Sheffield Eagles 30 Barrow Raiders 26: Laulu-Togagae claims late winner as Eagles fend off Raiders’ threat

The Eagles bounced back after the weekend defeat at Widnes to grab the three points with a try from Quentin Laulu-Togagae five minutes from time.

A tense opening session was ended when an offload from Laulu-Togagae sent Alex Szostak in to give the Eagles the lead. Simon Brown added the goal.

The Eagles’ lead lasted only three minutes as almost from the restart Jack Holmes went over with Jamie Rooney adding the goal.

The teams swapped penalties and at half-time it was level at 8-8.

The second half produced a rush of tries. Brown kicked a 40-20 and straight from the scrum Laulu-Togagae’s pass found Menzie Yere who blasted over.

Brown added the goal.

Again the lead lasted only minutes as Rooney intercepted a pass and claimed the try and added the goal.

Barrow took the lead with two tries in 10 minutes from Michael Knowles and Gary Broadbent, with Rooney adding the goals.

Eagles hit back with Szosak blasting over for his second try and a break by Tim Bergin sent in Brown whose try narrowed the gap.

Laulu-Togagae followed up Brown’s chip kick to win the game with five minutes to go. Brown added his fifth goal of the game.

The Eagles lived dangerously as Barrow mounted a charge and the video referee ruled out a ‘try’ for the Cumbrians in the final minute.

Sheffield Eagles: Taulapapa; Finigan, Yere, Hanson, Bergin; Laulu-Togagae, Brown; Howieson, Henderson, Stringer, Szostak, Green, Hirst. Substitutes: Rowe, Hepworth, Mills, Scott.

Barrow Raiders: Broadbent; Ballard, Blackwood, Catic, Harrison; Luisi, Rooney; Davis, Gleeson, Thackeray, James, Hughes, Knowles. Substitute: Butler, Ostler, Walker, Campbell.

Referee: T Roby (RFL).