Barrow Raiders 36 Sheffield Eagles 26: Eagles make sure of play-off berth despite huge scare at Barrow

The home side could not deny the Eagles the bonus point they needed to be sure of a place in the top six, despite holding a 26-0 lead after just 20 minutes.

Barrow raced into a big lead as a brace of tries from Andy Ballard and scores from Anthony Blackwood, Zeb Luisi and Michael Knowles had them in control.

But Sheffield took advantage of Raiders’ lack of forward resources on the bench as they ground their way back into proceedings.

First former Barrow man Andy Henderson dived in from close-range. Quentin Togaga’e added a brace of tries either side of half-time – the first from a close-range dart and the second after Barrow coughed up three penalties.

Eagles cut the gap to 26-22 as Menzie Yere barged through on the left, with Simon Brown landing a third conversion of the evening. Chris Larkin created some daylight, before Corey Hanson struck back once more for the visitors to make it 30-26 going into the final 10 minutes. Barrow needed two tries to deny the visitors the bonus point and keep their own slim hopes of the play-offs arrive, but only a score from Liam Finch was forthcoming as Sheffield instead ensured their top-six spot.

Barrow: Broadbent, Ballard, Blackwood, Harrison, Larkin, Rooney, Liam Finch, Thackray, Mossop, Butler, Knowles, Walker, Luisi Substitutes: Gleeson, Ostler, Backhouse.

Sheffield Eagles: Taulapapa, Mills, Yere, Hanson, Bergin, Togaga’e, Brown, Howieson, Henderson, Stringer, Szostak, Green, McDonald. Substitutes: Smith, Hepworth, Finigan, Scott.

Referee: C Leatherbarrow (RFL).