Barrow Raiders 6 Featherstone Rovers 20: Featherstone return after raid on Barrow

FEATHERSTONE made Championship champions Barrow look ordinary at best as they inflicted a clinical defeat on their hosts at Craven Park.

Daryl Powell's side showed their own title credentials for this season as they played the Cumbrians off the park, scoring two tries and seeing half-back Kyle Briggs kick eight goals.

Having seen winger John Steels tackled into touch by Jermaine McGillvary when he looked to be in at the corner once already, Rovers struck down the same avenue on 16 minutes.

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This time, a Liam Whelam kick was taken by Steel in acres of space and he crossed the whitewash for a 6-0 lead.

A Briggs penalty increased the advantage to eight points after Zeb Luisi stopped a Tom Saxton break and Rovers were the only side who looked like scoring in the first half.

Steel was again stopped in the corner as he looked to add a second and after the break the pattern was oft repeated.

The Featherstone defence kept Barrow out when they had their few chances, but the home side conceded more penalties near their posts, which Briggs gratefully slotted over for 12-0.

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Liam Finn sealed matters on 73 minutes when he went through the Barrow line, tripped but got up again to score, before

McGillvary's late score seemed to have given Raiders a bonus point.

More mistakes, however, gifted another soft penalty, which Briggs kicked over to deny the champions even a point.

Barrow Raiders: Broadbent, Larkin, Blackwood, Harrison, McGillvary, Rooney, Luisi, Bracek, Henderson, Roberts, Knowles, Catic, Fletcher. Substitutes: Ostler, Mossop, McDermott, James.

Featherstone Rovers: Hardman, Steel, Parker, Whelam, Saxton, Briggs, Finn, Dickens, Kaye, Tonks, Grayshon, Dale, Field. Substitutes: Manning, Divorty, Lee, Kain.

Referee: I Smith (Oldham).