Hopes of happy Owlerton return are spoiled by impressive Raiders

The Raiders had lost their first two league games, but were able to overturn the odds as they came to terms better with a heavy rain-swept pitch at the greyhound stadium.

Eagles’ coach Mark Aston had “no excuses” after what he felt was a poor team performance saying they had been “given a lesson in how to play rugby by Barrow”.

“Owlerton is a great venue and the supporters got behind us,” said Aston.

“But the disappointing thing is that the players didn’t participate in what should have been a homecoming for Sheffield Eagles.”

It was the Eagles who got the first points on the board with Andrew Henderson – playing his 350th game in the UK – and Menzie Yere putting winger Scott Turner in at the corner.

Barrow, on the back of good defence, hit back with Jack Morrison crashing over.

Ian Mort’s kick then put the visitors ahead.

Nathan Mossop was sin-binned, but loose-forward Dan Toal got Barrow’s second try and, with Mort again kicking the goal, the visitors found themselves leading 12-4 at half-time.

The Eagles gathered themselves during the break and came back with two tries soon after the restart.

Substitute hooker Gareth Owen was first to go over when he squeezed in from dummy half and stand-off Patch Walker started and finishedthe next move.

Dominic Brambani’s only successful kick of the game took the Eagles ahead.

Turner’s second try pushed out the lead but Barrow, inspired by Liam Campbell, spoilt the party as Toal followed up the half-back’s grubber kick for his second try.

The Raiders went ahead with forward Liam Harrison bursting through to the line.

Mort added the goal and a late penalty.

Sheffield will play their third round Tetley’s Challange Cup game against amateurs East Leeds at Owlerton Stadium, on Sunday, March 16 (2pm).

Sheffield Eagles: Laulu-Togagae; Turner, Yere, Hanson, Taulapapa; Walker, Brambani; Blagbrough, Henderson, Stringer, Knowles, Green, Hope. Substitutes: Owen, Garside, Scott, Ford.

Barrow Raiders: Mort; Turner, Low, Wiper, Grant; Shaw, Campbell, Bullock, Speakman, Dawson, Harrison, Briscoe, Toal. Substitutes: Mossop, Burke, Butler, Morrison.

Referee: J Cobb (RFL).