Barrow Raiders 28 Featherstone Rovers 36: Rovers go top after hanging on against Raiders

Having twice gone behind in the first half at Craven Park, a hat-trick from centre Greg Worthington laid the foundations for victory as they withstood the challenge of their hosts.

Huddersfield Giants dual-registration man Gregg McNally gave the home side an early lead, but Worthington and Sam Smeaton struck within six minutes of each other to put Rovers 10-6 up.

A see-saw first half saw Barrow strike back when former Rovers player Jamie Rooney kicked through for Gary Broadbent to score and then provided the pass for McNally to claim his second.

Featherstone came back before half-time though, with Johnny Hepworth and Worthington again scoring – the former after a break from Ian Hardman and the latter after a controversial penalty against Barrow for interfering in the play-the-ball.

Rovers went further in front in the second half, with Bryn Powell going in first after Smeaton and Liam Finn created the overlap.

Worthington completed his hat-trick after a huge mistake in defence between Broadbent and Chris Larkin following a Finn high kick, before Barrow struck back.

Winger Andy Ballard scored twice in three minutes to cut the gap to 30-28.

But Finn fell through some slack tackling on the line for the final score to seal a win which puts Rovers level with Leigh Centurions at the Championship summit.

Barrow: Broadbent, Larkin, Brackwood, Harrison, Ballard, Campbell, McNally, Thackray, Gleeson, Walker, Knowles, James, Rooney. Substitutes: Mossop, Ostler, Butler, Davies.

Featherstone: Hardman, Powell, Smeaton, Worthington, Hepworth, Kain, Finn, Haley, Netherton, Dickens, Grayshon, Spears, Divorty. Substitutes: Tonks, Gledhill, Mvududu, Bostock.

Referee: M Thomasson (RFL).