the deadball line.

Halifax could easily have folded but they simply rolled up their sleeves, upped their work-rate and eventually shut their hosts out of the game.

As a performance, it was as good as anything Calland’s players have produced since the arrival of football consultant Brian Noble over eight weeks ago.

Halifax struck as Ben Black sent the ball to the in-form Miles Greenwood who gave James Haley enough room to apply a classy finish. Jones converted for a 6-0 lead after nine minutes.

Neil Cherryholme’s high shot gave Barrow an attacking platform and Zeb Luisi forced his way over for Jamie Rooney to match Jones’s feat to level at 6-6.

Raiders went in front when Luisi laid on a great pass to Ned Catic, who sent Liam Harrison over and Rooney made it 12-6.

Halifax cut the gap to two points on the final play of the half when Black’s cross-kick was knocked down by Haley for Dylan Nash to score.

Raiders upped the ante early in the second half, piling on the pressure.

On 60 minutes, Black won a penalty and Jones levelled the scores.

Penkywicz and Gannon then created space close to the line for the hooker to twist his way over.

Jones made it 18-12 but Raiders hit back and levelled with eight minutes to go, Catic scoring on the left.

Halifax drew another penalty and Paul White pounced for the winning try and Jones ensured there would be no comeback with his conversion.

Barrow Raiders: Broadbent; Larkin, Blackwood, Harrison, Ballard; Campbell, Rooney; Thackray, Gleeson, Butler, Catic, Knowles, Luisi. Substitutes: Mossop, Ostler, Dixon, Walker.

Halifax: Greenwood; White, Nash, Fieldhouse, Haley; Jones, Black; Gannon, Beswick, Aizue, Smith, Clayton, Barlow. Substitutes: Penkywicz, Cherryholme, Watene, Chandler

Referee: J Leahy (Dewsbury).