Batley Bulldogs 34 Barrow Raiders 16: Gallagher at heart of Batley's triumph

Having caused Barrow to spill the ball, Gallagher produced a cracking pass which enabled centre Josh Griffin to score in the corner after only five minutes.

Gallagher then forced his way over from close range and shortly afterwards his long pass released Batley's other stand-in half-back Ian Preece for a meandering 40-metre run before sending full-back Jonny Campbell over for a converted try.

Barrow wingman Andrew Ballard collected a try but failed to convert before visiting loose forward Ned Catic was sinbinned for holding down Campbell.

Gallagher drove over the line from a close-in play the ball and then side-stepped his way past two defenders to reach out to complete his hat-trick.

Catic hit back early in the second half with a converted try but Gallagher touched down again.

Stand-off Zeb Luisi scored a try, goaled by Ballard, but further raids were foiled by Batley's determined tackling.

Gallagher relieved pressure on his tiring team-mates when, three minutes from time, he intercepted a Barrow raid and spurted more than 50 metres up the Mount Pleasant slope to score.

Batley Bulldogs: Campbell; Brown, Griffin, Maun, Greenwood; T Gallagher, Preece; Smith, Lythe, Hesketh, Walton, J Gallagher, Lindsay. Substitutes (all used): Buttery, Potter, Martin, Toothill.

Barrow Raiders: Broadbent; Ballard, Bauer, Harrison, Beach; Luisi, Coyle; Braeck, Mossop, Young, Noone, Ostler, Catic. Substitutes (all used): Knowles, McDermott, Butler, Carlisle.

Referee: Ronnie Laughton (Barnsley).